The much delayed "Eastern Semi-final" takes place tomorrow in Doha between Ulsan Hyundai and surprise package Vissel Kobe. Kobe, from the place where the beef comes from (nickname: cows) are in their first ever AFC Champions League, having only qualified by winning last year's Emperor's Cup in Japan, a bit like our FA Cup winners getting a Champions League place. They're only 12th in the J-League, but have beaten Shanghai (Oscar and Hulk's team) and Suwon Samsung Bluewings to reach this stage so can't be too shabby.
Awaiting the winners in next Saturday's final are Persepolis from Tehran, who can claim to be the best-supported club in Asia, often playing in front of 75,000 fans in the Azadi Stadium they share with arch-rivals Esteghlal. Persepolis have beaten sides from Qatar, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia to win the 'Western Asia' half of the draw, and although the Eastern champions have had the recent upper hand in the usually two-legged finals, this year's one-off game in Qatar might suit the Iranians.
Awaiting the winners in next Saturday's final are Persepolis from Tehran, who can claim to be the best-supported club in Asia, often playing in front of 75,000 fans in the Azadi Stadium they share with arch-rivals Esteghlal. Persepolis have beaten sides from Qatar, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia to win the 'Western Asia' half of the draw, and although the Eastern champions have had the recent upper hand in the usually two-legged finals, this year's one-off game in Qatar might suit the Iranians.
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