SHB Da Nang (Vietnam) vs Al Riffa (Bahrain) in quarter finals AFC Cup 2010

Last edition’s losing finalists Al Karamah of Syria will have their work cut out for them in the AFC Cup quarter-finals after the draw on Tuesday pitted them against Thai giant-killers Muang Thong United.

Appetising contests can be expected in the other quarter-final match-ups too as Bahrain’s Riffa pulled Vietnam’s Da Nang, Thai Port of Thailand were slotted to meet Al Qadsia of Kuwait, and Syrian outfit Al Ittihad saw themselves ranged against Kuwait’s Kazma.

There will be every reason for Al Karamah to be wary of Muang Thong after the latter side stoutly edged Qatar’s Al Rayyan on penalties in the Round of 16.

Al Karamah’s jinx in continental competitions goes back to 2006 when they lost to Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Motors in the AFC Champions League Final before bowing out to Kuwait’s Kuwait Sports Club in the AFC Cup decider last year.

If Al Karamah reach the semi-finals, then a potential all-Syrian affair could be the fans’ reward if Al Ittihad, who beat defending champions Kuwait SC in the last 16, clear the hurdle posed by Kazma in quarter-final 4.

Al Riffa, who outclassed Hong Kong champions South China 3-1 to book a last eight berth, host Vietnamese champions Da Nang, the 4-3 extra-time winners over Binh Duong (Vietnam) in the first leg.

Kuwaiti champions Al Qadsia, who beat India’s Churchill Brothers 2-1 in the Round of 16, travel to Thailand to play the first leg of their quarter-final against Thai Port.

AFC Cup 2010 Draw Results

QUARTER-FINALS (September 14 and 21, 2010)

QF 1: Al Riffa (Bahrain) vs Da Nang (Vietnam)

QF 2: Al Karamah (Syria) vs Muang Thong United (Thailand)

QF 3: Thai Port (Thailand) vs Al Qadsia (Kuwait)

QF 4: Al Ittihad (Syria) vs Kazma (Kuwait)

SEMI-FINALS (October 5 and 19, 2010)

SF 1: Winner of QF 2 vs Winner of QF 4

SF 2: Winner of QF 1 vs Winner of QF 3

FINAL (November 6, 2010)

SF 2 winners vs SF 1 winners

*The final is one leg. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played over two legs.