The second instalment of the AFC Champions League has so far produced a series of surprises and scintillating drama. Both the inaugural champions Al Ain of UAE and runners-up BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand were eliminated at the quarter-final and group stage respectively, while Korea Republic's clubs are flying high.  Both Seongnam Chunma and Chonbuk Motors advanced to the semi-finals after knocking out Emirate sides Sharjah and Al Ain over two home-and-away legs.

Chonbuk Motors, currently second behind FC Seoul in the K-league standings, will take on Saudi giants Ittihad in a two-leg semi-final some time between 19 and 27 October, while Seongnam Chunma have to battle it out with perennial Uzbek powerhouse Pakhtakor for a place in the final. The two semi-final winners will then go on to vie for the coveted continental laurels by way of another a home-and-away series between 24 November and 1December.

In a dramatic revamping of the inaugural tournament's format, this season's AFC Champions League saw a total of 28 teams from the 14 highest-ranked Asian nations divided into seven groups.  The winners of each group joined defending champions Al Ain in the quarter-finals.

Korea Republic rising
No Korean club managed to reach semi-finals of the inaugural AFC Champions League last year, but they have come back this season with what looks, at present, an inexorable momentum.

Six-time K-league champions Seongnam Chunma showed their true grit and determination to finish tops in the group stage. Placed together with J-league powerhouses Yokohama Marinos, India's Persik Kediri and Binh Dinh of Vietnam, they scored 24 times in just six matches, for an average of four goals per game. And after three months of fierce fighting, the club edged out their Japanese counterparts on goal difference to top Group D and grab a crucial quarter-final berth.

The two-legged quarter-final with Emirate side Sharjah turned out to be shooting practice for Seongnam Chunma. The K-league giants, who have won the last three league titles but continue to struggle this season in eighth place, are surely looking for some redemption in the continental Champions League.

In fine fettle, they wreaked vengeful havoc in the first-leg with Sharjah at home on September 15.  They put the visitors to the sword, scoring six time times without reply (6-0). One week later, they reached semi-finals as expected with a 5-2 victory in the UAE, winning out by an amazing 11-2 aggregate scoreline.

Against holders Al Ain in the quarter-final, another Chonbuk Motors looked the better side over both legs. They overcame Al Ain 1-0 in the first meeting, and went on to seal the victory with a comfortable 4-1 home win on 21 September.

UAE clubs blanked
With three teams reaching the quarter-finals, including reigning champions Al Ain, the UAE looked good to defend their inaugural crown. But in a shocking surprise, they were thrown for a loop, as not one of the nation's representatives moved on to the semis.

The third UAE club, Al Wahda, lost out to merciless Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan by an aggregate score of 5-1. Pakhtakor salvaged glory for the field of inaugural semi-finalists, when they became the only team to advance into the last four for a second consecutive year.

Ildar Magdeev proved the hero, giving the Uzbek champs the advantage in the crucial first-leg match away in UAE. Al Wahda took a comfortable lead after only ten minutes when Cote d'Ivoire striker Antonin Nantcho slipped the ball past the Uzbek keeper Ignitay Nesterov. But the visitors upped the tempo and their relentless efforts paid off at last when Magdeev broke down the left to level the match with only five minutes to go.

In another second-leg match, Saudi Arabia's Ittihad firmly controlled the proceedings with seven-time C-league champions Dalian Shide, safely sailing in to the semi-finals with a 1-0 win added to their 1-1 away draw in the previous week.

AFC Champions League semi-finals:

19/10/2004    Semi-Final 1 - First Leg
Al Ittihad v  Chonbuk Motors
   
20/10/2004    Semi-Final 2 - First Leg
Seongnam Chunma v  Pakhtakor
   
26/10/2004    Semi-Final 1 - Second Leg
Chonbuk Motors v  Al Ittihad
   
27/10/2004    Semi-Final 2 - Second Leg
Pakhtakor v  Seongnam Chunma