The Uzbeks were drawn with Pohang in yesterday’s draw.

“Pohang defeated Newcastle Jets with a big margin (6-0) but the Australians were not that strong compared to last year,” said Rivaldo (pictured).

“This year, they finished last in their domestic league,” added the Brazilian after scoring four goals in Bunyodkor’s 5-0 victory over Sogdiana on Monday.

“The Koreans will have to take us seriously as we are six points clear in our domestic league standings,” he said, referring to the Uzbek side’s 13th consecutive victory.

Rivaldo, who scored a hat-trick in the team’s last game against Navbahor, took his individual tally to 14 goals while his teammate Anvar Soliev is second with eight.

“All the games will be tough at this stage of the AFC Champions League but despite all this, we must go through to the semi-final,” he added.

AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov, who added Bunyodkor’s fifth goal against Sogdiana, said his team would not underestimate Pohang because of their current domestic league standing. Pohang are placed sixth after 12 games.

“Teams from Korea have traditionally been very strong. It’s good for us that we play the first leg at home and we will try to make use of it,” he said.

Pakhtakor, Uzbekistan’s others representative in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, thrashed Shurtan 4-0 to continue their chase.

Alexander Geynrikh (two), Sherzod Karimov and Farhod Tadjiev were on target for the ACL ever-presents who will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad in the quarter-finals.

Neftchi, who will take on Hong Kong’s South China in their AFC Cup last eight encounter, defeated Dynamo 2-0, thanks to a brace from Alisher Halikov.