19 hours Ago By Michael Church
Melbourne City will have to overcome the challenge of Taiwan's Taichung Blue Whales if they are to progress in the prestigious Asian Women's Champions League. The draw for the last eight of the inaugural competition was held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, pitting Michael Matricciani's charges against the Taiwanese outfit in March. On the other end of the draw, reigning continental champions Urawa Red Diamonds will face China's Wuhan Jiangda.
Japan's Urawa will host the reigning Chinese Women's Super League champions in the single-leg clash on either March 22 or 23 with the winners taking on Ho Chi Minh City or Abu Dhabi Country Club in the semi-finals in May. South Korean outfit Hyundai Steel Red Angels will play Iran's Bam Khatoon, with the winner taking on either City or the Blue Whales. The Women's Asian Champions League kicked off in August featuring 21 clubs competing for a first prize of $1 million, the largest sum awarded to the winners of a women's club competition in Asia.
Urawa were crowned continental champions in May when the Japanese outfit defeated Hyundai Steel to lift the Asian Women's Club Championship, which served as a pilot competition ahead of the launch of the WACL. The semi-finals and final will be played in an as-yet undecided centralised venue, with matches to be played on May 21 and 24 respectively..
