Match: South China v Johor Darul Ta'zim
Date: 13 September, Tuesday
Time: 8pm SGT/5:30pm IST/1pm BST
Venue: Mong Kok Stadium
Competition: 2016 AFC Cup
TV Coverage: In Singapore, there is no TV coverage of the clash between South China and Johor Darul Ta'zim
Overview
South China host Johor Darul Ta'zim in the first leg of the quarter-final match at the Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong on 13 September.
The two East Zone clubs have had contrasting journeys to the last-eight round of the tournament. While the Malaysian unit have been in rampant form, the Hong Kong Premier League side have scraped their way through.
Johor Darul Ta'zim, who won the 2015 AFC Cup, have been overpowering their opponents with ease. They topped Group H with six wins from as many games ahead of Bengaluru FC (India), Ayeyawady United (Myanmar) and Lao Toyota FC (Laos). The Malaysian club registered its biggest win in the tournament when they defeated Ayeyawady 8-1 at home in February 2016.
Scoring 21 goals and conceding only three in the group stages, the defending champions were considered favorites for their Round of 16 clash against Philippines' Kaya. As expected the match was one-sided as Johor Darul Ta'zim, powered by forward Juan Martin Lucero's hat-trick, crushed their opponents 7-2.
On the other hand, South China edged past Yangon United (Myanmar) with a one-point lead to finish second behind Mohun Bagan (India) in Group G to qualify to the knockout stages. They piped Ceres FC (Philippines) 1-0 in their last-16 clash to set up a quarter-final clash with the Southern Tigers.
While the Malaysian club has the edge over South China, the home side will be banking on its good record against the visitors in their previous AFC Cup meetings. Notably, Johor Darul Ta'zim have won only one time against their quarter-final opponents in their last four clashes at the AFC Cup.
However, with captain Mohamad Safiq, who has been the team's highest scorer in the competition with seven goals, joining the likes of Pereyra Diaz and Lucero in the front line, South China have to come up with a solid show to stop Johor Darul Ta'zim from inching closer towards their second AFC Cup title.
TV Schedule
Indonesia: Orange TV
Team news
South China
Possible XI: Tsang Man Fai; Bojan Malisic, Cheung Kin Fung, Chan Wai Ho, Leung Nok Hang; Luiz Carlos, Lo Kong Wai, Tse Sean, Mohamed Awal; Nikola Komazec, Chan Siu Ki
Johor Darul Ta'zim
Possible XI: Mohd Izham Tarmizi; Mohd Aidil Zafuan, Marcos Antonio, Muhammad Fazly; Mohd Amirulhadi, Mohd Safiq, Kunanlan, Mohd Azammuddin; Mohd Amri, Pereyra Diaz, Juan Lucero
