Farhad Kazemi, the Sepahan coach, is banking on his side's experience to see the Iranians qualify from Group D ahead of the UAE's Al Shabab. All four teams have three points after winning their home games, but Kazemi believes his players and those from Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor have the edge ahead of the meeting between the two sides today. "Sepahan are an experienced team in Asian games, as are Bunyodkor, and in our group, this experience will give us both the edge against Ettifaq and Al Shabab in qualifying for the next round," he said.
Hosts Bunyodkor will have first-choice goalkeeper Murod Zukhurov back in action for the meeting in Uzbekistan. And interim coach Hikmat Irgashev will also be able to call on Asian Player of the Year Server Djeparov from the start after leaving him out of the XI for the 2-0 domestic win against Lokomotiv Tashkent on Saturday. "We are glad to have Murod back in the squad," said Irgashev. "He was not fit enough to face Al Shabab, but he is now ready to return against Sepahan and hopefully with him in the side, we will be able to win to delight the home fans."
Elsehwere, the Gamba Osaka manager Akira Nishino has challenged his players to take maximum points in their upcoming double-header against Sriwijaya and book a place in the quarter-finals. The defending champions take on Sriwijaya at Expo '70 Commemoration Park today in Group F. Gamba have scored seven goals in their opening two matches and will fancy getting a sackful more against a Sriwijaya side who have leaked nine goals in their first two games.
First-choice keeper and Indonesia international Ferry Rotishinu is still sidelined and stand-in Afriyanto broke his leg in the 4-2 defeat by FC Seoul. * Agencies
