Kuala Lumpur: After more than three months of non-stop drama, stunning goals and a fair share of surprises, the number of teams in the 2017 AFC Champions League has been whittled down to eight as the quarter-finalists were confirmed following the conclusion of the Round of 16 this week.
The competition will now take a three-month break before resuming in late August, allowing the-AFC.com to reflect one more time on the standout statistics from a week that saw continent’s strongest sides book their spots in the last eight.
Omar’s week
Undoubtedly this week’s star performer, Omar Abdulrahman’s two goals and three shots on target were matched only by teammate Caio and Paulinho respectively, while the midfield maestro created more chances (7) than anyone else on the continent.
And then there were two
Defeats for Lekhwiya and Guangzhou Evergrande – the former at a cost, the latter not so – left Al Hilal and Kawasaki Frontale as the only two unbeaten teams in the competition with their runs now stretching back an impressive eight matches.
Off target
The battle of the namesakes saw Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli post a 3-1 victory over the UAE’s Al Ahli to advance 4-2 on aggregate, but with just 25% of their eight shots on target – one of which being Asamoah Gyan’s stoppage-time penalty – the Emiratis will be mindful of what could have been.
Al Ahli struggle in front of goal
Our ball
Not for the first time, Japanese teams are kings when it comes to possession and passing, with Urawa Red Diamonds enjoying more than 71% of the ball against Jeju United and Kawasaki posting just shy of a 90% passing accuracy in their game with Muangthong United as both progressed to the last eight.
Perfect response
Al Ain and Urawa were the only two teams to go into to the second legs in losing positions but come out on top. The Emirati side reversed a one-goal deficit to defeat Esteghlal 6-2 on aggregate and the Japanese team came from two down to claim a stunning 3-2 win over Jeju after extra-time.
Fighting spirit
Persepolis meant business in Qatar where, after Chico Flores’s own-goal put them one up against Lekhwiya, the Iranian champions won a weekly high of 83 duels to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time following a 1-0 aggregate scoreline.
Destructive duo
Almost a quarter of those duels were won by Sadegh Moharrami (14) and Farshad Ahmadzadeh (13) as the duo occupied the top two positions on the weekly charts, while teammate Mohammad Ansari made more interceptions (9) anyone else on the continent.
Safe hands
Mehdi Rahmati’s six saves was more than any other ‘keeper yet, considering Esteghlal lost 6-1 to Al Ain, Yan Junling's five saves and three catches against a Jiangsu FC side who posted a weekly high of 18 shots on goal is perhaps more deserving of the accolades after Shanghai SIPG won 3-2 to advance 5-3 on aggregate.
Minimum impact
Ge Wei’s five attempts on goal was matched only by Al Ain’s Caio, the difference being that four of the Jiangsu forward’s efforts against Shanghai were off target while the Brazilian frontman netted a brace against Esteghlal. In fairness to Ge, he only came on with 25 minutes remaining and Jiangsu were already 4-1 down on aggregate and all but out.
Wasteful Ge Wei
Thanks for the memories
Four hopeful Round of 16 debutants went into the first knockout phase, but Esteghlal Khouzestan, Muangthong, Jiangsu and Jeju all failed to make the last eight. The quartet, though, depart having all left their mark on the tournament with a number of excellent performances.
Muangthong gain first-ever AFC Champions League win over Kashima Antlers on Matchday Two
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com