KUALA LUMPUR — Saudi sides found out their AFC Champions League fates when the draw for the 2014 group stages was made here Tuesday. In Group C Saudi giant Al-Ittihad, two-time winner of the AFC Champions League, was drawn with fellow former champion Al-Ain of the UAE and Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz. In Group D, 2011 winner Al-Sadd of Qatar is up against UAE's Al-Ahli, Saudi outfit Al-Hilal and Iran's Sepahan. The third Saudi club Al-Shabab drew Esteghlal of Iran and Al-Rayyan of Qatar in Group A, while the Kingdom's fourth club, Al-Fateh, will take on another Iranian outfit Foolad Khuzestan and Uzbek club Bunyodkor in Group B. China's Guangzhou Evergrande was kept guessing over the group opponents for its title defense when it was drawn with two still unknown teams. Marcello Lippi's team were matched with 2006 champion Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the eventual winner of Japan's Emperor's Cup and the survivor of a playoff series involving Australia's Melbourne Victory in Group G. The draw leaves World Cup-winning coach Lippi, who is leading his team at the Club World Cup in Morocco this week, waiting to see if Guangzhou is facing a “group of death,” a stroll to the knock-outs or something in between. Lippi's Guangzhou will defend its first Asian title without talismanic midfielder Dario Conca, who is leaving the club along with his reportedly huge salary to return to Brazil's Fluminense. Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers, making its debut just a year after being formed, was bracketed with China's Guizhou Renhe, Japan's Yokohama Marinos and 2012 winner Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea in Group H. J-League winner Sanfrecce Hiroshima was pitted against this year's AFC runner-up FC Seoul and Australian champion Central Coast Mariners in Group F. Thailand's Buriram United will look to build on its battling run to this year's quarterfinals when it takes on former champion Pohang Steelers, China's Shandong Luneng and J-League team Kawasaki Frontale in Group E. Under new Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rules, West and East Asian teams will be kept apart until the semifinals. East Asian sides have dominated in recent years, winning seven of the last eight titles. Brazilian team wants to annul game marked by fight The Brazilian team relegated in the match stopped by fan violence this weekend says it will ask the country's sports tribunal to annul the result. Four-time Brazilian champion Vasco da Gama says it deserves the three points for the match because it wasn't safe to keep playing after the brawl in the stands. If Vasco is awarded the points, it would be enough to avoid its second relegation in five years. Vasco needed a victory but lost 5-1. Club officials say the referee did not follow regulations when he waited 1 hour, 13 minutes to restart the game. Rules say that the maximum time is 60 minutes. Vasco director Ercolino de Luca says “the referee made a mistake. We are allowed to go after our rights.” — Agencies
Group A Esteghlal (IRI) Al Rayyan (QAT) Al Jazira (UAE) Al Shabab (KSA) Group B Al Fateh (KSA) Foolad Khuzestan (IRI) Winner of West playoff series 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) Group C Al Ain (UAE) Al Ittihad (KSA) Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRI) Winner of West playoff series 2 Group D Al Sadd (QAT) Al Ahli (UAE) Al Hilal (KSA) Sepahan (IRI) Group E Pohang Steelers (KOR) Buriram United (THA) Shandong Luneng (CHN) Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) Group F Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) Central Coast Mariners (AUS) FC Seoul (KOR) Winner of East playoff series 1 Group G Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) Emperor's Cup Winners (JPN) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) Winner of East playoff series 2 Group H Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) Guizhou Renhe (CHN) Yokohama Marinos (JPN) Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)
