Junior: We've made history

The UAE champions are the first team into the final 16, having ended their poor ACL form after winning just one game in their previous 18 matches prior to this year's edition.Al Jazira coach Caio Junior has celebrated his side becoming the first to qualify for the 2012 AFC Champions League (ACL) final after their 1-1 draw with Esteghlal on Wednesday, stating they've "made history".The UAE champions have had a poor recent record in the ACL but Wednesday's point moved them to 10 points this season, clinching their spot in the last 16."The draw was good for us because we are the first team to secure our place in the knockout stage and we made history by this achievement," the Brazilian coach said."I am extremely pleased with this and I want to thank all the players and our fans."The Brazilian coach added that while he was delighted to have sealed his side's passage, they'd continue to aim for top spot in the group."We are making history, but I want more than this," he said. "We need to win the group so that we are home in the next round, which is only one match, because if you win that the possibility of reaching the final increases very much."I will do my best for the players to believe in this. We want to write our name in club history and become (Asian) champions."Meanwhile, the result sees Esteghlal drop to third in Group A, behind Al Rayyan who won 1-0 at Nasaf Qarshi.Esteghlal boss Parviz Mazloumi said: "We came here to get the three points but at the end of the day we had to settle for a point... Personally speaking I'm not satisfied with the result especially as we were ahead before conceding a goal in the second period."