Sakai’s first objective will be to help the J League club in their bid to return to the top echelon, as Urawa sit seventh in the 20-club league, 27 points behind leaders Kawasaki Frontale.

With Syria having secured the top spot which carries qualification to the final round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, China's hopes of joining the Southeast Asians lies in them grabbing one of the five berths available for the best-placed runners-up from the eight groups.

The Philippines take on Guam looking to bounce back from a 2-0 loss at the hands of China PR that fatally damaged their hopes of claiming the runners-up position in Group A as Scott Cooper’s side slipped to six points behind Li Tie’s team.

While the Azkals can mathematically outstrip the Chinese, the chances are beyond remote with the Philippines needing to win their two remaining games by huge margins while China PR must lose heavily to both the Maldives and Syria in their final matches.

Victory will also confirm their ticket to the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Finals but should Graham Arnold's men stumble against Nepal, they will still seal top spot in Group B should the Kuwait-Jordan tie later on Friday end in a stalemate.

Iraq will head into the matchday leading on 14 points, two ahead of Iran who are in second on goal difference in front of Bahrain.

Hong Kong are fourth with five points, with Cambodia head into their final match of the campaign with just one point from seven matches.

After a long battle with cancer Yoo – who was an integral part of the the Korea Republic side that reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals on home soil, and scored in their opening-day win over Poland – died on Monday.

As the Taeguk Warriors continued their quest to reach the first FIFA World Cup in Asia since those heady days in 2002 by easing past Sri Lanka in the Asian Qualifiers, Portuguese coach Bento was keen to recognise a true legend of Korea football.

Having fallen behind just before the hour mark at Goyang Stadium, quick-fire goals from Rabih Ataya and Sonny Saad saw the Lebanese head into the final 10 minutes with a 2-1 lead, only to concede first in the 85th minute and then in stoppage time – after captain Nour Mansour had been sent off – as crucial points were dropped.

Victory would have seen Lebanon head into their final Group H game level on points with table-toppers Korea Republic and with a very realistic chance of securing a place at the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Finals and in the final round of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers, while the loss could potentially leave them needing a result against the Koreans.

India defeated Bangladesh 2-0 at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday to sit third in Group E with six points, one point ahead of Afghanistan, who have two games in hand.

Victory against the Central Asians in their final match on Tuesday will certainly boost their hopes of sealing a place in the final round of the Asian Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 with Chhetri saying that the team are fully in sync with Stimac’s coaching methods.