Football

Nam Định will play teams from Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore in the AFC Champions League Two's Group G. VNS Photos

HÀ NỘI — Thép Xanh Nam Định have been given a relatively easy ride in the AFC Champions League Two group stages after the draw took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Vietnamese champions will play Bangkok United (Thailand), Lee Man (Hong Kong) and Tampines Rovers FC (Singapore) in Group G.

Bangkok United are considered the strongest team in this group. The Thai club finished second in their domestic league last season.

Lee Man and Tampines Rovers are champions of their local championships.

The brand new tournament will also feature exciting match-ups and titanic battles of 28 teams in seven groups.

Group A saw Al Wakrah SC of Qatar drawn together with Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant of India and Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC headline the Group B cast, with Iraq’s Air Force Club, Al Khaldiya SC of Bahrain and Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr their opponents.

The AFC Champions League Two draw result.

In Group C, Sepahan SC of Iran will battle with United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah FC, FC Istiklol of Tajikistan and Jordan’s Al Wehdat while Shabab Al Ahli from the UAE, Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf, Al Hussein of Jordan and Kuwait SC are the four teams in Group D.

Group E top seeds Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan have Australia’s Sydney FC, Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines and Hong Kong’s Eastern for company while Zhejiang FC of China will fancy their chances in Group F where they were drawn with Thailand’s Port FC, Lion City Sailors FC of Singapore and Indonesia’s Persib Bandung.

Group H comprises Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Selangor FC of Malaysia, Thailand’s Muangthong United and Dynamic Herb Cebu FC of the Philippines.

The action will begin on September 17 with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the knockout stage. VNS