KUALA LUMPUR – Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande was handed a tough AFC Champions League draw against two former winners Thursday, complicating its bid to end China's long Asian trophy drought. The Chinese champion, marshalled by its World Cup-winning Italian coach, landed in a difficult Group F with South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, winners in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Newly crowned J-League winners Sanfrecce Hiroshima was pitted against Beijing Guoan, Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor and South Korean side Pohang Steelers, the 2009 champions, in Group G. And Australia's Central Coast Mariners will face China's Guizhou Renhe, Suwon Bluewings of South Korea and the eventual winner of Japan's Emperor's Cup, in Group H. A-League champions Brisbane Roar, forced to go through qualifying after Australia was reduced to just one automatic spot, will play Thailand's Buriram United on Feb. 9 for a place in Group E. South Korea's K-League winner FC Seoul, Vegalta Sendai of Japan and Jiangsu Sainty, runner-up to Lippi's Guangzhou in the Chinese Super League, await the play-off winners. The harsh draw is a setback for ambitious Guangzhou, who reached the quarter-finals on debut this year and are attempting to become China's first Asian champion since Liaoning won the former Asian Club Championship in 1990. “Lippi was very disappointed that we didn't make it as far as the semifinals, but next year we will prepare according to the AFC Champions League schedule and we will give the competition more priority,” Guangzhou's Zheng Zhi said before the draw. “We accomplished the goals we established at the beginning of this year because the main focus for us was the AFC Champions League since it was the first year that Guangzhou Evergrande had played in the competition.” In the west Asian bracket, inaugural winners Al-Ain of UAE was drawn against Iranian Cup-winner Esteghlal, along with Al-Rayyan of Qatar and Saudi side Al-Hilal in Group D. This year's runner-up, Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia, drew Iranian champion Foolad Sepahan and Qatar's Emir Cup winners Al-Gharafa in Group C. Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor, ever-present in all 10 previous editions of the AFC Champions League, will face Qatari league-winner Lekhwiya and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq in Group B. Group A is headed by Saudi champion Al-Shabab, who is pitted against UAE cup-winner Al-Jazira, El Jaish of Qatar and newcomers Tractor Sazi Tabriz of Iran. Play-offs are on Feb. 9 and the home-and-away group stage begins February 26, before a knock-out round of 16 in May. The competition breaks until late August and wraps up with a two-legged final completed in November. Group A: Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia), Al-Jazira (UAE), Tractor Sazi Tabriz (Iran), El Jaish (Qatar). Group B: Lekhwiya (Qatar), Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan), Sabaye Qom (Iran)/Al-Shabab Al-Arabi (UAE). Group C: Sepahan (Iran), Al-Gharafa (Qatar), Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia), Al-Nasr (UAE)/Lokomotive (Uzbekistan). Group D: Al-Ain (UAE), Esteghlal (UAE), Al-Rayyan (Qatar), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia). Group E: FC Seoul (South Korea), Brisbane Roar (Australia)/Buriram United (Thailand), Vegalta Sendai (Japan), Jiangsu Sainty (China). Group F: Guangzhou Evergrande (China), Jeonbuk Motors (South Korea), Muangthong United (Thailand), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan). Group G: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), Beijing Guoan (China), Pohang Steelers (South Korea), Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan). Group H: Central Coast Mariners (Australia), Knockout Cup Champion (Japan), Guizhou Renhe (China), Suwon Bluewings (South Korea). — Agencies
