China earthquake forces Asian Champions League postponement

The Asian Football Confederation announced the vital Group E match would be delayed until Thursday due to a three-day period of national mourning which started Monday in China.

Other last-round league matches are due to be played Wednesday.
Adelaide needs only to avoid defeat to top the group and advance to the quarterfinals. Chinese champion Changchun Yatai needs to win to progress.

"We know what we have to do,'' Changchun coach Gao Hongbo told The Associated Press. "Win or we'll be out. What can we depend on? Our mental strength.

"We're not fighting alone, every player wants to dedicate the victory to the victims of the earthquake.''

The Kuala Lumpur-based AFC said a minute of silence would be programmed before the kick-off of all the AFC Champions League matches in this round as a mark of respect for the victims of the natural disasters in China and Myanmar.