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Shanghai Port to face Yokohama F Marinos in Asian Champions League's last 16

Shanghai Port to face Yokohama F Marinos in Asian Champions League's last 16

Reuters20-02-2025
Feb 20 (Reuters) - Shanghai Port will face Yokohama F Marinos in the round of 16 of the Asian Champions League Elite next month as the Chinese Super League side's qualification for the knockout rounds was confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation on Thursday.
Port lost 2-0 in their final league phase match to the Japanese club on Wednesday in Shanghai but have progressed as a result of the withdrawal of compatriots Shandong Taishan.
Shanghai's place in the next round was ratified by the AFC's publication of the official fixture list for the last 16.
Marinos, who topped the 12-team east Asian league standings, will travel to face Port in the first leg on March 4. Thailand's Buriram United will host Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia on the same day with the return fixtures played a week later.
Shanghai Shenhua will entertain Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and reigning J-League champions Vissel Kobe will host South Korea's Gwangju FC in their first leg fixtures on March 5, with the second legs on March 12.
The winners of the four ties will advance to the quarter-finals, where they will join the four qualifiers from the west of the confederation in a centralised finals in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 3.
On that side of the draw, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr will take on Esteghlal from Iran while Al-Sadd from Qatar meet Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates on March 3 and 10.
Four-times champions Al-Hilal face Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor while their fellow Saudis Al-Ahli play Qatar's Al-Rayyan on March 4 and 11.
Shandong pulled out of Wednesday's meeting with South Korea's Ulsan HD citing health issues and the withdrawal saw their results expunged from the tournament records.
Under the tournament's regulations, Shandong face a minimum $50,000 fine, a suspension of at least one season from AFC competitions plus the return of all subsidies received.
The club could also be made to pay compensation to cover losses incurred by rival clubs and commercial entities with a decision due to be made by the AFC's disciplinary and ethics committee.
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