Evergrande carries hopes of the entire nation - Gao Lin

Forward Gao Lin believes Guangzhou Evergrande carries the hopes of all Chinese soccer fans into Saturday's AFC Champions League final second leg against Al Ahli of the UAE as it aims to claim its second continental title in three years at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium.

Although the tie is tantalizingly poised ahead of the decisive meeting in Guangzhou after the goalless stalemate in the first leg in Dubai earlier this month, a score-draw would be enough for Al Ahli to prevent Luiz Felipe Scolari's Super League championship side from adding to its Champions League success in 2013.

And with the Chinese national team's hopes of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup suffering a blow after Tuesday night's goalless draw in Hong Kong, Guangzhou's fate in the AFC Champions League final takes on even greater significance.