The Anas opener was backed up by some direct penetration from the pole…
Kaya is currently up 1-0 at half-time aganist Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
We’re not getting first because tie-breakers are head-to-head and we choked both games, but it means that technically we’re not qualified yet.
If it stays like this, though, we go in with a 4-1 head-to-head and we’ve won goal-difference (unless they score 11+ in this second half and then beat us by exactly 3 to make it relevant), so we’ll still need to do better than a 4-goal loss to officially secure qualification.
Having said that, I’ve already been thinking about a possible R16 away trip.
Unless the AFC General Secretariat intervenes, or AFC otherwise can’t stick to its current schedule because reasons, as a second-placed team we will face a first-placed team at home in the first leg (12/13 February 2025) and then away in the second leg (19/20 February 2025).
Draw is on 12 December, so we’ll have 2 months notice for the fixture, which is as good as we’ll get next year, making it the easiest knock-out fixture to plan with work. If we get to an away final then I’ll have to sort that out with work somehow, but before that the possibly 1-3 weeks notice for any QF/SF seems less practical.
As second-place, we would face a group winner on the East side.
That currently looks like:
Group F: Lion City Sailors (Singapore) are currently up against Zhejiang, a result which if it holds gives them a shot at stealing first from their Match Day 6 opponent Port FC (Thailand, Bangkok). Port still probably holds the upper hand, particularly if they win at home against Persib Bandung (Indonesia) which could see them secure first if Lion loses their lead, but tonight’s results could swing things in Lion’s favour before they go head-to-head in Singapore in the final round.
Group G: Bangkok United (Thailand, on the Northern outskirts of Bangkok) will host current leaders Nam Dinh (Vietnam, about 2 hours SE from Hanoi) to decide who tops the group, with Nam Dinh going through in case of a draw.
Group H: Looks like Jeonbuk (Korea, Jeonju) is probably going to finish first here. Selangor (Malaysia, western outskirts of KL?) could steal it, but they just conceded an equaliser in a game they’d have to win and then hope Jeonbuk chokes on Match Day 6.
So Thailand and Korea look quite likely, with a more outside chance of northern Vietnam or even Singapore or KL.
Interestingly, Jeonbuk is way down in the K-League relegation play-offs against K2’s Seoul E-Land. If they get relegated, they would presumably have to shed salary in the off-season before they face us? We’d know by the time the draw takes place.
EDIT: Morning update
- Lion threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2.
- Port had first wrapped up until conceding a 90’+5 equaliser to draw 2-2.
- Selangor was up 1-0 at half time but lost 2-1.
Jeonbuk wins Group H.
In both Groups F and G, the team currently second will host the team coming first in the last game ans have to win to secure top spot.
Port FC is first unless Lion City Sailors beat them at home to take top spot.
Nam Dinh is first unless Bangkok United beat them at home to take top spot.
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Was in the travelling Cove tonight. Great effort. Around 50 people, including one local who hates Eastern.
We love an away day, don’t we folks.
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The other game finishes 1-1 so we are through
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Excellent, hopefully we get a look at some of the younger players next week.
Really enjoyable first have of football, ugly second half, but got the result we needed and have qualified for the round of 16.
10 Play started an ad when the penalty was taken so I missed that. Annoying timing!
Ahh hate is an amazing thing!
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I just saw this. Absolutely amazing 
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Congrats to Rhyan Grant for reaching 350 appearances for Sydney FC in all comps.
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Just watching the game at the moment - why couldn’t we have had this ref against Hiroshima the other week…
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Interesting this alleged hit was done when 2 of the 3 members were in HK. How very VERY convenient
So triads?
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Necessary viewing for anyone thinking of starting a competing SFC podcast…
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