Dario Conca scored a stoppage time penalty on Tuesday as Guangzhou posted a 2-1 win over fellow continental debutants Buriram to top Group H ahead of J.League champions Kashiwa Reysol, while also eliminating former winners and reigning K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. 

And after FC Tokyo lost 1-0 to Ulsan Hyundai on Wednesday to finish as Group F runners-up, the J.League side will make the trip to Tianhe Sport Center on May 30 for the one-off knockout tie. 

Guangzhou, though, will have a new coach at the helm after Korean Lee Jang-soo confirmed his departure from the current Chinese Super League leaders following the win over Buriram. 

After riding their luck to beat FC Tokyo thanks to Kang Min-soo’s first half strike, last year’s K-League runners-up Ulsan will entertain Kashiwa after the tournament debutants beat Jeonbuk 2-0 in Korea thanks to goals from Leandro Domingues and Junya Tanaka. 

Elsewhere, Esteghlal have been handed the ideal chance to gain revenge for missing out on the Iran Pro League title by just one point after being drawn to face three-time domestic champions Sepahan in a mouth-watering tie in the Round of 16. 

Prior to the final round of Group Stage fixtures in the AFC Champions League, Sepahan had shared a goalless draw with Mes Sarcheshme on Friday to claim a third consecutive Iranian Pro League title ahead of both Esteghlal and Tractor Sazi. 

And with Sepahan beating Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli 2-1 thanks to a late header from Mohsen Bengar to finish at the top of Group C, Zlatko Kranjcar’s side will entertain Esteghlal at Foolad Shahr Stadium on Tuesday after the play-off winners finished second in Group A despite a 2-0 win over Nasaf. 

Also in the West, two-time winners Al Ittihad and UAE Pro League side Al Jazira will entertain Iran’s Piroozi and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli after posting the highest points totals in the Group Stage. 

Mohammed Faouzi scored deep into stoppage time as Al Ittihad rounded off their Group B campaign by coming from behind twice to beat Al Arabi 3-2 in Jeddah on Wednesday, while Brazilian forward Ricardo Oliveira scored all four of Al Jazira's goals as the 2011 UAE Pro League champions recorded a 4-3 win over Al Rayyan of Qatar. 

Both Al Ittihad and Group A winners Al Jazira amassed 16 points from their six games to post unbeaten records in the Group Stage along with Al Hilal, Japan’s Nagoya Grampus and Korean duo Ulsan and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. 

Al Ittihad, who won the AFC Champions League in 2004 and 2005, reached the semi-finals last year while Al Jazira are making their first appearance in the knockout stage after failing to qualify for the last three years. 

Piroozi will make the trip to Jeddah’s Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium next week after coming from a goal down to beat Al Shabab Al Arabi of the United Arab Emirates 3-1 thanks to goals from Eamon Zayed, Mehrdad Pooladi and Hossein Badamaki. 

The Iran Pro League side, though, were forced to settle for a runner-up finish in Group D after Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal beat Qatar’s Al Gharafa 2-1 to secure a place in the knockout stage for a fifth consecutive season. 

And Al Hilal will entertain tournament debutants Baniyas after Senegalese forward Andre Senghor and substitute Amer Abdulrahman scored to hand the UAE Pro League side a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor. 

Finally, 2008 finalists Adelaide United will entertain Japan’s Nagoya Grampus after beating Gamba Osaka 2-0 to top Group E, while Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor will face 2010 winners Seongnam in Korea after beating Pohang Steelers 1-0 in Tashkent. 

Adelaide had already secured qualification but claimed a fourth win of the campaign to top the group as Sergio van Dijk scored his first goal of the campaign in Osaka, while Nagoya beat Central Coast Mariners 3-0 but missed out on top spot in Group G to Seongnam on goal difference. 

Seongnam’s 3-0 win over Tianjin Teda in China proved crucial as the K-League side edged out Nagoya, with Bunyodkor claiming a fifth consecutive appearance in the last 16 after Anvar Gafurov’s header at the start of the second half was enough to edge 2009 champions Pohang.

AFC Champions League – Round of 16 Fixtures

 22/05/12

Al Jazira (UAE) v Al Ahli (KSA)

Sepahan (IRN) v Esteghlal (IRN)

23/05/12

Al Ittihad (KSA) v Piroozi (IRN)

Al Hilal (KSA) v Baniyas (UAE)

29/05/12

Adelaide United (AUS) v Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) v Bunyodkor (UZB)

30/05/12

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) v Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) v FC Tokyo (JPN)

For more information please visit:

AFC Champions League – News Index: http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league

AFC Champions League 2011 – Schedule & Results: http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl2012-schedule-results?view=Competitions&id=430

The legendary Choi has blazed a trail around the world since turning professional in 1994, winning 19 tournaments — including eight on the U.S. PGA Tour. His greatest triumph was the Players Championship last year when he beat American David Toms in a playoff after both finished at 13 under par.

He has also won the SK Telecom Open title three times, although not since it became part of OneAsia in 2010 with a billion Korean won purse (around U.S. $900,000).

Choi is a massive drawcard for the fourth event on OneAsia's busy 2012 circuit, but he will be challenged every inch of the way by some of Asia's best young talents, who are all seeking to follow in his footsteps.

"There are a lot of good young players emerging," Choi said during the Pro-Am event on Wednesday. "I know they all want to follow me and I think they have a great chance of success."

Many of those prospects are emerging from South Korea, which is proving to be an assembly line for the next generation of the world's top golfers in both the women's and men's game.

"There has been a great change of attitude which has helped the Korean players emerge," Choi said.

"Before, we used to be very self critical and negative. We were very hard (on ourselves) when we made mistakes and doubted we could perform well.

"These days the players are more positive and there is a much more positive approach to all the aspects of the game — and this is showing the rewards." 

Kim Bi-o epitomizes that approach, and his emphatic five-shot victory in last week's GS Caltex Maekyung Open means he will be one to watch again, although the conditions will be very different this time around.

Fellow Korean and OneAsia members Ryu Hyun-woo, Kang Kyung-nam and Park Sang-hyun — who finished second to fourth respectively last week — are also part of that "next generation" and will be keen to prove their excellent showing was no fluke.

After last week's hilly, tree-lined course with vicious sloping greens, the players face a flatter surface carved out of a volcanic plateau, but where the wind can quickly lay waste to a scorecard.

"It is a different ball game," said New Zealander Gareth Paddison, who had a topsy-turvy tournament last week that included a 78 and a 66 — the joint best round of the tournament.

"If the wind blows, it’s going to get very interesting. Most of the pros can handle themselves around the wind, but I think as a Kiwi I probably wouldn't mind if it blows a bit harder than normal."

Australian Jamie Arnold, the best of the non-Koreans last week who finished 12 shots off the pace in joint 12th place, also hopes for a bit of a breeze.

"Its a lovely track in great condition, but I think its best defense will be the wind and it would be nice to see a few people blown away," he said.

The effect the weather can have on the Pinx Golf Club was shown last year when Kurt Barnes won the title after the tournament lost the final day because of heavy fog. The weather report is more favourable for this week.

OneAsia Order of Merit leader Nick Cullen makes a return to the circuit keen to make an impact on his Korean debut.

"I can't wait," said the young Australian, who won the season-opening Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open but missed the cut at the Volvo China Open.

"I think my game is in good shape and I am really looking forward to the challenge."

For more information please visit www.oneasia.asia.

Bio was an emphatic five-stroke winner of the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Seoul at the weekend, and after watching that dominating performance there are few who would bet against him at Pinx Golf Club.

Yet despite that effort, the Korean media continue to ask the 21-year-old if he has what it takes to consistently get his game to the next level.

Last year Bi-o was the youngest player to have his card on the PGA Tour, but he lost it at the end of the season and is back playing in the relative anonymity of the Nationwide Tour where he currently lies 25th on the money list — with the top 25 graduating each year.

Bi-o spent four days last week answering questions from the Korean media on the difference between playing at home and playing away, and the difference between the various tours.

His answers were illuminating. 

"Last year as the youngest player on the PGA it was definitely a learning experience," Bi-o said.

"Even though this year I'm still the youngest on the Nationwide Tour, I feel more comfortable and not as overwhelmed by everything. That enables me to focus on my game much more."

But Bio said there was pressure regardless of what level you played at, and the key was dealing with it.

"There is always pressure when you play on tour — whether in the U.S. or at home," he said. "I would say that because I'm in front of more family and friends in Korea, I want to do my best."

Bi-o had a huge gallery following him on Sunday, which at times proved to be a little distracting.

"There is a difference between the fans here and in the United States," he said. "Here they take pictures whenever they like. They use phones and take pictures even on your backswing.

"They wouldn't do that in America, but there the fans can drink beer all around the course and so towards the end of the day they can also get a bit, well, you know …" he added with a grin.

Bio's weekend win was his second on OneAsia following his triumph at the Nanshan China Masters last year when he prevailed in a four-way playoff, and he now has an affinity for the tour despite his goal of returning to the top table.

"My number one priority is to get my U.S. PGA Tour card and that means staying in the top 25 of the Nationwide Tour," he said. "I also hope to play as many OneAsia tournaments as I can, so Maekyung and SK Telecom is a good start."

Regardless of what happens this weekend, Bi-o knows he will have to hit the road again for the grind of the tour, playing in unfamiliar towns and away from family.

"Touring and travel and being away from home is never easy, but its worth it," he said. "I am doing something that many people dream of- making a living playing a game I love,” he said.

And during down time?

"I do what most Korean guys my age do — hang out with friends, listen to music, watch movies … and play golf."

The K-League side only need to avoid defeat at Jar Stadium to advance from Group E alongside Australia’s Adelaide United, although their task is complicated by Bunyodkor’s need to claim all three points to advance to the Round of 16 for a fifth consecutive season. 

With Adelaide ensuring qualification following a goalless draw with the Uzbeks champions at the start of May, Kim Jin-ryong and DerekAsamoah scored as 2008 AFC Champions League winners Pohang beat Japan’s Gamba Osaka to move two points clear of Bunyodkor with just one game remaining. 

“The match against Bunyodkor is now very important,” said coach Hwang Sun-hong, who won the Asian Club Championship twice with Pohang as a player in 1997 and 1998, following the win over Gamba. 

“As it will be a decisive game, I will ask my players to keep their concentration for the next match.”

Bunyodkor, who have lost in the Round of 16 for the last two seasons after reaching the semi-finals in 2008, beat Pohang 2-0 in Korea on Matchday Two and warmed up for the return fixture with a 2-0 win over Olmaliq Friday to move level on points with Nasaf at the top of the Uzbek League. 

“Everything is now in our hands as we have the last match at home in our city against Pohang Steelers, and if we beat them we will be in the next stage,” said Bunyodkor coach Mirdjalal Kasimov following the goalless draw with Adelaide. 

“It will be difficult, but it is possible to win and go through to the next stage.” 

With the defeat by Pohang signaling elimination for 2008 champions Gamba, Adelaide need to win in Japan to be certain of top spot in the group although a draw or defeat could still be enough as long as Pohang fail to beat Bunyodkor. 

“They are a good side and they’ve got a lot of respect in Asia and they’re not going to come out next Wednesday night and play to lose – no professional team does,” said Adelaide coach John Kosmina. 

“We’ve got to go there in the frame of mind that we’ve got to get a result, it doesn’t matter that we’ve already qualified, we’ve got to get a result.” 

Iain Fyfe is set to start at centre-back in place of the injured Osama Malik for Adelaide, with Sergio van Dijk pressing for a start up front after Bruce Djite started all the previous five games in the competition. 

In Group F, Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai entertain fellow qualifiers FC Tokyo with top spot up for grabs, while Beijing Guoan travel to Australia to face Brisbane Roar. 

With Ulsan and FC Tokyo already assured of qualification, the Japanese Emperor’s Cup winners need to avoid defeat to earn home advantage against the runner-up from Group H. 

Ulsan, who lost 2-1 to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the K-League on Friday, will be without suspended Japanese midfielder Akihiro Ienaga. 

In the West, AFC Champions League ever-presents Pakhtakor travel to the United Arab Emirates needing to pick up all three points to advance from Group B ahead of the tournament debutants Baniyas. 

With unbeaten two-time winners Al Ittihad already assured of top spot ahead of their meeting with Qatar’s Al Arabi, second place Baniyas hold a one-point advantage over Pakhtakor after the pair shared a 1-1 draw in Tashkent on Matchday Two. 

Defender Egor Krimets will miss the game for Pakhtakor after being sent-off during the 2-1 home defeat by Al Ittihad, while Baniyas midfielder Sultan Al Ghafri is also suspended. 

Finally in Group A, play-off winners Esteghlal need just a point from their visit to Uzbekistan to face already-eliminated AFC Cup winners Nasaf to advance from Group A alongside Al Jazira. 

Esteghlal coach Parviz Mazloomi, though, must re-shuffle his side with midfielder Andranik Teymourian and defenders Hanif Omranzadeh and Ali Hamoudi suspended. 

Al Jazira have already won the group after posting four wins from five games, but face an Al Gharafa side in Doha who must win and hope Esteghlal fail to beat Nasaf to advance to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time.

For more information please visit:

AFC Champions League – News Index: http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league

AFC Champions League 2011 – Schedule & Results: http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl2012-schedule-results?view=Competitions&id=430

Australian Barnes followed up his victory at Pinx Golf Club here with a maiden triumph on the Japan Tour four months later, but he admits he is now struggling a bit with the putter and has returned home to fix the problem.

"It was a very difficult decision not to play in the SK Telecom Open as I enjoyed it so much last year, but on balance I needed to work further on my game before resuming playing," Barnes said.

"I love Korean food and the course was great too."

The SK Telecom Open is the fourth stop on a busy OneAsia schedule this year and follows Korean Kim Bi-o's emphatic five-stroke victory in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in Seoul at the weekend.

Last year the one billion won (around U.S. $900,000) event was shortened to three rounds because of fog on the final day, but a brilliant tournament-best 64 by Barnes in the second round showed him to be a worthy winner. 

Barnes has played three events in Japan this year, but missed the cut in each.

"Its hard to pinpoint what separates a winning performance one week to a poor performance the following week," he said.

"But if I was to point to one thing it would be putting. You can putt well one week and touch the hole half a dozen times in a round but sink nothing, and the following week they can all drop.

"Its a confidence thing which comes from hitting shots you envisage."

That just isn't happening at the moment.

"I couldn't quite get the speed of the greens in the three weeks in Japan ," he said. "It is a long season in Japan with some big events coming up so I need to be on top of my game."

Barnes said he returned home to spend time with his coach and to focus on putting as well as short approach shots.

"Preparation is critical. My putting wasn't where I need it to be. We have spent a lot of time on that."

That said, there are some bright spots to match the garish trousers he is fond of wearing on the course.

"My TaylorMade R11S driver is working beautifully," he said.

Barnes has still set himself some lofty goals for the year, with the main aim of breaking into the world's top 50. He is currently ranked 155.

"You need to win several events, and I hope to build on the confidence of doing that last year," he said

But to do that he must continue with the grind of the travel associated with being a professional golfer.

"Travel used to be fun, but after a while it can become a chore," he said. "I have just come to accept it as part of what we do and not worry about it,” he said.

"Yes, delays happen, flights are missed … but playing golf for a living is a privilege and the moment we start complaining about all the little things is when it might be time to try something else."

For more information please visit www.oneasia.asia.

The Oregon-based company is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

Nike has worked with the AFC since 2005 and has extended its commercial relationship with Asian football’s governing body as an official partner. 

“I couldn’t be more excited about the extension of AFC’s sponsorship agreement with Nike,” said Zhang Jilong, Acting President of the AFC.

“Nike believed in the potential of Asian football and our alliance started in 2005. Nike’s commitment is a good testimony to the great appeal of AFC tournaments as a superior marketing platform.” 

The agreement includes all AFC national competitions, including the AFC Asian Cup – Asia’s top sporting event – as well as the qualifying tournaments for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games and the AFC Club programme, which includes the fast-growing AFC Champions League. 

“It is a great pleasure to renew our relationship with Nike on behalf of Asian football,” said Nick Mould, President, East Asia of World Sport Group, the AFC’s marketing partner. 

“Since the beginning of their engagement with the AFC, Nike have been a proactive and innovative partner and we look forward to continuing to work closely together.”

The defending champion, who also won this event in 2006, fired a final round two-under-par 70 to win by three strokes.

Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha took outright second after shooting a 69 at Burapha Golf Club.

In third place was Filipino Jay Bayron who carded a 70 to finish seven behind the winner in the tournament’s 10th anniversary.

Prom had a four-shot lead at the start of the day in the second event of the season on the ASEAN PGA Tour.

The 27 year old won at Burapha by nine shots last year and many expected another rout.

Thanyakon, a two-time winner on the ASEAN PGA Tour, had other ideas and made four birdies in the first six holes.

At the turn Prom led by two but any concerns he had were laid to rest when Thanyakon double bogeyed the par-three 12th and then bogeyed 14.

“Thanyakon really came at me and I had a battle on my hands. He was really playing well like we all know he can. After the 12th though I felt much more relaxed,” said Prom, who earned a cheque for US$9,500.

Prom finished with a four round aggregate of 14-under-par 274, not quite as good as last year’s winning total of 20-under-par that included a round of 62.

He said: “I am really happy of course but I still have a lot of work to do on my game. Things are so much better but I still need to work on hitting my driver straight. I have a four day break then I will go to Japan for US Open qualifying.”

His victory is the continuation of a good start to the season which included three top 10s, one of which was a playoff loss at the SAIL-SBI Open in India.

The popular Thai has been able to get back to form thanks to the help of psychologist Dr Pichit Namuangpo, who he has been working with for two years.

Prom, nicknamed the “Big Dolphin”, was tipped for greatness after making his breakthrough in 2006 with victory in the SK Telecom Open but failed to fulfill his potential and suffered a period in the doldrums.

His father Suthep was the first player from Thailand to win the Thailand Open in 1992.

Thanyakon showed his class by making birdie on the last two holes.

He led the tournament at the halfway mark but the 21 year old was ultimately overpowered by the more experienced Prom.

The rising star won last year’s ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship and the 2010 Kariza Indonesia Championship.

For Bayron it was yet another missed chance to win his first ASEAN PGA title. Remarkably he has now finished second four times and third four times.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin, an amateur, returned a 72 and his compatriot Somsak Kaopratum a 73 to end tied for fourth.

Leading final round scores:

Par 72

(Thai unless stated)

274 – Prom Meesawat 67 70 67 70 

277 – Thanyakon Khrongpha 69 67 72 69 

281 – Jay Bayron (PHI) 69 69 73 70 

283 – Poom Saksansin (a) 69 72 70 72, Somsak Kaopratum 68 72 70 73

284 – Pariya Junhasavasdikul 71 70 71 72, Chawinroj Krobteeranon 72 71 70 71, Guido Van Der Valk (HOL) 74 68 68 74

285 – Panuphol Pittayarat 75 68 72 70, Michael Tran (VNM) 68 71 72 74 

286 – Gerald Rosales (PHI) 67 76 73 70, Namchok Tantipokhakul 68 71 71 76

For more information please visit www.aseanpgatour.com. 

The 21-year-old Korean shot a four-under-par 68 for a final 15-under 273 on the hilly 6,964 yard (6,368 metre) course, the third stop on the 2012 OneAsia circuit. 

"I have always dreamed of winning this tournament more than any other in Korea," said a delighted Bi-o. "People who win here tend to go on to greater things". 

It was Bi-o's second victory of a professional career that started just three years ago, and also his second on OneAsia having claimed the Nanshan China Masters last year following a four-man play-off. 

It earned him 200 million Korean won (U.S. $171,146.42) and puts him in second place in the OneAsia Order of Merit behind Australian Nick Cullen, winner of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open. 

Korean Ryu Hyun-woo closed with a final round 66 to grab second place on Sunday, a shot ahead of ahead of countryman Kang Kyung-nam. 

Bi-o leapt into the spotlight last year as the youngest player on the PGA tour, but he found it a struggle in the big league and lost his card. 

He admits to having been a bit star-struck. 

"I was a little bit too eager," he said. "I was playing with all the best players in the world and I was trying too hard to keep up." 

Bi-o will stay in South Korea for next week's SK Telecom Open, also on OneAsia, before returning to the United States and the Nationwide Tour in hope of regaining a place at the top table. His is currently 25th on the money list, with the top 25 graduating to the PGA tour at the end of the season. 

With the kind of maturity Bi-o displayed this week, he will be a different prospect second time around. 

Nattily dressed in loud check trousers and a black shirt, Bi-o started Sunday with a nervous bogey before settling his nerves with a birdie on the second. 

He then put on a flawless display with four more birdies that left the field scrambling in his wake. 

Bi-o nearly secured victory with a 30 foot (10 metre) putt from off the green on the last, but was left with a tap-in that his playing partners jokingly made him mark as they holed out. 

Defending champion Kim Kyung-tae had an out-of-sorts week summed up by a triple bogey on the seventh and three bogeys on the last three holes that saw him finish on two under and a share of 15th place. 

Best of the non-Koreans in the field was Australian Jamie Arnold, who recovered from two opening bogeys to close with a 69 for a three-under total and share of 12th.

For more information please visit www.oneasia.asia.

The pairing of the 2011 K-League, J.League, Chinese Super League and Thai Premier League champions in the same group was always bound to ensure a highly competitive campaign, and it has delivered with all four still in contention to advance ahead of the final round of Group Stage fixtures.

Jeonbuk need just a point at home to debutants Kashiwa to advance to the knockout stage for a third consecutive season, while victory for the 2006 champions will secure top spot and home advantage in the Round of 16.

Jeonbuk beat Guangzhou 3-1 in China last time out at the start of May with Lee Dong-gook scoring twice in the closing stages as last year’s tournament MVP and top goalsocer took his 2012 tally to four to leave last year’s beaten finalists on the verge of a place in the last 16.

Kashiwa realistically need to win to keep their hopes alive, with the J.League side level on points with fellow continental debutants Guangzhou, who travel to Thailand to face Buriram.

Guangzhou know victory will secure qualification after beating Kashiwa at home on Matchday Four while a draw will also be enough as long as Jeonbuk avoid defeat at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

And given the importance of the game, Chinese Super League leaders Guangzhou left for Thailand last Tuesday and Korean coach Lee Jang-soo fielded a second string line-up in Friday’s 3-1 defeat by Dalian Shide.

But Lee will be without suspended number one goalkeeper Yang Jun with Li Shuai set to deputise, while Argentinean midfielder Dario Conca is unlikely to feature after being handed a nine-match suspension by the club following the home defeat by Jeonbuk.

Buriram, meanwhile, are a point adrift at the foot of the table despite suffering back-to-back defeats by Jeonbuk before losing to Kashiwa last time out, and also must hope the J.League side fail to win in Korea.

Coach Attaphol Puspakom will also be forced into at least one change with Cameroonian defender Yves Hermann Ekwala suspended after being sent-off in the 1-0 defeat by Kashiwa.

“We know that we are very strong at home,” said Buriram striker Franck Ohandza, who scored twice in the 3-2 defeat by Jeonbuk on Matchday Four.

“People love football in Thailand. They (our fans) really inspire us, they love us, and we love them.”

In Group G, 2010 champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma need just a point against already-eliminated Tianjin Teda in China to advance, while Nagoya Grampus entertain Central Coast Mariners with both sides seeking three points at Mizuho Athletic Stadium.

Australia’s Central Coast kept their hopes alive of a maiden appearance in the last 16 after picking up their first win in the AFC Champions League against Tianjin two weeks ago, and Graham Arnold’s side need a repeat performance in Japan to secure qualification.

“We are absolutely still in it with six points,” said Arnold following the 5-1 win over Tianjin on Matchday Five.

“We have performed well so far expect for the Seongnam game and there were reasons for that. We have got two weeks before Nagoya and we know what we have to do.”

Arnold will be without suspended right-back Pedj Bojic as the Mariners look to join fellow A-League side Adelaide United in the last 16.

Second placed Nagoya, though, need just a draw to maintain their one point advantage over the Mariners to advance to the last 16 for a second consecutive season.

In the West, Iran’s Piroozi know victory over already-eliminated Al Shabab Al Arabi in Dubai will secure qualification, while Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Qatar’s Al Gharafa meet in Riyadh with both sides still in contention.

Al Gharafa must win to qualify for the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for just a second time but will be without suspended Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli, while Al Hilal need only a point to advance to the last 16 for a third consecutive season.

Al Hilal, who lost in the Round of 16 to domestic rivals Al Ittihad last year, can still advance should they suffer a first defeat of the campaign as long as Piroozi fail to beat winless Al Shabab Al Arabi.

With Piroozi in the driving seat to top the group, the runner-up from Group D will face two-time winners Al Ittihad in the last 16.

Finally in Group C, Iran’s Sepahan and Saudi League runners-up Al Ahli have both already secured qualification, with top spot to be decided as the pair meet at Foolad Shahr Stadium, although the visitors need just a point due to their superior goal difference.

Al Ahli, though, will be without suspended Victor Simoes after the Brazilian striker scored his fourth goal of the campaign in the 3-0 win over Lekhwiya at the start of May but was also booked for the second time.

With the qualification picture already decided, UAE Pro league side Al Nasr can finish with victory over Qatar champions Lekhwiya in Doha.

For more information please visit: 

AFC Champions League – News Index: http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league

AFC Champions League 2011 – Schedule & Results: http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl2012-schedule-results?view=Competitions&id=430

He won this event last year by nine strokes and put one hand on the trophy today after firing a five-under-par 67 at Burapha Golf Club.

His compatriot Thanyakon Khrongpha is in second place after shooting a 72.

Two shots further back are Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk and Thailand’s Somsak Kaopratum and Namchok Tantipokhakul. Van Der Valk shot 68 while Somsak fired a 70 and Namchok came in with 71.

Prom also won this event in 2006 which was the same year he claimed the SK Telecom Open in Korea, which remains his biggest win to date.

Victory in this event last year signaled a return to form that is continuing this week in the second event of the season on the ASEAN PGA Tour.

He began the day one stroke behind Thanyakon but stormed through with an outward nine of four-under-par 32. He had a three shot lead at the turn.

Prom hit trouble on 14 where he made a double bogey six but he recovered with a birdie on 16 and 18.

Said Prom: “Yes it was a good day but got into trouble on 14 as my ball landed on a small ants nest. The nest wasn’t bad enough for me to get a drop but it was an awkward lie so my next shot was poor. These things happen.”

Prom, whose father Suthep was the first player from Thailand to win the Thailand Open in 1992, boasts a three round total 12-under-par 204.

“I will just play my same game tomorrow. Not look at the scoreboards and enjoy being in this position,” added Prom.

Thailand’s Varut Chomchalam and amateur Poom Saksansin, Michael Tran from Vietnam and Filipino Jay Bayron are eight off the lead.

In the ladies section Thailand’s Tiranan Yoopan holed a 30 foot birdie putt on the final hole to beat defending champion Thidapa Suwannapura by one shot.

Tiranan, aged 24, shot a one-under par 71 for a three round total of level-par 216. Thidapa fired a 72.

“It was very close and that last putt made it very exciting. I had my brother caddying for me so that helped. I plan to go to the Japan Tour qualifying school at the end of the year,” said Tiranan, who is based at Thana City Golf and Sports Club in Bangkok.

Leading third round scores:

Par 72

(Thai unless stated) 

204 – Prom Meesawat 67 70 67

208 – Thanyakon Khrongpha 69 67 72

210 – Guido Van Der Valk (HOL) 74 68 68, Somsak Kaopratum 68 72 70, Namchok Tantipokhakul 68 71 71

211 – Varut Chomchalam 70 71 70, Poom Saksansin (a) 69 72 70, Michael Tran (VNM) 68 71 72, Jay Bayron 69 69 73

212 – Pawin Ingkhapradit 69 73 70, Pariya Junhasavasdikul 71 70 71

Ladies Section, Final round scores:

(Thai unless stated)

216 – Tiranan Yoopan 73 72 71

217 – Thidapa Suwannapura 72 73 72

220 – Ajira Nualraksa 74 70 76, Kusuma Meechai 69 76 75

221 – Saraporn Chamchoi 75 75 71

222 – Rungthiwa Pangjan 7374 75

225 – Jaruporn Palakawong Na Ayutthaya 76 73 76