It's ok: Be optimistic (3)

Now, the knockouts

Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou has been eyeing becoming China's first Asian champions since Liaoning in 1990, and is attempting to better last year's showing in the contest, when a late goal saw the club bow out in the quarterfinals.

The big-spending club, which fields the top foreign trio of Paraguayan Lucas Barrios, Argentine Dario Conca and Brazilian Muriqui, will face Australia's Central Coast Mariners in the knockouts.

It's a round Evergrande can't afford to lose, because boss Xu Jiayin expects nothing less than a semifinal berth, and has never hidden his desire to win the trophy.

Making matters more difficult is an eight-hour flight to the away game amid an already tight game schedule. The Mariners, on the other hand, have already won their domestic league and devoted themselves to the Asian tournament.

Brazilian striker Elkeson, who contributed 12 goals in six games in the Chinese league, is expected to give the club's roster a boost if it succeeds against the Australians. Clubs in the quarterfinals will be allowed to adjust their lineups.

Beijing will face a more difficult situation when it takes on FC Seoul, which trashed Jiangsu 7-1 in two games in the round of 16. Adding to the challenge is a lack of depth on the bench.

Beginning with a game at Guangzhou R&F on May 11, Beijing will have five games in 15 days. In addition to two Champions League matches, there are domestic league games against Tianjin Teda and Shanghai Shenhua.

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