SEOUL – Kashiwa Reysol and Iran’s Esteghlal will have to make history in second-leg games of the Asian Champions League semifinals on Wednesday if they are to prevent Chinese and Korean titans Guangzhou Evergrande and FC Seoul reaching the final.

No team since the current format of the tournament started in 2003 has overcome a semifinal first-leg deficit of more than one goal to reach the final, but that is the challenge facing both Kashiwa and Esteghlal.

Kashiwa is in the worst situation after losing 4-1 at home to Chinese champion Guangzhou last week.

“I know the return leg will be a difficult one for us, but I also think that we still have the possibility to go to the next round,” said Kashiwa’s Brazilian coach Nelsinho.

“I’ve seen some cases when a team has turned around the situation for their favor in a similar situation. Bearing that in our mind, we will prepare for our return leg.”

It would be a major shock. Big-spending Guangzhou, led by Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, is expected to become the first Chinese team to win the tournament.

The Italian coach also wants to become the first coach to win both Europe’s Champions League and its Asian counterpart.

With the team full of Chinese internationals, Guangzhou needs to win just one of its remaining five games in the Chinese Super League to clinch a third successive domestic title.

“I don’t think we have got (a place in the final) yet,” said Lippi. “I’m 64 years old this year and have been in the coaching business for 30 years, and from that experience I can tell that you that you never know what will happen next in football, and Reysol have ability and were a tough side to play this time.”