SINGAPORE: Asian football officials may be forced to tally yellow and red cards or even hold a special lottery to decide the last 16 as an ultra-competitive AFC Champions League group phase goes down to the wire.
With eight knock-out berths still available, 16 teams are in the running, setting up a mad dash for the line in the final group games today and tomorrow.
Group C is the only pool where both qualifying berths, and top spot, have been decided. In Group B, both spots are still available and all four teams -- Lekhwiya, Pakhtakor, Al Ettifaq or Al Shabab Al Arabi -- could finish top.
And in Group E, Buriram United’s campaign to become the first Thai team to qualify may be decided by a count of yellow and red cards, or even a specially convened lottery.
With Buriram and Vegalta Sendai tied on points, head-to-head record, goal difference and goals scored, if both teams win or draw they may be relying on their disciplinary record to clinch second spot behind group winners FC Seoul.
And should Japan’s Sendai, on seven yellow cards compared to Buriram’s 15 yellows and one red, suffer a meltdown against Jiangsu Sainty, qualification could be decided by a lottery at AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Buriram coach Attaphol Puspakom, urged his players to maintain their belief when they take on group winners FC Seoul.
AFP
