Sydney: Japan's Kawasaki Frontale face a must-win match against recently crowned A-League Grand Final winners Sydney FC in Group H of the 2019 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
Already eliminated from the 2019 AFC Champions League, but winners of the Grand Final against Perth Glory on Sunday, it has been a rollercoaster few months for Australia's Sydney FC.
It will surely be a party atmosphere at Jubilee Stadium when the Sky Blues take to the field to celebrate their domestic title in front of their home fans, but there is also the matter of the final Group H tie of the 2019 campaign against visitors Kawaski.
The J.League side will be out spoil the festivites and hope they are the ones receiving the adulation of their supporters after securing a place in the Round of 16.
To do so, Kawasaki have to defeat Sydney FC and then rely on results in China between Shanghai SIPG and Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai going their way. With just a point separating second placed Shanghai and Kawasaki in third the margins could not be finer.
The CSL side own a better head-to-head record, but a defeat or draw coupled with Kawasaki picking up three points in Australia would be enough for Toru Oniki's side. They do come into Tuesday's tie in good form. Since their last defeat in the AFC Champions League on April 10, Kawasaki have gone unbeaten in all competitions - a run of eight matches.
Manabu Saito's goal on Matchday Two was enough for a 1-0 victory in the first meeting with Sydney, they will need to at least repeat that on Matchday Six while keeping an eye on events at Shanghai Stadium.
Source: the-afc.com