Acl 2012

OFFICIAL GUIDE

2012

Participating Clubs

Al Rayyan (QAT)

Al Jazira(UAE)

Nasaf(UZB)

Esteghlal(IRN)

Gro

up A

Al Ittihad (KSA)

Al Arabi (QAT)

Baniyas(UAE)

Pakhtakor(UZB)

Gro

up B

Sepahan (IRN)

Al Ahli (KSA)

Lekhwiya (QAT)

Al Nasr (UAE)

Gro

up C

Al Shabab Al Arabi(UAE)

Piroozi (IRN)

Al Hilal (KSA)

Al Gharafa (QAT)

Gro

up D

Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Adelaide United (AUS)

Bunyodkor (UZB)

Pohang Steelers(KOR)

Gro

up E

Tianjin Teda (CHN)

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)

Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Gro

up G

Buriram United (THA)

Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

Gro

up H

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

FC Tokyo (JPN)

Brisbane Roar (AUS)

Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Gro

up F

UZBEKISTAN TASHKEN

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1956

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KHTAKOR

OFFICIAL GUIDE

2012

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ContentsIntroduction

AFC message 5

Format

Group stage schedule 9

Competition Format 11

Group A

Al Rayyan (QAT) 16

Al Jazira (UAE) 18

Nasaf (UZB) 20

Esteghlal (IRN) 22

Group B

Al Ittihad (KSA) 28

Al Arabi (QAT) 30

Baniyas (UAE) 32

Pakhtakor (UZB) 34

Group C

Sepahan (IRN) 40

Al Ahli (KSA) 42

Lekhwiya (QAT) 44

Al Nasr (UAE) 46

Group D

Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 52

Piroozi (IRN) 54

Al Hilal (KSA) 56

Al Gharafa (QAT) 58

Group E

Gamba Osaka (JPN) 64

Adelaide United (AUS) 66

Bunyodkor (UZB) 68

Pohang (KOR) 70

Group F

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 76

FC Tokyo (JPN) 78

Brisbane Roar (AUS) 80

Beijing Guoan (CHN) 82

Group G

Tianjin Teda (CHN) 88

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 90

Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 92

Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 94

Group H

Buriram United (THA) 100

Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 102

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 104

Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) 106

Knockout stage

Schedule 111

AFC Champions League 2011

Review & Results 115















AFC Champions League 2002-3


Roll of honourACL/AFC Cup/Super Cup winners 187

ACC/ACWC winners 188

Media Information 191

Useful contacts 199

The information contained in this media guide was correct at presstime. As all of the competing teams are allowed to add or replace up to five players until seven days before their first match, the players

who are featured in this media guide may not be on the final team lists.

INTRODUCTION

AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2012

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AFC MessageDear friends in the media,

The year 2011 was unforgettable for Asian football as our teams left an indelible mark on world football with brilliant performances in various tournaments.

While the Japan women’s team ‘Nadeshiko’ made headlines with their FIFA Women’s World Cup triumph, Asian clubs took the AFC Champions League to new heights and made us all proud with their classy performances in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The 2011 edition of the AFC Champions League was marked by the growing popularity of the tournament, and, coming on the back of such a successful season, I have every reason to believe that 2012 will be even more exciting.

AFC is fully aware of the key role the media plays in spreading the good word around and this informative Media Guide is one more tool to service the fans and media in a professional manner.

This handbook contains easy-to-grasp information and statistics about all the 32 teams. I hope you will find it informative and useful in order to promote the AFC Champions League.

The Future is Asia!

Zhang JilongAFC Acting PresidentFIFA Executive Committee member

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FORMAT


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Group Stage Schedule

06/03/2012

A Al Rayyan (QAT) vs Esteghlal (IRN)

A Nasaf (UZB) vs Al Jazira (UAE)

B Al Ittihad (KSA) vs Pakhtakor (UZB)

B Baniyas (UAE) vs Al Arabi (QAT)

E Gamba Osaka (JPN) vs Pohang Steelers (KOR)

E Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Adelaide United (AUS)

F Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN)

F Brisbane Roar (AUS) vs FC Tokyo (JPN)

20/03/2012

A Esteghlal (IRN) vs Nasaf (UZB)

A Al Jazira (UAE) vs Al Rayyan (QAT)

B Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Baniyas (UAE)

B Al Arabi (QAT) vs Al Ittihad (KSA)

E Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Bunyodkor (UZB)

E Adelaide United (AUS) vs Gamba Osaka (JPN)

F Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs Brisbane Roar (AUS)

F FC Tokyo (JPN) vs Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

03/04/2012

A Esteghlal (IRN) vs Al Jazira (UAE)

A Al Rayyan (QAT) vs Nasaf (UZB)

C Al Nasr (UAE) vs Al Ahli (KSA)

C Sepahan (IRN) vs Lekhwiya (QAT)

E Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Adelaide United (AUS)

E Gamba Osaka (JPN) vs Bunyodkor (UZB)

G Central Coast (AUS) vs Seongnam Chunma (KOR)

G Tianjin Teda (CHN) vs Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

07/03/2012

C Sepahan (IRN) vs Al Nasr (UAE)

C Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Al Ahli (KSA)

D Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) vs Al Gharafa (QAT)

D Al Hilal (KSA) vs Piroozi (IRN)

G Tianjin Teda (CHN) vs Central Coast (AUS)

G Nagoya Grampus (JPN) vs Seongnam Chunma (KOR)

H Buriram United (THA) vs Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

H Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) vs Guangzhou (CHN)

21/03/2012

C Al Nasr (UAE) vs Lekhwiya (QAT)

C Al Ahli (KSA) vs Sepahan (IRN)

D Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Al Hilal (KSA)

D Piroozi (IRN) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)

G Central Coast (AUS) vs Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

G Seongnam Chunma (KOR) vs Tianjin Teda (CHN)

H Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)

H Guangzhou (CHN) vs Buriram United (THA)

04/04/2012

B Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Al Arabi (QAT)

B Al Ittihad (KSA) vs Baniyas (UAE)

D Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Piroozi (IRN)

D Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) vs Al Hilal (KSA)

F Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs FC Tokyo (JPN)

F Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs Brisbane Roar (AUS)

H Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Guangzhou (CHN)

H Buriram United (THA) vs Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)

Matchday One

Matchday Two

Matchday Three

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17/04/2012

B Al Arabi (QAT) vs Pakhtakor (UZB)

B Baniyas (UAE) vs Al Ittihad (KSA)

D Piroozi (IRN) vs Al Gharafa (QAT)

D Al Hilal (KSA) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)

F FC Tokyo (JPN) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN)

F Brisbane Roar (AUS) vs Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

H Guangzhou (CHN) vs Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

H Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) vs Buriram United (THA)

01/05/2012

C Al Nasr (UAE) vs Sepahan (IRN)

C Al Ahli (KSA) vs Lekhwiya (QAT)

D Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)

D Piroozi (IRN) vs Al Hilal (KSA)

G Central Coast (AUS) vs Tianjin Teda (CHN)

G Seongnam Chunma (KOR) vs Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

H Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Buriram United (THA)

H Guangzhou (CHN) vs Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)

15/05/2012

C Sepahan (IRN) vs Al Ahli (KSA)

C Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Al Nasr (UAE)

D Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) vs Piroozi (IRN)

D Al Hilal (KSA) vs Al Gharafa (QAT)

G Tianjin Teda (CHN) vs Seongnam Chunma (KOR)

G Nagoya Grampus (JPN) vs Central Coast (AUS)

H Buriram United (THA) vs Guangzhou (CHN)

H Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) vs Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

18/04/2012

A Al Jazira (UAE) vs Esteghlal (IRN)

A Nasaf (UZB) vs Al Rayyan (QAT)

C Al Ahli (KSA) vs Al Nasr (UAE)

C Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Sepahan (IRN)

E Adelaide United (AUS) vs Pohang Steelers (KOR)

E Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Gamba Osaka (JPN)

G Seongnam Chunma (KOR) vs Central Coast (AUS)

G Nagoya Grampus (JPN) vs Tianjin Teda (CHN)

02/05/2012

A Esteghlal (IRN) vs Al Rayyan (QAT)

A Al Jazira (UAE) vs Nasaf (UZB)

B Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Al Ittihad (KSA)

B Al Arabi (QAT) vs Baniyas (UAE)

E Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Gamba Osaka (JPN)

E Adelaide United (AUS) vs Bunyodkor (UZB)

F Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

F FC Tokyo (JPN) vs Brisbane Roar (AUS)

16/05/2012

A Al Rayyan (QAT) vs Al Jazira (UAE)

A Nasaf (UZB) vs Esteghlal (IRN)

B Al Ittihad (KSA) vs Al Arabi (QAT)

B Baniyas (UAE) vs Pakhtakor (UZB)

E Gamba Osaka (JPN) vs Adelaide United (AUS)

E Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Pohang Steelers (KOR)

F Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs FC Tokyo (JPN)

F Brisbane Roar (AUS) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Matchday Four

Matchday Five

Matchday Six


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Competitions Format

1. The Competition shall consist of three stages:

•Play-offstageconsistingofthePlay-offmatches(knock-outsystem) •PreliminarystageconsistingoftheGroupmatches(Leaguesystem) and Round of 16 (knock-out system) •KnockoutStageconsistingofthematchesofQuarter-finals,Semi-finals,andFinal (Knockout system)

2. The matches in the Competition shall be played in accordance with one of the following three formats:

• Onesinglematch(Knock-outsystem):Play-off,Roundof16,Final • Home&Awaymatches(Leaguesystem):Ingroupscomposedofseveralteams

• One home and one away match per team (knockout system): Quarter-finals, Semi-finals

3. The Final of the AFC Champions League 2012 will be played at the home stadium of one of the finalists and the hosting right will be decided at the Official Draw 2012 for the AFC Champions League Knock-out Stage in accordance with the draw mechanism which will be provided then.

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GROUP A

Group A

Al Rayyan (QAT)

Al Jazira (UAE)

Nasaf (UZB)

Esteghlal (IRN)

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Al Rayyan (QAT)

ClubEstablished: 1967

Address: P.O. Box 400, Doha, Qatar

Tel: (+974) 4482 5800

Fax: (+974) 4480 1626

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.rayyanclub.com

Stadium: Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium

Capacity: 25,000

Media ContactName: Salem Nasser Al Eida

Tel: (+974) 5580 5828

Fax: (+974) 4480 1626

Email: [email protected]

Facts & StatsDomestic Honours: League: 7 – 1995, 90, 86, 84, 82, 78, 76Cup: 5 – 2011, 10, 06, 04, 1999

Continental Record:ACL: 2011 – Group stage 2005 – Group stage 2007 – Group stage

AFC Cup: 2010 – Round of 16 ACC: 1998 – 2nd round 1992 – 3rd 1997 – Quarter-finals 1986 – Group stage ACWC: 2000 – 2nd round ASC: Did not participate

Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 18:20 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Esteghlal (IRN)Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha

MD4 – April 18, 19:30Nasaf (UZB) – Al Rayyan (QAT)Central Stadium, Karshi

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Al Jazira (UAE) – Al Rayyan (QAT)Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD5 – May 02, 19:20Esteghlal (IRN)– Al Rayyan (QAT) Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD3 – April 3, 18:30Al Rayyan (QAT) – Nasaf (UZB)Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha

MD6 – May 16, 18:55Al Rayyan (QAT) – Al Jazira (UAE)Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha

All kick-off times are local and subject to change

Domestic Record2007-08League – 5th

P W D L F A Pts 27 12 3 12 39 42 39

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Sadd 1-3

2008-09League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts 27 15 7 5 62 35 52

Cup – Runners-upLost to Al Gharafa 2-1 in final

2009-10League – 5th

P W D L F A Pts 22 11 4 7 41 30 37

Cup – WinnersBeat Umm Salal 1-0 in final


P W D L F A Pts 22 12 6 4 39 22 42

Cup – WinnersBeat Al Gharafa 2-1 aet in final

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011 – Group stage

H AAl Shabab 1-1 0-1 GSEmirates 2-0 0-2 GSZobahan 1-3 0-1 GS


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Group A

Club Profile

Established in 1967, Al Rayyan have won the Qatar league seven times although their last championship success was in 1995. The club, which boasts the largest supporter base in the Gulf state, will be making their fourth appearance in the AFC Champions League in 2012 after beating Al Gharafa 2-1 to win the Emir Cup for the fifth time last season.

Third-place finishers in the Asian Club Championship in 1992 and quarter-finalists in the same competition in 1997, Al Rayyan will be looking to make a bigger impression in the AFC Champions League after failing to get past the group stage on their previous three appearances in 2005, 2007 and 2011. They went 14 matches without a victory in the competition until they beat Emirates 2-0 in their final group game last year.

The Qatari club also played in the AFC Cup in 2010 when they went out in the round of 16 after losing in a penalty shootout to Thailand’s Muangthong United.

Coach

Diego Aguirre

Having scored the winning goal for Penarol in the 1987 Copa Libertadores final, former striker Diego Aguirre cemented his legendary status with the Uruguayan giants when he coached them to league titles in 2003 and 2010.

Having begun his coaching career at little-known Alianza San Agustin, Aguirre has had three spells in charge at Penarol along with stints at Aucas in Ecuador, Alianza Lima in Peru and Montevideo Wanderers in his native Uruguay. The 46-year-old, who has also coached the Uruguay U-20 national team, took up his first coaching job outside South America when he was appointed by Al Rayyan last September.

Star Players

Fabio Cesar

Born in Brazil, Fabio Cesar has made his mark at international level as a naturalised Qatar player and scored twice for his adopted homeland during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

The 32-year-old playmaker began his career with Brazilian giants Sao Paolo and had spells in the Czech Republic with Viktoria Pizen and in Italy at Napoli and Avellino before joining Qatari side Al Arabi in 2005. He moved to Umm Salal the following year and helped them to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2009 before moving to Al Rayyan in 2010.

Rodrigo Tabata

An attacking midfielder of Japanese-Brazilian descent, Rodrigo Tabata played for several clubs in his native Brazil before he joined Santos in 2006. After playing more than 150 games for the club and scoring 42 goals, he moved to Turkey, where he played for Gaziantepspor in 2008-09 and for Besiktas the following season.

The 31-year-old was loaned out by Besiktas to Al Rayyan in 2010 before he completed a full transfer to the Qatari club in February 2011. He repaid their faith by scoring both of his side’s goals in their 2-1 win over Al Gharafa in the Emir Cup final.

Afonso Alves

Brazilian striker Afonso Alves has been a key player for Al Rayyan since he joined the club in 2010. Deadly in front of goal, he finished as the top scorer in the AFC Cup in 2010 when he netted nine goals in seven games for the Qatari side.

The Belo Horizonte native began his career with Atletico Mineiro in 2001 and had spells at Swedish sides Orgyre and Malmo before he joined Dutch side Heerenveen. He was the top scorer in the Eredivisie in the 2006-2007 season with 34 goals but endured a disappointing spell at English club Middlesbrough before he moved to Qatar to join Al Sadd in 2009.

Young star

Fahed Khalfan

A product of Qatar’s ASPIRE Sports Academy, Fahed Khalfan is considered to be one of the most promising young talents in Qatar and joined Al Rayyan three years ago.

Good performances by the 19-year-old forward for his club in the 2010 Sheikh Jassim Cup earned him a spot in the Qatar U-23 team which took part in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. He was also called up to the senior squad for the first time in 2010 and made his debut in a friendly against Bahrain that September.

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Al Jazira (UAE)


Address: P.O. Box 2750, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Tel: (+971) 2 445 4455

Fax: (+971) 2 445 5122


Website: www.jc.ae

Stadium: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium

Capacity: 40,479

Media ContactName: Ahmid Mardoud

Tel: (+971) 50 264 8731

Fax: (+971) 2 445 5122


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 1 – 2011 Cup: 1 – 2011

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Group stage 2010 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage

ACC: Did not participate

ACWC: Did not participate

ASC: Did not participate

Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:30Nasaf (UZB) – Al Jazira (UAE) Central Stadium, Karshi

MD4 – April 18, 19:45Al Jazira (UAE) – Esteghlal (IRN)Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Al Jazira (UAE) – Al Rayyan (QAT)Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD5 – May 02, 19:45Al Jazira (UAE) – Nasaf (UZB)Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD3 – April 03, 19:00Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Jazira (UAE)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD6 – May 16, 18:55Al Rayyan (QAT) – Al Jazira (UAE)Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha


Domestic Record2007-08League – Runners-up

P W D L F A Pts 22 11 6 5 46 31 39

Cup – 1st roundLost to Bani Yas 3-1

2008-09League – Runners-up

P W D L F A Pts 22 17 3 2 57 17 54

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Wahda 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw


P W D L F A Pts 22 15 6 1 48 26 51

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Al Shabab 3-0 on penalties after 0-0 draw

2010-11League – Champions

P W D L F A Pts 22 16 5 1 64 27 53

Cup – WinnersBeat Al Wahda 4-0 in final

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify


H AUmm Salal 0-1 2-2 GSEsteghlal 2-2 1-1 GSAl Ittihad (KSA) 0-0 1-1 GS


H AAl Gharafa 1-2 2-4 GSEsteghlal 2-1 0-0 GSAl Ahli (KSA) 0-2 1-5 GS


H AAl Gharafa 0-0 2-5 GSSepahan 1-4 1-5 GSAl Hilal 2-3 1-3 GS


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Group A

Club Profile

Al Jazira finally ended their long and frustrating wait for domestic league success in 2011. After being runners-up for three consecutive seasons, they clinched their first United Arab Emirates Pro League title in emphatic fashion, ending their campaign 12 points ahead of runners-up Baniyas.

For good measure, they also won the President’s Cup for the first time with a 4-0 demolition of Abu Dhabi rivals Al Wahda 4-0 in the final.

It was a much deserved reward for the long-suffering fans of the club, whose only previous titles came in 2007 when they won the UAE Federation Cup and the GCC Club Champions Cup.

Having secured the domestic double, Al Jazira can now set their sights on improving their poor record in the AFC Champions League as they make their fourth consecutive appearance. They have recorded only one win in their previous 18 games and managed only a single point from six matches in the group stage last season.

Coach

Franky Vercauteren

Nicknamed “The Little Prince”, Franky Vercauteren took the helm of Al Jazira last August following the departure of Brazilian Abel Braga.

The ex-Belgium international winger helped his country to finish fourth at the 1986 FIFA World Cup and turned to coaching after retiring in 1993. He served as an assistant coach at Anderlecht, the club where he had spent much of his playing career, before being appointed as head coach in 2005 and winning the league in back-to-back seasons.

The 55-year-old also served as an interim coach with the Belgium national team before leading RC Genk to the Belgian league title in 2011.

Star Players

Bare

Having played for clubs in Uruguay, Denmark and his native Brazil early in his career, Bare found much success in Japan, helping Omiya Ardija and Ventforet Kofu to win promotion to the top flight and winning the J.League Cup with Gamba Osaka. He famously netted all six goals for Ventforet in a 6-2 win over Kashiwa Reysol in the 2005 promotion/relegation play-offs.

He played for Gamba in the group stage during their run to the AFC Champions League title in 2008 before moving to Dubai to join Al Ahli. He signed for Al Jazira in 2010 and helped fire them to the league and cup double.

Subait Khater

A United Arab Emirates international midfielder, Subait Khater tasted AFC Champions League glory when he played in the Al Ain side that beat BEC Tero Sasana to win the inaugural tournament in 2003.

After spending over a decade at Al Ain, the midfield veteran moved to league rivals Al Jazira in 2008. The 32-year-old Khater is one of his team’s major attacking threats, who is superb with his delivery in dead-ball situations and is also a driving force in midfield with his creative play.

Ricardo Oliveira

Having won the Spanish league at Valencia and Spanish cup at Real Betis, Ricardo Oliveira joined Al Jazira in 2009 in a US$14 million deal. The prolific striker has proven to be a good purchase with his 15 goals last season helping to drive the club to the league and cup double.

The 31-year-old brings plenty of experience to Al Jazira, having played at several top sides in Brazil and Europe including Italian giants AC Milan. He was a member of the Brazil team that won the 2004 Copa America and the FIFA Confederations Cup a year later.

Young star

Ali Mabkhout

Having gradually progressed through the ranks at Al Jazira, midfielder Ali Mabkhout is considered as one of the club’s most promising young players. The 21-year-old was called up by the United Arab Emirates U-23 team and played in several games during the 2012 Olympic qualifiers.

Mabkhout’s impressive performances in the Al Jazira attack earned him a place in the first team during the 2009 AFC Champions League, when he started in two matches and scored in a 2-2 draw with Esteghlal. He appeared in five matches in the competition last year and was on target against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

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Nasaf (UZB)

ClubEstablished 1997

Address Mustakillik Str, 5, Karshi City, Uzbekistan

Tel (+998) 75 221 5094

Fax (+998) 75 221 5094

E-mail [email protected]

Website www.fcnasaf.uz

Stadium Central Stadium, Karshi

Capacity 16,000

Media ContactName Azizjon Nurov

Tel (+998) 91 461 9610

Fax (+998) 75 221 5094


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: NilCup: Nil

Continental RecordACL: No previous appearances

AFC Cup: 2011 – Champions 2010 – Round of 16

ACC: 2002 – Semi-finals



Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:30Nasaf (UZB) – Al Jazira (UAE) Central Stadium, Karshi

MD4 – April 18, 19:30Nasaf (UZB) – Al Rayyan (QAT)Central Stadium, Karshi

MD2 – March 20, 19:00Esteghlal (IRN) – Nasaf (UZB)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD5 – May 02, 19:45Al Jazira (UAE) – Nasaf (UZB)Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD3 – April 03, 18:30Al Rayyan (QAT) – Nasaf (UZB)Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha

MD6 – May 16, 19:30Nasaf (UZB) – Esteghlal (IRN)Central Stadium, Karshi


Domestic Record2008League – 9th

P W D L F A Pts 30 10 5 15 28 36 35

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Mashal 3-2 on aggregate

2009League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts 30 16 7 7 48 27 55

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Bunyodkor 5-0 on aggregate

2010League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts 26 13 7 6 30 20 46

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Bunyodkor 3-2 on aggregate

2011League – Runners-up

P W D L F A Pts 26 15 8 3 43 15 53

Cup – Runners-upLost to Pakhtakor 3-1 in final

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


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Group A

Club Profile

Nasaf are making their debut in the AFC Champions League this season after creating history last year when they became the first Uzbek side to win an Asian continental club title. The team from Karshi won 10 of their 12 games in the AFC Cup and capped their fine performance in the competition with a 2-1 victory over Al Kuwait in the final.

It proved to be an excellent season for Nasaf, who also enjoyed their highest ever finish in the Uzbek League as they finished runners-up behind champions Bunyodkor. They also reached the Uzbek Cup final but lost 3-1 to Pakhtakor.

While the team from Karshi have yet to win an Uzbek league title, they did appear in the final edition of the Asian Club Championship in 2002 when they went all the way to the semi-finals before bowing out to eventual winners Suwon Samsung Bluewings of Korea.

Coach

Ruziqul Berdiev

A former player and assistant coach at Nasaf, Ruziqul Berdiev took over as the team’s head coach in January after Anatoliy Demyanenko decided to return home to Ukraine to take charge of top flight side Volyn Lutsk.

The 40-year-old spent the first three years of his playing career at Yangiyer but returned to his home province of Qashqadaryo in 1997 to join newly-formed Nasaf. He played over 300 games for the Karshi club during the next 12 seasons and appeared in the Asian Club Championship semi-finals in 2002 before he hung up his boots in 2008 and took up a coaching position at the club.

Star Players

Andrejs Pereplotkins

Having joined Nasaf before the start of the 2011 season, Andrejs Pereplotkins capped a memorable first year with the club when he scored the decisive goal in their AFC Cup final victory. The 27-year-old forward diverted in a low cross with a backheel for Nasaf’s second goal in their 2-1 win over Al Kuwait.

Pereplotkins played for clubs in his native Ukraine, Russia, Belgium and Ireland before joining Latvian giants Skonto in 2003. He spent seven years on the books of the Riga club and made his international debut for Latvia in 2007 after becoming a citizen of the Baltic state.

Murotjon Zukhorov

Having left Bunyodkor in 2010 after falling down the pecking order at the Tashkent side following the signing of Uzbekistan international goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov, Murotjon Zukhorov has firmly established himself as first-choice at Nasaf.

The 29-year-old, who stands 1.88m tall, was an ever-present for the Karshi side during their run to the AFC Cup final last year. He allowed only eight goals in 12 games and stopped two penalties in their shootout victory against Chonburi in the quarter-finals.

Zukhorov appeared in two editions of the AFC Champions League for Bunyodkor in 2008 and 2009, when he conceded only two goals in eight matches.

Ivan Boskovic

Having joined Nasaf from Montenegrin side OFK Grebalj in 2011, former FR Yugoslavia U-21 international Ivan Boskovic had a season to remember for the Uzbek club.

The 30-year-old was the top scorer in the Montenegro league in 2010 with 28 goals and the leading marksman in the AFC Cup last year when he netted 10 goals. His tally included four in the 9-0 drubbing of Dempo in the group stage and the crucial equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Al Wehdat in the second leg of the semi-finals which sent Nasaf through to the final.

Young star

Sherzod Azamov

A promising young defender, Sherzod Azamov is looking to cement his spot in the Nasaf line-up after making his continental club debut last season when he came on as a substitute in the second leg of the AFC Cup semi-final against Al Ansar.

The 22-year-old is a former Uzbekistan youth international who helped his country to finish runners-up at the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship and also played at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

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Esteghlal (IRN)


Address:#68 Western 38 St.,Southern Allameh, Saadat Abad, Tehran

Tel: (+98) 21 886 92157

Fax: (+98) 21 886 90152


Website: www.fcesteghlal.ir

Stadium: Azadi Stadium

Capacity: 100,000

Media ContactName: Hamed Afzali

Tel: (+98) 912 223 7268

Fax: (+98) 21 8869 0152


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 7 – 2009, 06, 01, 1998, 90, 75, 71Cup: 5 – 2008, 02, 00, 1996, 77

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage 2010 – Round of 16 2003 – Group stage ACC: 2002 – 3rd 1991 – Champions 1999 – Runners-up 1971 – Semi-finals 1992 – Runners-up 1970 – Champions ACWC: 2001 – 4th 2000 – 2nd round 1997 – 4th


Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 18:20 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Esteghlal (IRN) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha

MD4 – April 18, 19:45Al Jazira (UAE) – Esteghlal (IRN) Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD2 – March 20, 19:00Esteghlal (IRN) – Nasaf (UZB)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD5 – May 02, 19:20Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Rayyan (QAT) Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD3 – April 3, 19:00Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Jazira (UAE)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD6 – May 16, 19:30Nasaf (UZB) – Esteghlal (IRN)Central Stadium, Karshi



P W D L F A Pts 34 11 10 13 44 44 43

Cup – WinnersBeat Pegah 3-1 on aggregate in final


P W D L F A Pts34 19 9 6 70 34 66

Cup – 2nd roundLost to Mes 5-4 on penalties after 2-2 draw


P W D L F A Pts 34 16 11 7 49 32 59

Cup – 2nd roundLost 5-4 to Steel Azin

2010-11League – 2nd

P W D L F A Pts 34 18 12 4 56 29 66

Cup – Semi-finalsLost 2-1 to Malavan

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009 - Group stage

H AAl Ittihad (KSA) 1-1 1-2 GSUmm Salal 1-1 0-1 GSAl Jazira 1-1 2-2 GS

2010 - Round of 16

Al Shabab 2-3 (A) R16 H AAl Gharafa 3-0 1-1 GSAl Ahli (KSA) 2-1 2-1 GSAl Jazira 0-0 1-2 GS

2011 - Group stage

H AAl Sadd 1-1 2-2 GSAl Nassr 2-1 1-2 GSPakhtakor 4-2 1-2 GS


www.the-afc.com 23

Group A

Club ProfileFounded in the mid-1940s by a group of cyclists from the army, Esteghlal are one of Iran’s oldest clubs. They share the cavernous Azadi Stadium with bitter rivals Piroozi and were the biggest team in the country before the arrival of the Reds.

Their haul of trophies includes seven league titles and four domestic cups, and although they have yet to make a mark in the era of the AFC Champions League, they twice won the tournament’s fore-runner, the Asian Club Championship, in 1970 and 1991.

Their previous AFC Champions League campaigns have been largely disappointing affairs. Eliminated in the group stage in 2003, 2009 and 2011, Esteghlal’s highlight to date has been an appearance in the round of 16 in 2010 when they lost 3-2 to Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab. Runners-up in the Iranian league in 2011, they qualified for the group stage of the AFC Champions League after beating league rivals Zobahan 2-0 and Saudi side Al Ettifaq 3-1 in the play-offs.

Their fans will be hoping that with the additions of seasoned Iran internationals like goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati, defender Khosro Heidari and midfielder Andranik Teymourian, and Trinidad and Tobago international JLloyd Samuel, they can finally mount a credible challenge for the continent’s premier club competition.

Coach

Parviz Mazloumi

Like his older brother Gholam Hosein, Parviz Mazloumi was an Esteghlal player for a decade throughout the 1980s. Both represented the national team, although Parviz’s contribution was less pronounced.

He showed promise as a coach when he kept Aboomoslem in the top flight after taking over the strugglers midway through the 2007-08 season. But things took off for Mazloumi in 2009 when he led Mes Kerman to third place in the Iranian league and a berth in the 2010 AFC Champions League. Appointed in the summer of 2010 as Esteghlal coach, he led the Tehran Blues to second place in the league in his first season in charge.

Star Players

Seyed Mehdi Rahmati

Iran’s undisputed No.1 has developed into the country’s best goalkeeper since the legendary Ahmadreza Abedzadeh, who helped the country to qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

An excellent shot stopper, the 1.87-metre-tall Rahmati kept Iran in with a shout of reaching the 2010 World Cup with a string of fine performance throughout their unsuccessful qualifying campaign. The 29-year-old won the Iranian league with Esteghlal in 2006 during his first spell at the club and he returned to the Tehran giants in 2011 after winning two successive league titles with Sepahan.

Khosro Heidari

An attacking right-back who has often been used by club and national coaches on the right of midfield, Khosro Heidari is in his second spell at Esteghlal after a successful year at Sepahan. The 28-year-old likes to make overlapping runs but is sometimes unconvincing in a defensive capacity.

After he had impressed at Aboomoslem, Paykan and Pas, he joined Esteghlal in 2008 and won the Iranian league title in his first season there. He was taken to Sepahan by his former coach at the Blues, Amir Ghalenoei, in 2009 and won another league title with the Esfahan club.

Andranik Teymourian

A combative midfielder who has emerged as one of the Iran national team’s key players, Andranik Teymourian burst onto the scene at the 2006 FIFA World Cup when he played in all three of Team Melli’s matches in Germany.

That was followed by two years at English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers and spells at Fulham and Barnsley before he returned to Iran in 2010 to play for Teraktorsazi. He helped the Tabriz club to finish fifth in the Iranian league but he was unable to settle there and left to join Esteghlal in the summer of 2011.

Young star

Esmaeil Sharifat

A diminutive and quick-footed attacker who can play up front or on the wing, Esmaeil Sharifat is one for the future at Esteghlal as he seeks to make his mark at the club.

The 23-year-old cut his teeth in Iran’s traditional footballing hinterland, the south-western province of Khouzestan. Impressive performances for Foolad and Esteghlal Ahvaz prompted a move to the capital where he is predominantly used as a late substitute whose speed gives tiring defenders problems towards the end of matches.

www.the-afc.com24

Group A Fixtures

Date Kick-off Match Score

06/03/2012(Tuesday)

18:20 Al Rayyan (QAT) vs Esteghlal (IRN) ___ ___

19:30 Nasaf (UZB) vs Al Jazira (UAE) ___ ___

20/03/2012(Tuesday)

19:00 Esteghlal (IRN) vs Nasaf (UZB) ___ ___

19:30 Al Jazira (UAE) vs Al Rayyan (QAT) ___ ___

03/04/2012(Tuesday)

19:00 Esteghlal (IRN) vs Al Jazira (UAE) ___ ___

18:30 Al Rayyan (QAT) vs Nasaf (UZB) ___ ___

18/04/2012(Wednesday)

19:45 Al Jazira (UAE) vs Esteghlal (IRN) ___ ___

19:30 Nasaf (UZB) vs Al Rayyan (QAT) ___ ___


19:20 Esteghlal (IRN) vs Al Rayyan (QAT) ___ ___

19:45 Al Jazira (UAE) vs Nasaf (UZB) ___ ___


18:55 Al Rayyan (QAT) vs Al Jazira (UAE) ___ ___

19:30 Nasaf (UZB) vs Esteghlal (IRN) ___ ___

All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six

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GROUP B

Group B

Al Ittihad (KSA)

Al Arabi (QAT)

Pakhtakor (UZB)

Baniyas (UAE)

UZBEKISTAN TASHKEN

T1956

FC

PAKHTAKOR

www.the-afc.com28

Al Ittihad (KSA)


Address: PO Box 5945, Jeddah 21432, KSA

Tel: (+966) 672 8888

Fax: (+966) 671 5184


Website: ittihadclub.sa

Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium

Capacity: 21,482

Media ContactName: Atef Akram Tashkandi

Tel: (+966) 5056 11440

Fax: (+966) 2 672 0112


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 8 - 2009, 07, 03, 01, 00, 1999, 97, 82Cup: 7 - 2004, 01, 1997, 91, 63, 59, 58

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Semi-finals 2006 – Quarter-finals 2010 – Group stage 2005 – Champions 2009 – Runners-up 2004 – Champions 2008 – Group stage ACC: 2002 – 2nd round 2001 – Quarter-finals

ACWC: 2000 – Quarter-finals 1995 – 3rd 1999 – Champions 1993 – Semi-finals

ASC: 1999 – Runners-up

Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 20:35Al Ittihad (KSA) – Pakhtakor (UZB)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD4 – April 17, 19:05 Baniyas (UAE) – Al Ittihad (KSA) Baniyas FC Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD2 – March 20, 18:30Al Arabi (QAT) – Al Ittihad (KSA)Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha

MD5 – May 02, 18:30Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Ittihad (KSA)Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD3 – April 04, 20:45Al Ittihad (KSA) – Baniyas (UAE) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD6 – May 16, 21:00Al Ittihad (KSA) – Al Arabi (QAT)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah



P W D L F A Pts 22 14 6 2 40 16 48

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Ettifaq 2-1


P W D L F A Pts 22 17 4 1 57 21 55

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Al Nassr 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw


P W D L F A Pts 22 14 3 5 46 30 45

Cup – 1st roundLost to Al Najran 2-1


P W D L F A Pts 26 13 12 1 49 23 51

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Ettifaq 3-1

ACL Record2008 - Group stage

H AKuruvchi 1-0 0-2 GSAl Ittihad (SYR) 3-0 1-0 GSSepahan 0-1 1-2 GS

2009 – Runners-up

Pohang Steelers 1-2 FinalNagoya Grampus 6-2 (H) 2-1 (A) SFPakhtakor 1-1 (A) 4-0 (H) QFAl Shabab 2-1 (H) R16 H AEsteghlal 2-1 1-1 GSUmm Salal 7-0 3-1 GSAl Jazira 0-0 1-1 GS

2010 - Group stage

H ABunyodkor 1-1 0-3 GSZobahan 2-2 0-1 GSAl Wahda (UAE) 4-0 2-0 GS

2011 – Semi-finals

Jeonbuk Motors 2-3 (H) 1-2 (A) SFFC Seoul 3-1 (H) 0-1 (A) QFAl Ittihad 3-1 (H) R16 H APiroozi 3-1 2-3 GSBunyodkor 1-1 1-0 GSAl Wahda 0-0 3-0 GS


www.the-afc.com 29

Group B

Club Profile

Winners of consecutive AFC Champions League titles in 2004 and 2005, Al Ittihad missed out on becoming the first team to be crowned Asian champions three times when they lost 2-1 to Korean side Pohang Steelers in the 2009 final.

After missing out on the knockout stage in 2010, the Jeddah giants made another strong run last year, reaching the last four after defeating Saudi league rivals Al Hilal in the round of 16 and Korean champions FC Seoul in the quarter-finals. But their hopes of reaching the final for a fourth time were dashed by Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors, who won both legs of the semi-final tie en route to a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Al Ittihad failed to lift any silverware in 2011 but they booked their spot in the AFC Champions League for the eighth time in 10 attempts after finishing second in the Saudi league behind Al Hilal for the second consecutive year.

Coach

Raul Caneda

Spanish coach Raul Caneda took the helm at Al Ittihad in February after the Jeddah giants had dismissed Slovenian Matjaz Kek following a run of poor results and performances that had seen the club slip into mid-table in the Saudi League.

The 43-year-old Caneda began his coaching career in Mexico, where he was an assistant coach at Dorados de Sinaloa. He returned to Spain in 2008 and was an assistant coach at Real Sociedad for one season before he took up a similar position at Primera Liga side UC Almeria. He remained at the Andalusian club until his appointment by Al Ittihad.

Star Players

Hosny Abd Rabo

While Hosny Abd Rabo has spent much of his career with his hometown club, Ismaily, the Egypt international midfielder is now in his third spell overseas after being signed by Al Ittihad in February.

Abd Rabo came up through the youth ranks at Ismaily and made his debut for the club as a teenager in 2003. He joined French club Strasbourg in 2005 but returned to Ismaily a year later.

Loaned to Al Ahli in 2008, he helped the Dubai club to win the United Arab Emirates League championship and also played for them in the AFC Champions League, where he netted three goals. The 27-year-old returned to Ismaily in 2010 before he joined Al Ittihad this year.

Hamad Al Montashari

The 2005 AFC Player of the Year, Hamad Al Montashari began his career with Al Ittihad’s youth team and rose through the ranks to become a key member of the team that won back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2004 and 2005.

The 29-year-old central defender has also weighed in with some crucial goals for his club including a late winner against Jeonbuk Motors in the AFC Champions League semi-finals in 2004. He has made more than 50 international appearances for Saudi Arabia and played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and two AFC Asian Cup finals.

Naif Hazazi

Seen as the likely heir to retired Saudi Arabia striker Hamza Idris, Naif Hazazi first caught the eye in 2008 when he netted 14 goals in 31 games for Al Ittihad’s first team including one in the 3-0 victory over Al Ittihad Aleppo in the AFC Champions League group stage.

After missing the majority of the 2009-10 season through injury, Hazzazi made a good comeback last year when he scored 12 goals in 22 matches in the Saudi league. He also made 10 appearances in last year’s AFC Champions League, scoring two goals in the semi-final against Jeonbuk Motors.

Young star

Maan Khodary

A product of Al Ittihad’s youth system, 20-year-old midfielder Maan Khodary was promoted to the first team this season following his impressive displays for Saudi Arabia’s U-20 side.

Khodary helped the Saudis to a semi-final appearance in the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship in China. That performance earned them a berth in last year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in Colombia, where Khodary once again impressed in all four of his country’s matches as they reached the round of 16.

www.the-afc.com30

Al Arabi (QAT)

Media ContactName Abdil Rahman Hassen Al Khelaifi

Tel (+974) 5553 5500

Fax (+974) 4467 3672

Email [email protected]

Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 7 – 1997, 96, 94, 93, 91, 85, 83Cup: 8 – 1993, 90, 89, 84, 83, 80, 79, 78


ACC: 1999 – 1st round 1993 – 1st qualifying round 1996 – Group stage 1987 – Group stage 1995 – Runners-up

ACWC: 1994 – Semi-finals 1991 – 2nd round


Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 18:50Baniyas (UAE) – Al Arabi (QAT) Baniyas FC Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD4 – April 17, 19:00 Al Arabi (QAT) – Pakhtakor (UZB)Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha

MD2 – March 20, 18:30Al Arabi (QAT) – Al Ittihad (KSA)Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha

MD5 – May 02, 19:00Al Arabi (QAT) – Baniyas (UAE) Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha

MD3 – April 04, 18:00Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Arabi (QAT)Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD6 – May 16, 21:00Al Ittihad (KSA) – Al Arabi (QAT)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah



P W D L F A Pts 27 8 9 10 37 35 33

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Gharafa 4-3 aet


P W D L F A Pts 27 8 5 14 37 51 29

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Qatar SC 2-1


P W D L F A Pts 22 12 4 6 52 30 40

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Umm Salal 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw


P W D L F A Pts 22 12 5 5 39 26 41

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Jaish 2-1

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address Al Rayyah Street, Doha, Qatar

Telephone (+974) 4467 3666

Fax (+974) 4467 3672


Website alarabi.qa

Stadium Grand Hamad Stadium

Capacity 12,500


www.the-afc.com 31

Group B

Club Profile

Despite winning seven Qatar league championships, Al Arabi will be making their first appearance in the AFC Champions League this year. The Red Devils last won a league title in 1997 and finished fourth in the Qatar Stars League last year. But with third-placed Al Rayyan also lifting the Emir Cup, it was enough to give them a spot in the continental competition.

Al Arabi won all of their league titles between 1983 and 1997 and featured in the Asian Club Championship five times with their best performance coming in 1995 when they finished runners-up after losing 1-0 to Thai Farmers Bank in the final. They also played in the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup twice and reached the semi-finals in 1994.

Founded in 1952, Al Arabi boast a large fan base in Qatar where they have been nicknamed the Dream Team. However, they have failed to shine on the domestic front in recent times with their only successes coming in the season-opening Sheikh Jassim Cup, which they have won three times in the last four years.

Coach

Abdullah Saad

Qatari coach Abdullah Saad took charge of Al Arabi on a caretaker basis in January after the club decided to terminate the contract of Brazilian coach Paulo Silas following their disappointing results in the first half of the Qatar Stars League season.

Saad will be taking the helm at Al Arabi for the second time, having previously been appointed in October 2006 to replace former France national coach Henri Michel. He was in charge for five months before stepping aside following the appointment of Portuguese coach Jose Romao.

Star Players

Leonardo Pisculichi

Argentinian attacking midfielder Leonardo Pisculichi began his career at Argentinos Juniors in 2002 and stayed with his club for three years before moving to Spanish side Mallorca in 2006.

The former Argentina U-20 international spent only 10 months in Spain before he moved to Qatar in 2007 to join Al Arabi in a 3.6 million Euro deal. The 28-year-old has proven his worth for the team during the past five years, finishing as the second highest scorer in the league in 2008 and 2009 with 18 and 21 goals respectively.

Hadi Aghily

An experienced Iran international centre-back, Hadi Aghily joined Al Arabi last July after spending the previous seven years at Sepahan. It is the first time that the defender has played his club football outside Iran, having joined Sepahan in 2004 after spells at Piroozi and Saipa.

The 30-year-old led the Esfahan side to a pair of Iranian league and Hazfi Cup victories and played in the team that finished runners-up in the AFC Champions League and played in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2007. Having previously skippered Team Melli, he is now Al Arabi’s club captain.

Majdi Siddiq

Midfielder Majdi Siddiq had played for several clubs in Qatar. He started his career with Al Khor in 2003 and his impressive displays earned him a move to Al Rayyan in 2008 although he left a year later to join Al Sadd. After playing there for two seasons, Siddiq joined Al Arabi in 2011.

The 26-year-old made his international debut for Qatar in 2004 and played for the national team in the AFC Asian Cup finals in 2007 as well as the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Young star

Boualem Khoukhi

Young Algerian midfielder Boualem Khouki hit the headlines in Qatar when he helped Al Arabi to win the 2011 Sheikh Jassim Cup, scoring the winning goal in the 3-2 win over Umm Salal in the final.

Having coming through the youth system at Algerian side JSM Cheraga, Khouki was signed by Al Arabi to his first professional contract in 2009. The 21-year-old has been called up by Algeria’s U-23 side.

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Baniyas (UAE)


Address Al Shamkha, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Telephone (+971) 2582 2214

Fax (+971) 2584 2071


Website www.baniyasclub.ae

Stadium Baniyas FC Stadium

Capacity 9,500

Media ContactName: Nader Saleh Abuhayyeh

Tel: (+971) 56 782 6950

Fax: (+971) 2 584 2797


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: NilCup: 1 - 1992

Continental RecordACL: No previous appearances ACC: Did not compete

ACWC: 1993 – Intermediate (3rd) round

ASC: Did not compete

Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 18:50Baniyas (UAE) – Al Arabi (QAT) Baniyas FC Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD4 – April 17, 19:05 Baniyas (UAE) – Al Ittihad (KSA)Baniyas FC Stadium, Abu Dhabi

MD2 – March 20, 17:30Pakhtakor (UZB) – Baniyas (UAE) Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD5 – May 02, 19:00Al Arabi (QAT) – Baniyas (UAE) Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha

MD3 – April 04, 20:45Al Ittihad (KSA) – Baniyas (UAE) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD6 – May 16, 19:20Baniyas (UAE) – Pakhtakor (UZB)Baniyas FC Stadium, Abu Dhabi


Domestic Record2007-08League – 6th (2nd division)

P W D L F A Pts 30 16 6 8 68 35 54

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Al Ahli 3-0

2008-09League – 1st (2nd division)

P W D L F A Pts 30 21 7 2 80 25 70

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Ain 3-2 aet


P W D L F A Pts 22 10 6 6 44 37 36

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Al Wahda 4-0


P W D L F A Pts 22 12 5 5 38 24 41

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Al Shabab Al Arabi 2-0

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 33

Group B

Club Profile

Established in 1982, Baniyas made their first significant mark on the United Arab Emirates football scene a decade later when they won the President’s Cup as a second division side with a 2-1 extra-time win over Al Nasr in the final.

They were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history in 1995 but they failed to settle there as they consistently finished in the bottom half of the table and suffered relegation three times in the next 11 seasons.

They were promoted for the fourth time in 2009 after running away with the second division title. However, they were able to consolidate their place in the top flight the following season, finishing fourth, before enjoying their best ever season in 2010-11 as they took the runners-up spot behind Al Jazira and secured a place in the AFC Champions League for the first time.

Coach

Gabriel Calderon

Having previously coached the Saudi Arabia and Oman national teams as well Saudi giants Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, former Argentina midfielder Gabriel Calderon accepted his first job in the United Arab Emirates when he was appointed coach of Baniyas last November.

The 52-year-old was in charge at Al Ittihad from 2008 to 2010, winning the Saudi league with the Tigers and leading them to the AFC Champions League final in 2009.

Following his departure from the Jeddah club, he took charge of Al Hilal and led them to the domestic league and cup double in 2011. However, he saw his side lose 3-1 to their fierce rivals in the AFC Champions League round of 16 last year.

Star Players

Francisco Yeste

Spanish midfielder Francisco Yeste is his second stint in the United Arab Emirates after playing for Al Wasl in the 2010-11 season.

Yeste came up through the youth ranks at Athletic Bilbao and was a member of the Spain U-20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999. He spent a decade with the Basque club before he joined Al Wasl in 2010.

He scored 12 goals in 27 matches for the Dubai club but moved in the off-season to Greek side Olympiacos. But after a disappointing stint in Greece, the 32-year-old returned to the Middle East in January to join Baniyas.

Andre Senghor

Senegalese striker Andre Senghor first arrived in the United Arab Emirates to play for Al Ain in 2006. He was loaned out to Syrian side Al Karama in 2007 and helped them to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League as he scored three goals.

After another loan spell at Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, the prolific forward re-joined Al Ain in 2008 and netted 11 goals in only 12 matches before moving to Baniyas the following year. He went on to finish as the UAE Pro League’s top scorer last season with 18 goals.

He made his international debut for Senegal in a friendly against Oman in 2009.

Fawzi Bashir

Oman international midfielder Fawzi Bashir brings plenty of big-game experience to Baniyas, having played for his country in the AFC Asian Cup in 2004 and 2007. He also played a key role in Oman’s victory in the Gulf Cup in 2009.

After starting his career in 1998 with Omani side Al Nasr, Bashir joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittifaq in the 2004-05 season before moving to Qatari club Al Wakra a year later. He also had spells with Al Qadisiya and Kazma in Kuwait and Al Gharafa in Qatar before joining Baniyas in 2009.

Young star

Mohammed Fawzi

Creative midfielder Mohammed Fawzi is considered as one of the best future talents in the United Arab Emirates. He started his football career in 2007 with Dubai side Al Ahli and played there for three seasons before moving to Baniyas in 2010.

The 21-year-old scored two goals to help the UAE youth side to win the AFC U-19 Championship in 2008. He also featured in the UAE squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and for the UAE U-23s in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers.

www.the-afc.com34

Pakhtakor (UZB)

Media ContactName Behzod Nazarov

Tel (+998) 98 302 3216

Fax (+998) 71 113 0009


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 8 – 2007, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02, 1998, 92 Cup: 11 – 2011, 09, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 1997, 93

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Group stage 2006 – Group stage 2010 – Round of 16 2005 – Group stage 2009 – Quarter-finals 2004 – Semi-finals 2008 – Group stage 2003 – Semi-finals 2007 – Group stage

ACC: 2000 – 1st round ACWC: 2002 – 2nd round 1999 – Quarter-finals 1995 – Preliminary Rd


Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 20:35Al Ittihad (KSA) – Pakhtakor (UZB)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD4 – April 17, 19:00Al Arabi (QAT) – Pakhtakor (UZB) Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha

MD2 – March 20, 17:30Pakhtakor (UZB) – Baniyas (UAE)Jar Stadium,Tashkent

MD5 – May 02, 18:30Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Ittihad (KSA)Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD3 – April 04, 18:00Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Arabi (QAT)Jar Stadium,Tashkent

MD6 – May 16, 19:20Baniyas (UAE) – Pakhtakor (UZB) Baniyas FC Stadium, Abu Dhabi


Domestic Record2008League – Runners-up

P W D L F A Pts30 23 5 2 64 14 74

Cup – Runners-upLost to Bunyodkor 3-1 (aet) in final

2009League – Runners -up

P W D L F A Pts30 18 10 2 69 16 64

Cup – WinnersBeat Bunyodkor 1-0 in final


P W D L F A Pts26 17 8 3 41 19 57

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Shortan 2-3 on aggregate

2011League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts26 15 6 5 33 17 51

Cup – WinnersBeat Nasaf 3-1 in final

ACL Record2008 – Group stage

H AAl Qadisiya 0-1 2-2 GSAl Gharafa 2-0 2-2 GSArbil 2-0 5-1 GS

2009 – Quarter-finals

Al Ittihad 1-1 (H) 0-4 (A) QFAl Ettifaq 2-1 (A) R16 H AAl Ahli (UAE) 2-0 2-1 GSAl Hilal (KSA) 1-1 0-2 GSSaba Battery 2-1 2-0 GS

2010 – Round of 16

Al Gharafa 0-1 (A) R16 H AAl Ain 3-2 1-0 GSAl Shabab (KSA) 1-3 1-2 GSSepahan 2-1 0-2 GS


H AAl Nassr (KSA) 2-2 0-4 GSAl Sadd 1-1 1-2 GSEsteghlal 2-1 2-4 GS


AddressUzbekistanskaya Str, 98A, PO Box 100027, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Tel (+998) 71 113 0008

Fax (+998) 71 113 0009


Website www.pakhtakor.uz

Stadium Jar Stadium

Capacity 7,925

UZBEKISTAN TASHKEN

T1956

FC

PAKHTAKOR


www.the-afc.com 35

Group B

Club Profile

Although their position as the top club in Uzbekistan has been usurped in recent years by Bunyodkor, Pakhtakor hold the distinction of being the only team to have qualified for all 10 editions of the AFC Champions League.

Having finished in the top two in the Uzbek League in every season since 2001, the Tashkent-based side dropped to third last year. But they gained some consolation by winning the Uzbek Cup for a record 11th time with a 3-1 win over Nasaf in the final.

For all of their domestic success, Pakhtakor have, so far, failed to deliver on the continental stage. They reached the semi-finals in the first two seasons of the AFC Champions League in 2003 and 2004 but did not get past the group stage again until 2009 when they went out in the quarter-finals.

They made it to the round of 16 in 2010 but their youthful team, which featured only four players over the age of 25, fell at the group stage last year after managing only a single win.

Coach

Dejan Djurdjevic

Serbian coach Dejan Djurdjevic took charge of Pakhtakor in December when he replaced Murod Ismailov, who had been appointed caretaker coach after the dismissal of former Uzbekistan national coach Ravshan Haydarov last September.

The 44-year-old, who played as a midfielder at clubs in his native Serbia, Greece and Sweden during his career, has a reputation for bringing out the best in young players. He was coach of Serbia’s U-17 national team from 2007 to 2008 and had a spell in charge of his former club FK Cukaricki before leading OFK Beograd to third place in the Serbian Super League in 2010.

Star Players

Sherzod Karimov

Since he was signed from Qyzylqum before the 2009 season, Sherzod Karimov has firmly established himself in the heart of the Pakhtakor midfield. Over the past two seasons, the 23-year-old has appeared regularly for his club in the Uzbek League and the AFC Champions League and contributed some important goals to the team.

Karimov, who began his career at Shayxontohur Taskent before he joined Qyzylqum, represented Uzbekistan at U-19 and U-20 level before he made his senior international debut in 2009.

Stanislav Andreev

One of the brightest prospects in Uzbekistan football, Stanislav Andreev’s career has taken off since he joined Paktakhor from Tupalang in 2007. He made his international debut for Uzbekistan in 2009 at the age of 20 and, while he mainly plays as a winger for his club, he was utilised at left-back by his country during the AFC Asian Cup 2011.

While he is not the paciest of players, the versatile 23-year-old possesses plenty of skill, is a good passer and crosser of the ball and is excellent in dead-ball situations. He scored twice and played in all six of Pakhtakor’s matches during last year’s AFC Champions League.

Sanibal Orahovac

Signed during the off-season from Montenegrin side Buducnost Podgorica, veteran forward Sanibal Orahovac brings plenty of experience with him to Pakhtakor’s youthful squad.

Prior to his arrival in Tashkent, the well-travelled 33-year-old had played for clubs in four different countries during his 15-year career. He started at Mladost Podgorica in his native Montenegro and enjoyed his greatest success during a three-year spell with Serbian side Red Star Belgrade that included a league championship and two cup titles.

Following stints at clubs in Portugal and Germany, he signed for Buducnost for a second time in 2011 but left soon afterwards to join Pakhtakor.

Young star

Vladimir Kozak

A graduate of the Pakhtakor football academy, Vladimir Kozak made his senior debut for the club in 2009 at the age of 16 when he appeared in a league match against Metallurg. A versatile wide man, who can play either as a left-back or a left winger, the 18-year-old possesses plenty of pace and is also an excellent dribbler.

He was one of the key members of the Uzbekistan side that reached the quarter-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship in China in 2010 and he started for Pakhtakor in all six of their games in last year’s AFC Champions League.

www.the-afc.com36

Group B Fixtures


06/03/2012(Tuesday)

20:35 Al Ittihad (KSA) vs Pakhtakor (UZB) ___ ___

18:50 Baniyas (UAE) vs Al Arabi (QAT) ___ ___

20/03/2012(Tuesday)

17:30 Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Baniyas (UAE) ___ ___

18:30 Al Arabi (QAT) vs Al Ittihad (KSA) ___ ___


18:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Al Arabi (QAT) ___ ___

20:45 Al Ittihad (KSA) vs Baniyas (UAE) ___ ___

17/04/2012(Tuesday)

19:00 Al Arabi (QAT) vs Pakhtakor (UZB) ___ ___

19:05 Baniyas (UAE) vs Al Ittihad (KSA) ___ ___


18:30 Pakhtakor (UZB) vs Al Ittihad (KSA) ___ ___

19:00 Al Arabi (QAT) vs Baniyas (UAE) ___ ___


21:00 Al Ittihad (KSA) vs Al Arabi (QAT) ___ ___

19:20 Baniyas (UAE) vs Pakhtakor (UZB) ___ ___


Mat

chd

ay 1

Mat

chd

ay 2

Mat

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ay 3

Mat

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Mat

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Mat

chd

ay 6

GROUP C

Group C

Sepahan (IRN)

Al Ahli (KSA)

Lekhwiya (QAT)

Al Nasr (UAE)

www.the-afc.com40

Sepahan (IRN)


Address: 249 Hakim Nezami Street, P.O. Box 81655-838Esfahan, Iran

Tel: (+98) 311 624 8403

Fax: (+98) 311 628 9025


Website: www.fooladsepahansport.com

Stadium: Foolad Shahr Stadium

Capacity: 12,000

Media ContactName: Seyed Hamed Asfa

Tel: (+98) 913 119 7764

Fax: (+98) 913 628 9025


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 3 – 2011, 10, 03Cup: 3 – 2007, 06, 04

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Quarter-finals 2007 – Runners-up 2010 – Group stage 2005 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage 2004 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage ACC: Did not participate



Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 18:30Sepahan (IRN) – Al Nasr (UAE)Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan

MD4 – April 18, 19:00Lekhwiya (QAT) – Sepahan (IRN) Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD2 – March 21, 20:30Al Ahli (KSA) – Sepahan (IRN)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD5 – May 01, 20:00Al Nasr (UAE) – Sepahan (IRN)Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD3 – April 3, 20:00Sepahan (IRN) – Lekhwiya (QAT) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan

MD6 – May 15, 20:30Sepahan (IRN) – Al Ahli (KSA) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan



P W D L F A Pts 34 17 10 7 53 38 58

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost 4-2 to Pegah


P W D L F A Pts 34 14 14 6 46 34 56

Cup – 2nd roundLost 1-0 to Piroozi


P W D L F A Pts 34 19 10 5 67 30 67

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost 1-0 to Saba Battery


P W D L F A Pts 34 18 12 4 56 29 66

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Piroozi 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw


H AKuruvchi 1-1 0-2 GSAl Ittihad (KSA) 2-1 1-0 GSAl Ittihad (SYR) 0-2 1-2 GS


H AEttifaq 3-0 1-2 GSBunyodkor 0-1 2-2 GSAl Shabab Al Arabi 2-0 1-2 GS


H AAl Shabab 1-0 1-1 GSAl Ain 0-0 0-2 GSPakhtakor 2-0 1-2 GS


Al Sadd 0-3 (H)* 2-1 (A) QFBunyodkor 3-1 (H) R16 H AAl Hilal 1-1 2-1 GSAl Jazira 5-1 4-1 GSAl Gharafa 2-0 0-1 GS

* Al Sadd awarded 3-0 win because Sepahan fielded an ineligible player


www.the-afc.com 41

Group C

Club Profile

Reigning Iranian league champions Sepahan were something of a sleeping giant until the early 1990s when they were bought by the cement factory of Esfahan. The club’s ownership later changed hands but Sepahan have been a force in Iranian football during the past decade, winning three league titles and three Hazfi Cup and qualifying for the AFC Champions League on eight occasions.

They reached the 2007 AFC Champions League final, which they lost 3-1 on aggregate to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, but they gained some consolation by becoming the first Iranian club to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup.

They went out in the quarter finals last year to the eventual winners, Al Sadd. They beat the Qatari side in both legs of the tie but their 1-0 win in the first game was overturned and awarded as a 3-0 victory to Al Sadd after Sepahan had fielded an ineligible player.

The club have rallied to overcome the departures, during the summer, of goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati, defender Ehsan Hajisafi and coach Amir Ghalenoei, who has been replaced by the former Montenegro national coach, Zlatko Kranjcar.

Coach

Zlatko Kranjcar

The 55-year-old Croatian is back in Iran for a second spell after taking charge of Montenegro in the qualifiers for the 2012 European Championship.

Having led Croatia to the FIFA World Cup in 2006, Kranjcar had a brief spell at Piroozi in 2009 before his appointment by Montenegro. His team began strongly in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, winning their first three games but he was sacked last September after a 2-1 loss to Wales put their qualifying hopes in jeopardy.

He took over from his compatriot Luka Bonacic at Sepahan a month later and helped rejuvenate the Yellows’ quest for a third straight league title after a slow start to the season.

Star Players

Moharram Navidkia

Regarded as one of Iran’s most skilful and intelligent players, Moharram Navidkia’s career has unfortunately been blighted by injury, which prompted the 29-year-old to quit international football in 2009 and focus on playing for Sepahan, his hometown club.

Navidkia rose to prominence when he helped Sepahan to win their first Iranian league title in 2003. He was named the league’s best player the following year and earned a move to VfL Bochum although a knee injury limited his impact at the German club. He returned to Sepahan in 2006 and skippered them to the AFC Champions League final the following year and consecutive league titles in 2010 and 2011.

Mehdi Seyed-Salehi

After three seasons away at Paykan and Esteghlal, striker Mehdi Seyed-Salehi, 30, returned to Sepahan for a second spell at the start of the 2011-12 campaign.

The 1.9 metre-tall forward initially joined the Esfahan club in 2001 from Rah Ahan and enjoyed tremendous success there as he helped Sepahan to win the Iranian league title in 2003 and the Hazfi Cup in 2004 and 2007. He also helped them to reach the AFC Champions League final in 2007 when he was the club’s leading scorer in the competition with five goals.

Mohsen Bengar

The 32-year-old central defender has been a Sepahan stalwart for the last eight seasons, winning the Iranian league and Hazfi Cup twice and reaching the final of the AFC Champions League in 2007.

The Iran international has been crucial at the back this season as Sepahan have had to deal with the departures of goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati and captain Hadi Aghily and a long-term injury for Jalal Hoseini. But led by Bengar, the Esfahan side have one of the best defensive records in the league and are in strong contention to win their third consecutive league title.

Young star

Omid Ebrahami

A native of Esfahan, defensive midfielder Omid Ebrahami was plucked out of Iranian second tier side Shahrdari Bandar Abbas by Sepahan two years ago and has since picked up a league winner’s medal with his hometown club.

Despite his diminutive size, the 24-year-old is a strong runner who gets everywhere and has started to get forward more, becoming the club’s regular penalty taker.

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Al Ahli (KSA)


Address PO Box 12333, Jeddah 21473, KSA

Telephone (+966) 2670 6222

Fax (+966) 2673 4606


Website www.alahlisc.com

Stadium Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium

Capacity 17,200

Media ContactName Abdullah Abdulrahman Al Qarni

Tel (+966) 555 643 264

Fax (+966) 2673 4606


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 18:30Lekhwiya (QAT) – Al Ahli (KSA)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD4 – April 18, 20:45Al Ahli (KSA) – Al Nasr (UAE)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD2 – March 21, 20:30Al Ahli (KSA) – Sepahan (IRN)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD5 – May 01, 20:45Al Ahli (KSA) – Lekhwiya (QAT)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD3 – April 3, 20:00Al Nasr (UAE) – Al Ahli (KSA) Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD6 – May 15, 20:30Sepahan (IRN) – Al Ahli (KSA) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan



P W D L F A Pts 22 7 5 10 30 31 26

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Ettifaq 4-3 on aggregate


P W D L F A Pts 22 11 7 4 33 20 40

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Al Fateh 2-1


P W D L F A Pts 22 7 7 8 28 29 28

Cup – Runners-upLost to Al Hilal 2-1 in final


P W D L F A Pts 26 11 4 11 48 41 37

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Hilal 4-3 on penalties after 2-2 draw


H AAl Sadd 2-2 1-2 GSAl Karama 1-1 0-0 GSAl Wahda 0-0 1-2 GS

2009

Did not qualify


H AEsteghlal 1-2 1-2 GSAl Gharafa 0-1 2-3 GSAl Jazira 5-1 2-0 GS

2011

Did not qualify

Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 2 - 1984, 78Cup: 5 - 2007, 02, 1998, 70, 57

Continental RecordACL: 2010 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage 2005 – Quarter-finals 2003 – 3rd qualifying round

ACC: 1986 – Runners-up ACWC: 2000 – Quarter-finals

ASC: Did not compete


www.the-afc.com 43

Group C

Club Profile

Founded in Jeddah in 1937, Al Ahli are regarded as one of the top clubs in Saudi Arabia and are the city rivals of two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad. Although they have often found themselves in the shadow of their local rivals, Al Ahli have enjoyed plenty of success themselves, winning the Saudi league twice in 1978 and 1984, the Crown Prince Cup on five occasions and the King’s Cup a record 10 times.

While they have yet to lift a continental title, they went close in 1986 when they reached the Asian Club Championship final in Jeddah but lost 3-1 after extra-time to Korean side Daewoo Royals.

They have taken part in four previous editions of the AFC Champions League but only reached the knockout stage once so far in 2005 when they lost 4-3 on aggregate to China’s Shenzhen Jianlibao in the quarter-finals. They failed to get past the group stage in 2008 and 2010, winning only two of the 12 games that they played in those campaigns.

Coach

Karel Jarolim

A former Czechoslovakia international player, Karel Jarolim accepted his first coaching post at Czech side Dukla Pribram in 1997, two years after he had retired as a player. In 2000, he was put in charge of his former club Slavia Prague but spent only a year with the Czech giants before he was appointed as an assistant coach by French side Racing Strasbourg.

After two seasons in France and a two-year stint with Czech club FC Slovacko, he returned to Slavia for a second time and enjoyed a successful five-year spell there as the club won two league titles. He moved to Slovakia in 2010 and led Slovan Bratislava to the domestic double last season before he was appointed coach of Al Ahli last September.

Star Players

Taisir Al Jassim

Creative midfielder Taisir Al Jassim began his career with Al Ahli at the age of 18 and he has remained with the Jeddah club ever since apart from loan spells at Qatari sides Al Gharafa in 2007 and Qatar SC in 2009.

The 27-year-old midfielder played a key role in Al Ahli’s victory in the 2011 King Cup, which secured the club a spot in this year’s AFC Champions League. A regular for the Saudi national side since 2004, he played for his country in their 1-0 loss to Iraq in the AFC Asian Cup final in 2007.

Amad Al Hosani

Oman international striker Amad Al Hosani has become one of the key players at Al Ahli since joining the club from Qatari side Al Rayyan last season. The 27-year-old began his career with Omani club Al Khaburah but since moving to Al Riyadh in Saudi Arabia in 2004, he has played his club football outside his homeland.

He spent three seasons with Qatar SC and one with Al Rayyan before joining Belgian side Charleroi for a short spell in 2009. He returned to Al Rayyan in 2010 but left soon afterwards for Al Ahli.

Victor Simoes

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian striker Victor Simoes began his career with Flamengo and made a major impression in the Belgian league with Germinal Beerschot and Club Brugge, where he won the league championship in 2005.

Following a spell with Brazilian side Figueirense, he joined Chunnam Dragons in 2007 and scored twice for the K-League club during their AFC Champions League campaign the following year. The 30-year-old returned to Brazil to play for Botafogo in 2009 before he joined Al Ahli the following year.

Young star

Yasser Al Fahmi

Yasser Al Fahmi was promoted to Al Ahli’s first team this season after his impressive displays for the Saudi Arabia U-20 side at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia where he scored goals against Croatia and Guatemala to help his team to reach the last 16.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is regarded as one of the club’s most promising young players and he has already been involved in league action for the Jeddah side this season.

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Lekhwiya (QAT)


Address P.O. Box 6799, Doha, Qatar

Telephone (+974) 4477 9496

Fax (+974) 4477 9487


Website lekhwiyaclub.com

Stadium Tani Bin Jassim Stadium

Capacity 25,000

Media ContactName Adnan Mohamed Al Ali

Tel (+974) 5588 8359

Fax (+974) 4477 9487


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 1 – 2011Cup: Nil

Continental RecordACL: No previous appearances ACC: Did not participate



Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 18:30Lekhwiya (QAT) – Al Ahli (KSA) Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD4 – April 18, 19:00Lekhwiya (QAT) – Sepahan (IRN) Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD2 – March 21, 20:00Al Nasr (UAE) – Lekhwiya (QAT)Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD5 – May 01, 20:45Al Ahli (KSA) – Lekhwiya (QAT)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD3 – April 3, 20:00Sepahan (IRN) – Lekhwiya (QAT) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan

MD6 – May 15, 19:00Lekhwiya (QAT) – Al Nasr (UAE)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha


Domestic Record2007-08League – 8th (2nd division)

P W D L F A Pts 14 3 1 10 17 35 10

Cup – Did not compete

2008-09League – 4th (2nd division)

P W D L F A Pts 21 9 4 8 36 32 31

Cup – Did not compete

2009-10League – 1st (2nd division)

P W D L F A Pts x x x x x x x

Cup – 2nd roundLost to Al Shamal 1-0


P W D L F A Pts 22 15 3 4 40 17 48

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Al Gharafa 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 draw

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 45

Group C

Club Profile

Having secured promotion from Qatar’s second division in 2010, Lekhwiya stole the spotlight in the Qatar Stars League last year when they won the league championship in their first season in the top flight. Led by Algerian coach Djamel Belmadi, Lekhwiya finished their campaign five points ahead of the reigning three-time champions Al Gharafa.

Originally founded in 1938 as Al Shorta (Police Club), the club rarely challenged for honours domestically until two years ago when they were renamed Lekhwiya and provided with some heavy financial backing which allowed them to bring in some big name players and challenge the traditional elite of Qatari football.

In addition to winning the second division and top flight titles in successive seasons, they also reached the final of the Sheikh Jassem Cup in 2010 but lost 1-0 to Al Arabi.

Lekhwiya have not previously played in an Asian continental club competition.

Coach

Djamel Belmadi

A former Algeria international midfielder, Djemal Belmadi retired as a player with French side Valenciennes in 2009 and enjoyed immediate success as a coach when he was appointed by Lekhwiya the following year and led the top flight newcomers to the Qatar Stars League title in his first season in charge.

Born in France, Belmadi made his professional debut for Paris Saint-Germain and played for a number of top European clubs including Celta Vigo in Spain, Marseille in France and England’s Manchester City as well as Qatari sides Al Gharafa and Al Khraitiat.

Having already enjoyed success as a coach at the age of 35, Belmadi appears to have a bright future ahead of him.

Star Players

Madjid Boughera

Born in France, Algeria international defender Madjid Boughera made his professional debut for French side Gueugnon in 2002 before moving to England in 2006 for spells at lower division sides Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic.

He enjoyed great success in Scotland after signing in 2008 for Rangers, where he won three consecutive Scottish league titles, the 2009 Scottish Cup and the 2011 Scottish League Cup. The 29-year-old also helped Algeria to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and played in all three of their matches in South Africa.

Nam Tae-Hee

Young Korean midfielder Nam Tae-hee made a surprise move to Lekhwiya at the start of this year after playing for three seasons in France. The native of Busan began his career at the youth academy of English side Reading before signing his first professional contract with Valenciennes.

The 20-year-old impressed with his good performances at club level, which earned him a call-up to the senior Korea Republic national side. Having already played for his country at various youth levels, he made his senior debut in a friendly against Turkey in February 2011.

Waleed Jassem

A talented midfielder, Waleed Jassem made his debut as a teenager at Al Ahli in 2002. However, he fell out with the club’s management and moved the following year to Al Rayyan, where he became a key player, as he netted goals on a regular basis during the next five seasons. He spent a season at Qatar SC before signing for Lekhwiya in 2009.

He played for Qatar’s U-20 side before graduating to the senior national side and helping them to win the Gulf Cup in 2004 and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup finals in 2007.

Young star

Khalid Muftah

A former Qatar U-16 and U-19 international player, Khalid Mutftah first made an impression at Al Wakra before he was signed by Lekhwiya in 2010. He helped the club to win their first Qatar league title last season and was named the league’s best U-21 player.

The 19-year-old defender was the youngest player in the Qatar squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and he played in their dramatic quarter-final loss to Japan.

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Al Nasr (UAE)


Address: Oud Metha, Dubai, UAE

Telephone: (+971) 4335 5540

Fax: (+971) 4337 5500


Website: www.alnasrclub.com

Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium

Capacity: 10,241

Media ContactName: Mohamed Mubarak Abdulla Mohamed

Tel: (+971) 5065 55355

Fax: (+971) 4337 0024


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 3 - 1986, 79, 78Cup: 3 - 1989, 86, 85


ACC: 1998 – withdrew in 1st round 1988 – Qualifying round

ACWC: 1994 – withdrew in 1st round


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 18:30Sepahan (IRN) – Al Nasr (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan

MD4 – April 18, 20:45Al Ahli (KSA) – Al Nasr (UAE)Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

MD2 – March 21, 20:00Al Nasr (UAE) – Lekhwiya (QAT)Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD5 – May 01, 20:00Al Nasr (UAE) – Sepahan (IRN)Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD3 – April 3, 20:00Al Nasr (UAE) – Al Ahli (KSA) Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD6 – May 15, 19:00Lekhwiya (QAT) – Al Nasr (UAE)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha



P W D L F A Pts 22 7 7 8 37 39 28

Cup – 1st roundLost to Dubai 1-0


P W D L F A Pts 22 6 8 8 37 40 26

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Khaleej 3-2


P W D L F A Pts 22 7 2 13 37 49 23

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Wahda 5-3


P W D L F A Pts 22 10 5 7 34 30 35

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Al Jazira 2-1

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 47

Group C

Club Profile

Having just avoided relegation a year earlier, Al Nasr improved significantly in the 2010-11 United Arab Emirates Pro League season, finishing third – their highest placing in 11 years. And with league champions Al Jazira also winning the President’s Cup, it meant that the Dubai club secured a berth in the AFC Champions League for the first time.

Nicknamed the “Blue Wave”, Al Nasr were founded in 1945 and are one of the country’s oldest clubs. They enjoyed their most successful era in the late 1970s when they won consecutive UAE League titles in 1978 and 1979.

They enjoyed more success in the 1980s, winning a third league title in 1986 and three President’s Cups as well as appearing in the Asian Club Championship in 1988, and they continued to be strong contenders in the league throughout the 1990s, finishing runners-up in 1997 and 2000.

They had struggled since the turn of the Millennium but after a dismal 10th place performance in 2010, they revived their fortunes last season to gain a spot among the continent’s elite in the AFC Champions League.

Coach

Walter Zenga

Having taken charge of Al Nasr in January 2011, former Italy international Walter Zenga helped the team to a third-place finish in last season’s United Arab Emirates Pro League.

Zenga spent 12 years as a player at Inter Milan and was Italy’s first choice goalkeeper at the 1988 European Championship and 1990 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Sampdoria and Padova before becoming player-coach at Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution in 1999.

The 51-year-old had coaching stints in Romania, Serbia and Turkey and a spell with UAE side Al Ain before taking charge of Italian sides Catania and Sampdoria. He returned to the Middle East in May 2010 to coach Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr but he was dismissed just seven months later after a series of disappointing results.

Star Players

Amara Diane

Having initially made his name in French football, Ivory Coast international striker Amara Diane has spent the last four years playing in the Middle East.

Diane came through the youth system at Ivorian side ASEC Abidjan before moving to France, where he had spells at lower division clubs US Roye and Reims before joining Strasbourg in 2005. He spent a year there before signing for league giants Paris Saint-Germain.

In 2008, he joined Al Rayyan and scored 29 goals in 53 matches over two seasons. The 29-year-old then played for one season with Al Gharafa, scoring twice for the Doha club in the 2011 AFC Champions League, before making the switch to Al Nasr last October.

Luca Toni

A World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, striker Luca Toni joined Al Nasr in January after a disappointing spell at Italian giants Juventus.

A strong and powerful centre-forward who stands 1.96m tall, Toni made his debut for Modena as a teenager but did not make a significant impression until 2003 when he netted 30 goals to help Palermo win promotion to Serie A. The prolific striker scored 31 goals for Fiorentina in the 2005-06 season before helping Italy to win the World Cup later that year.

The 34-year-old went on to spend two seasons with German giants Bayern Munich and had short spells at Roma, Genoa and Juventus before signing for Al Nasr during the January transfer window.

Salem Khamis

An experienced midfielder, Salem Khamis played for the majority of his career at Al Ahli. He made his professional debut for the Dubai club in 1999 and spent 11 years there before he joined Al Nasr in 2010, initially on loan before he joined them on a full transfer last year.

The 31-year-old was a member of the United Arab Emirates national team in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup and he featured in three editions of the AFC Champions League with his former club Al Ahli.

Young star

Younus Abdullah

Striker Younus Abdullah has made impressive strides with Al Nasr since he was promoted to the first team during the 2009-10 season. He appeared in 12 matches during his debut campaign and in 17 more games last year.

The 20-year-old was selected to play for the United Arab Emirates in the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers although he failed to hit the target in the any of his country’s four matches.

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Group C Fixtures



18:30 Sepahan (IRN) vs Al Nasr (UAE) ___ ___

18:30 Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Al Ahli (KSA) ___ ___


20:00 Al Nasr (UAE) vs Lekhwiya (QAT) ___ ___

20:30 Al Ahli (KSA) vs Sepahan (IRN) ___ ___

03/04/2012(Tuesday)

20:00 Al Nasr (UAE) vs Al Ahli (KSA) ___ ___

20:00 Sepahan (IRN) vs Lekhwiya (QAT) ___ ___


20:45 Al Ahli (KSA) vs Al Nasr (UAE) ___ ___

19:00 Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Sepahan (IRN) ___ ___

01/05/2012(Tuesday)

20:00 Al Nasr (UAE) vs Sepahan (IRN) ___ ___

20:45 Al Ahli (KSA) vs Lekhwiya (QAT) ___ ___

15/05/2012(Tuesday)

20:30 Sepahan (IRN) vs Al Ahli (KSA) ___ ___

19:00 Lekhwiya (QAT) vs Al Nasr (UAE) ___ ___


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GROUP D

Group D

Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)

Piroozi (IRN)

Al Hilal (KSA)

Al Gharafa (QAT)

www.the-afc.com52

Media ContactName Adel Ahmad Abdallah

Tel (+971) 50 511 8885

Fax (+971) 4 296 6605


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 3 – 2008, 1995, 90Cup: 4 – 1997, 94, 90, 81

Continental RecordACL: 2009 – Group stage

ACC: 1996 – 1st round 1992 – 4th place

ACWC: 1998 – 2nd round 1995 – Runners-up 1991 – Semi-finals


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 20:00Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) – Al Gharafa (QAT)Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD4 – April 17, 20:50Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh

MD2 – March 21, 17:00Piroozi (IRN) – Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD5 – May 01, 18:50Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD3 – April 4, 19:30Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) – Al Hilal (KSA)Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD6 – May 15, 20:00Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) – Piroozi (IRN)Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai


Domestic Record2007-08League – Champions

P W D L F A Pts 22 12 6 4 44 30 42

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Al Ahli 3-1


P W D L F A Pts 22 8 4 10 34 37 28

Cup – Runners-upLost to Al Ain 1-0


P W D L F A Pts 22 8 4 10 35 44 28

Cup – Runners-upLost to Emirates 3-1


P W D L F A Pts 22 9 7 6 42 32 34

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Al Jazira 4-1

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify


H ASepahan 2-1 0-2 GSBunyodkor 2-0 0-0 GSAl Ettifaq 1-4 1-4 GS

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address: Al Mumzar, Dubai, UAE

Tel: (+971) 4 296 7755

Fax: (+971) 4 296 6605


Website: www.alshababdubai.com

Stadium: Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium

Capacity: 8,883

Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)


www.the-afc.com 53

Group D

Club Profile

Founded in 1958, Al Shabab Al Arabi have long been established as one of the leading clubs in the United Arab Emirates although their trophy haul may pale in comparison to those of their rivals like Al Ain, Al Wasl and Al Ahli.

Winners of the UAE League title in 1990 and 1995, they celebrated their third championship in 2008 after fending off the challenge of Al Jazira with a goalless draw against the Abu Dhabi club in their final game of the season. They have also reached the President’s Cup on 10 occasions and won the competition four times although their most recent success was in 1997.

In their only previous appearance in the AFC Champions League in 2009, they missed out on the knockout stage by just a single point after being held to a goalless draw by Uzbek giants Bunyodkor in their final group game. They also reached the semi-finals of the Asian Club Championship in 1992 and were runners-up in the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 1995 when they lost 2-1 after extra-time to Yokohama Flugels in the final.

Coach

Paulo Bonamigo

Former midfielder Paulo Bonamigo turned to coaching in his native Brazil after his retirement. He began his coaching career at Rio de Janeiro side Madureira in 1998 and had spells at several Brazilian clubs including Atletico Mineiro, Botafogo and Palmeiras before he took charge of Portuguese club Maritimo in 2005.

He returned to Brazil the following year and coached several clubs before he was appointed by Al Shabab Al Arabi in 2009. After a disappointing seventh place in the league in 2010, the 51-year-old guided the Dubai club to the GCC Champions League and UAE Etisalat Cup title last year as well as fourth place in the league and a spot in the AFC Champions League play-offs.

Star Players

Ciel

Jociel Ferreira da Silva, better known as Ciel, began his career with Santa Cruz in 2005 and had spells at Salgueiro, Icasa and Ceara before he made his first move overseas in 2007 to join Korean side Busan I’Park.

The Brazilian playmaker spent only a year in Korea before he returned home. He was signed by Villa Rio but sent out on loan to several clubs before he joined Al Shabab Al Arabi in 2011. The 29-year-old has started well at the Dubai club, where he has been one of their leading scorers in the 2011-12 campaign.

Carlos Villanueva

Chilean attacking midfielder Carlos Villanueva has been one of the key creative players for Al Shabab Al Arabi since he joined the Dubai club in 2009 and he played a big role in their victories in the GCC Champions League and UAE Etisalat Cup last year.

The 26-year-old began his career with Chilean side Deportes La Serena in 2003 but he made his name at Audax where he played for four seasons. He made his first international appearance for Chile in 2007 and spent a season on loan at English club Blackburn Rovers in 2008-09 before he joined Al Shabab Al Arabi.

Azizbek Haydarov

Having started his career with Lokomotiv Tashkent in 2007, Uzbek international midfielder Azizbek Haydarov joined Bunyodkor in 2008 and made a huge impact at the club as they won three consecutive league titles and a pair of Uzbek Cup titles and reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.

The 26-year-old also had an influential role for Uzbekistan during their run to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup in 2011, and his impressive performances earned him a move to Al Shabab Al Arabi last summer.

Young star

Mohamed Ahmed

One of the most promising young defenders in the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed Ahmed was one of the youngest players included by coach Srecko Katanec in the national squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup although he did not play in Qatar.

Now 22, Ahmed first came to prominence during the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup when he helped the UAE to reach the quarter-finals and scored in their 2-1 victory over Venezuela in the round of 16.

www.the-afc.com54

Piroozi (IRN)

Media ContactName: Amirali Hosseini

Tel: (+98) 912 113 7784

Fax: (+98) 21 8804 5040

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 9 – 2008, 02, 00, 1999, 97, 96, 76, 74, 72Cup: 5 – 2011, 10, 1999, 91, 88

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Group stage 2009 – Round of 16 2003 – Group stage

ACC: 2001 – 3rd 1997 – 3rd 2000 – 3rd 1988 – Group stage 1998 – 4th

ACWC: 1993 – Quarter-finals 1992 – Runners-up 1990 – Champions


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 20:30Al Hilal (KSA) – Piroozi (IRN)Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh

MD4 – April 17, 17:00 Piroozi (IRN) – Al Gharafa (QAT)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD2 – March 21, 17:00Piroozi (IRN) – Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD5 – May 01, 17:00Piroozi (IRN) – Al Hilal (KSA)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD3 – April 04, 18:35Al Gharafa (QAT) – Piroozi (IRN) Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD6 – May 15, 20:00Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) – Piroozi (IRN)Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai



P W D L F A Pts 34 18 11 5 55 34 59

Cup – 2nd roundLost 3-0 to Pas Hamedan


P W D L F A Pts 34 15 10 9 50 41 55

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost 2-1 to Pas Hamadan


P W D L F A Pts 34 13 14 7 46 40 53

Cup – WinnersBeat Gostaresh 4-1 on aggregate in final


P W D L F A Pts 34 17 7 10 50 36 58

Cup – WinnersBeat Malavan 4-3 on aggregate in final

ACL Record2007

Did not qualify

2009 – Round of 16

Bunyodkor 0-1 (H) R16 H AAl Gharafa 3-1 1-5 GSAl Shabab (KSA) 1-0 0-0 GS

2010

Did not qualify


H AAl Ittihad (KSA) 3-2 1-3 GSAl Wahda (UAE) 1-1 0-2 GSBunyodkor 1-3 0-0 GS


Address:No. 8, 15 Street, Piruzan Square,North Sheykh Bahee St, Tehran, Iran

Tel: (+98) 21 88 609 390 / 88 609 395

Fax: (+98) 21 88 045 040


Website: www.fc-perspolis.com

Stadium: Azadi Stadium

Capacity: 100,000


www.the-afc.com 55

Group D

Club Profile

Officially called Persepolis before the Islamic Revolution, Piroozi are Iran’s most popular club and one of the biggest in Asia. Since their founding in the 1960s, the Reds have won nine league titles, four domestic cups and the inaugural Asian Cup Winners Cup in 1990.

However, despite winning the first ever Iranian Pro League title in 2003, the advent of professionalism in Iranian football has seen them caught and overtaken by other, richer clubs. If the club’s financial clout is not as great as others, the pull of its history, traditions and place in Iranian football still attracts big names, such as former Iran national bosses Ali Daei and Afshin Ghotbi.

It was under Ghotbi that Piroozi had their most memorable success since the 1990s, when they pipped Sepahan to the 2007-08 title with a stoppage time winner in the last game of the season. Now with fans’ favourite Mustafa Denizli in charge in his second spell, and with nothing else to play for on the domestic front this season, the AFC Champions League is firmly in their sights.

Coach

Mustafa Denizli

The 62-year-old from Turkey is in his second spell as head coach of Piroozi. Despite only finishing third in 2006-07 during his lone season with the Tehran giants, Denizli is fondly remembered by Piroozi fans because of the attractive football that was played under him at the Azadi Stadium.

Denizli has won the Turkish championship five times with all three of the Istanbul giants – Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. He was also in charge of the Turkey national team when it came of age in the second half of the 1990s and took them to the quarter-finals of the European Championship in 2000.

Star Players

Ali Karimi

The so-called “Asian Maradona” is in the autumn of his mercurial career but many still rate him as one of Iran’s best current players. Having once been on the books of Bayern Munich, the 2004 AFC Player of the Year surprised everyone when he returned to the German Bundesliga early last year after signing a six-month contract with Schalke.

Karimi returned to Iran last June to sign for Piroozi, the club where he first came to prominence at the turn of the Millennium. Now in his third spell with the Reds, the 33-year-old has also been handed the club captaincy.

Mohammad Nouri

A clever attacking midfielder who has perhaps never realised his potential at international level, Mohammad Nouri has drifted in and out of Team Melli under successive managers.

Signed from Saba Battery in 2010, Nouri is good on the ball with a strong shot and is dangerous from set pieces, although he can get out-muscled. The 29-year-old usually plays as a link man between the midfield and a lone striker in a position which allows him to dictate the play. But the main question is whether he and Ali Karimi can share the creative duties in the side.

Hosein Badamaki

The 30-year-old midfielder has been one of Pirouzi’s best players this season. A tireless runner, Badamaki covers a lot of ground and is able to add technical ability, especially with the ball at his feet, and a physical presence to his game. However, in a six-year international career, he is yet to reach double figures in appearances for Iran.

Since joining Pirouzi from Aboumoslem in 2006, he has won the league title once and back-to-back Hazfi Cups.

Young star

Hamidreza Ali Asgari

A two-footed, attacking player who is as comfortable down the wing as he is at full-back, Hamidreza Ali Asgari made his debut for Piroozi aged just 17. His versatility down the flanks has caused some observers to draw comparisons with Iranian great Mehdi Mahdavikia, who has become one of his teammates at the club.

Iran coach Carlos Qeiroz has been impressed with the 21-year-old, inviting him to a training camp last summer. He missed most of the first half of the season through injury but he is now back in the Piroozi side after recovering.

www.the-afc.com56

Al Hilal (KSA)

Media ContactName: Abdulkarim Ali Al Jaser

Tel: (+966) 5986 09339

Fax: (+966) 1 430 3595


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 13 - 2011, 10, 08, 05, 02, 1998, 96, 90, 88, 86, 85, 79, 77Cup: 10 - 2011, 10, 09, 08, 06, 05, 03, 00, 1995, 64

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Round of 16 2006 – Group stage 2010 – Semi-finals 2004 – Group stage 2009 – Round of 16 2003 – Group stage 2007 – Quarter-finals

ACC: 2001 – Quarter-finals 1998 – Semi-finals 2000 – Champions 1991 – Champions 1999 – Quarter-finals 1986 – Runners-up

ACWC: 2002 – Champions 1990 – Semi-finals 1997 – Champions

ASC: 2002 – Runners-up 1997 – Champions 2000 – Champions

Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 20:30Al Hilal (KSA) – Piroozi (IRN)Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh

MD4 – April 17, 20:50Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh

MD2 – March 21, 18:30Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Hilal (KSA) Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD5 – May 01, 17:00Piroozi (IRN) – Al Hilal (KSA)Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD3 – April 4, 19:30Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) – Al Hilal (KSA)Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD6 – May 15, 21:00Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh



P W D L F A Pts 22 14 6 2 36 13 48

Cup – WinnersBeat Ettifaq 2-0 in final


P W D L F A Pts 22 15 5 2 41 9 50

Cup – WinnersBeat Al Shabab 1-0 aet in final


P W D L F A Pts 22 18 2 2 56 18 56

Cup – WinnersBeat Al Ahli 2-1 in final


P W D L F A Pts 26 19 7 0 52 18 64

Cup – WinnersBeat Al Wahda 5-0 in final

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009 – Round of 16

Umm Salal 0-0 (H) 3-4 pens R16 H ASaba Battery 1-1 1-0 GSPakhtakor 2-0 1-1 GSAl Ahli (UAE) 2-1 3-1 GS


Zobahan 0-1 (A) 0-1 (H) SFAl Gharafa 3-0 (H) 2-4 (A) QFBunyodkor 3-0 (H) R16 H AAl Sadd 0-0 3-0 GSMes Kerman 3-1 1-3 GSAl Ahli (UAE) 1-1 3-2 GS

2011 – Round of 16

Al Ittihad 1-3 (A) R16 H ASepahan 1-2 1-1 GSAl Gharafa 2-0 1-0 GSAl Jazira 3-1 3-2 GS


Address: P.O. Box 22544, Riyadh 11416, KSA

Tel: (+966) 1 431 2222

Fax: (+966) 1 430 3595


Website: www.alhilal.com

Stadium: Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium

Capacity: 22,000


www.the-afc.com 57

Group D

Club Profile

Al Hilal are regarded as one of Asia’s most successful club sides, having won two Asian Club Championships in 1991 and 2000, plus a pair of Asian Cup Winners’ Cups and two Asian Super Cups. However, the Riyadh giants, who have also won the Saudi League a record 13 times, have yet to achieve success in the AFC Champions League despite qualifying for seven of the first nine editions of the competition.

After failing to progress past the group stage in their first three appearances in 2003, 2004 and 2006, Al Hilal finally reached the quarter-finals in 2007 but lost on away goals to Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates.

Their best performance in the competition came in 2010 when they went all the way to the semi-finals before losing 2-0 on aggregate to Iran’s Zobahan. Their frustrations continued last year when they won the Saudi domestic double but lost 3-1 to Saudi league rivals Al Attihad in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League.

Coach

Ivan Hasek

Following the dismissal of Thomas Doll in January, Al Hilal appointed former Czech international midfielder Ivan Hasek as their new head coach.

The 48-year-old, who was the captain of Czechoslovakia at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, spent much of his playing career with Czech giants Sparta Prague and also had spells with J.League sides Sanfrecce Hiroshima and JEF United Chiba before retiring in 1998 and becoming coach of Sparta.

The well-travelled Czech went on to coach French clubs Strasbourg and Saint Etienne, J.League outfit Vissel Kobe and UAE sides Al Wasl and Al Ahli before becoming the Czech Football Association president and Czech Republic national team coach in 2009. He resigned last year and returned briefly to Al Ahli before his appointment by Al Hilal.

Star Players

Osama Hawsawi

A solid and dependable defender, Osama Hawsawi began his career at his hometown club Al Wahda and made his professional debut for the Mecca side in 2005. He made his international debut for Saudi Arabia two years later and was an ever-present in the side that finished runners-up at the AFC Asian Cup in 2007.

After three impressive seasons with Al Wahda, he moved to Al Hilal in 2008 and celebrated back-to-back league titles with the Riyadh club in 2010 and 2011. The 27-year-old has appeared for the club in three editions of the AFC Champions League and has been appointed the club captain.

Mohamad Al Shalhoub

Mohamed Al Shalhoub has been an influential figure at Al Hilal since joining the club 11 years ago. The 31-year-old is well known for his creativity and has always proved his worth in midfield whether with the club or the national team.

Al Shalhoub was nominated for the AFC Player of the Year award in 2006 when he finished third. While Al Shalhoub – who is known as ‘Baby Maradona’ at Al Hilal - usually bosses the game from midfield, he is also a good finisher as he showed by emerging as the top scorer in the Saudi league in the 2009-10 season with 12 goals.

Youssef El Arabi

French-born Moroccan international striker Youssef El Arabi made his name in France when he scored 17 goals in 38 games for his Caen last season. His good performances and prolific scoring record attracted interest from Spanish side Sevilla and Italy’s Genoa but he signed a four-year deal with Al Hilal last September.

El Arabi has made a good start with the Riyadh side and was their leading scorer at the midway point of the season after bagging 10 goals in his first 15 matches for the team.

Young star

Hussam Al Harthi

A product of the youth system at Al Hilal, young midfielder Hussam Al Harthi has emerged as a player to watch at the Riyadh club this season.

Having played in Al Hilal’s season-opening match at Hajer in September, the 19-year-old has gone on to make frequent appearances in the first team for the reigning Saudi League champions.

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Al Gharafa (QAT)

Media ContactName: Taha Essa Al Muhaza

Tel: (+974) 5335 8656

Fax: (+974) 4486 8656


Facts & StatsDomestic Honours League: 7 - 2010, 09, 08, 05, 02, 1998, 92Cup: 6 - 2009, 02, 1998, 97, 96, 95

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage 2010 – Quarter-finals 2006 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage 2003 – Qualifying round ACC: 1991 – Preliminary round

ACWC: 1998 – Quarter-finals 1997 – 2nd round 1996 – 1st round


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 20:00Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) – Al Gharafa (QAT)Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

MD4 – April 17, 17:00Piroozi (IRN) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Azadi Stadium, Tehran

MD2 – March 21, 18:30Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Hilal (KSA)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD5 – May 01, 18:50Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD3 – April 4, 18:35Al Gharafa (QAT) – Piroozi (IRN)Tani Bin Jassim Stadium, Doha

MD6 – May 15, 21:00Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh



P W D L F A Pts 27 20 2 5 72 35 62

Cup – Runners-upLost to Umm Salal 4-1 on penalties after 2-2 draw in final


P W D L F A Pts 27 17 5 5 56 33 56

Cup – WinnersBeat Al Rayyan 2-1 in final


P W D L F A Pts 22 16 5 1 55 16 53

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Al Rayyan 2-1


P W D L F A Pts 22 14 1 7 51 31 43

Cup – Runners-upLost to Al Rayyan 2-1 after extra-time in final


H AArbil 0-1 1-1 GSPakhtakor 2-2 0-2 GSAl Qadisiya 0-1 0-1 GS


H AAl Shabab 1-3 0-1Piroozi 5-1 1-3


Al Hilal 0-3 (A) 4-2 (H) QFPakhtakor 1-0 (H) R16 H AAl Jazira 4-2 2-1 GSAl Ahli (KSA) 3-2 1-0 GSEsteghlal 1-1 0-3 GS


H AAl Jazira 5-2 0-0 GSAl Hilal 0-1 0-2 GSSepahan 1-0 0-2 GS


Address: PO Box 4767, Azigawa, Doha, Qatar

Tel: (+974) 4489 1555

Fax: (+974) 4486 8656


Website: www.algharafa.com

Stadium: Tani Bin Jassim Stadium

Capacity: 25,000


www.the-afc.com 59

Group D

Club Profile

Despite dominating the domestic football scene in Qatar in recent years, Al Gharafa have only reached the knockout stage once in six previous AFC Champions League appearances. That came in 2010 when they topped their group and beat Pakhtakor in the round of 16 before they bowed out in the quarter-finals after a dramatic extra-time loss to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

However they failed to emulate that performance last year when they went out yet again at the group stage after they finished third in their section behind Sepahan of Iran and Al Hilal.

The club have won seven Qatar league titles including four since they changed their name from Al Etehad in 2004. But their run of three consecutive championships came to an end last season when they finished runners-up behind top-flight newcomers Lekhwiya. However, second place was still enough to secure them a place in the AFC Champions League for a fifth consecutive year.

Coach

Bruno Metsu

Bruno Metsu shot to international fame in 2002 when he led unfancied Senegal to an appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals after wins against France and Sweden.

The Frenchman was appointed coach of Al Ain later that year and led the United Arab Emirates league side to victory in the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2003 and consecutive UAE league titles. He moved on to Al Gharafa in 2005 and won the Qatar league there before taking charge of the UAE national team and leading them to their first ever Gulf Cup title in 2007.

The 57-year-old returned to Qatar in 2008 and led their national team to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup on home soil in 2011 before stepping down and returning to Al Gharafa last March.

Star Players

Otmane El Assas

Moroccan defensive midfielder Otmane El Assas joined Al Gharafa in 2005 and he has played an important role in their domestic success in recent years and appeared for them in five previous editions of the AFC Champions League.

The 33-year-old former Morocco international, who appeared for his country at the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004, started his career with his hometown side Olympique Khouribga before he joined United Arab Emirates side Sharjah in 2002. He had a short spell with Saudi league giants Al Ittihad in 2004 before he was signed by Al Gharafa.

Farhad Majidi

Veteran Farhad Majidi has been one of Iran’s leading strikers in recent years. He made his professional debut for lowly Bahman as a teenager before joining Esteghlal in 1997 for what would be his first of four spells with the Tehran giants.

The 35-year-old had a short stint with Austria’s Rapid Wien and also played in the United Arab Emirates for Al Wasl, Al Ain, Al Ahli and Al Nasr before he returned to Esteghlal for his most recent spell in 2007. Having appeared for the Blues in three editions of the AFC Champions League, he joined Al Gharafa in December on loan.

Lawrence Quaye

Born in Ghana, midfielder Lawrence Quaye represented Qatar in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals, having been naturalised in the Gulf state after spending several years with Al Gharafa.

The 27-year-old began his career in his homeland with Liberty Professionals in 2001 before joining French side Saint Etienne in 2003 and helping them to win promotion to the top flight as second division champions in his only season there.

He moved to Al Gharafa in 2004 and has enjoyed great success at the Doha club, winning four league titles and playing in five editions of the AFC Champions League during his eight years there.

Young star

Muayed Hassan

Having come through the youth system at Al Gharafa, striker Muayad Hassan made his first-team debut in 2010. He is one of the club’s most promising young players and was included in their squad for the last two editions of the AFC Champions League.

The potential of the 20-year-old was underlined when he was called up to play for the Qatar U-23 team which is currently involved in the 2012 Olympic football qualifiers.

www.the-afc.com60

Group D Fixtures



20:00 Al Shabab Al Arabi (IRN) vs Al Gharafa (QAT) ___ ___

20:30 Al Hilal (KSA) vs Piroozi (IRN) ___ ___


18:30 Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Al Hilal (KSA) ___ ___

17:00 Piroozi (IRN) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi (IRN) ___ ___


18:35 Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Piroozi (IRN) ___ ___

19:30 Al Shabab Al Arabi (IRN) vs Al Hilal (KSA) ___ ___

17/04/2012(Tuesday)

17:00 Piroozi (IRN) vs Al Gharafa (QAT) ___ ___

20:50 Al Hilal (KSA) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi (IRN) ___ ___

01/05/2012(Tuesday)

18:50 Al Gharafa (QAT) vs Al Shabab Al Arabi ___ ___

17:00 Piroozi (IRN) vs Al Hilal (KSA) ___ ___

15/05/2012(Tuesday)

20:00 Al Shabab Al Arabi (IRN) vs Piroozi (IRN) ___ ___

21:00 Al Hilal (KSA) vs Al Gharafa (QAT) ___ ___


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GROUP E

Group E

Gamba Osaka (JPN)


Bunyodkor (UZB)

Pohang Steelers (KOR)

www.the-afc.com64

Gamba Osaka (JPN)

Media ContactName: Kana Katayama

Tel: (+81) 80 2409 6561

Fax: (+81) 6 6875 7775


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 1 - 2005Cup: 3 - 2009, 08, 1990

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Round of 16 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Round of 16 2008 – Champions 2006 – Group stage




Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:00Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Pohang Steelers (KOR)Expo ’70 Stadium, Osaka

MD4 – April 18, 17:00Bunyodkor (UZB) – Gamba Osaka (JPN)Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Adelaide United (AUS) – Gamba Osaka (JPN)Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

MD5 – May 02, 19:30Pohang Steelers (KOR) – Gamba Osaka (JPN)Steelyard, Pohang

MD3 – April 03, 19:00Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Bunyodkor (UZB)Expo ’70 Stadium, Osaka

MD6 – May 16, 19:00Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Adelaide United (AUS)Expo ’70 Stadium, Osaka



P W D L F A Pts 34 14 8 12 46 49 50

Cup – WinnersBeat Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 aet in final

2009League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts 34 18 6 10 62 44 60

Cup – WinnersBeat Nagoya Grampus 4-1 in final

2010League – 2nd

P W D L F A Pts 34 18 8 8 65 44 62

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0

2011League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts 34 19 10 5 71 37 67

Cup – Third round Lost to Mito Hollyhock 3-2 aet

ACL Record2008 – Champions

Adelaide United 3-0 (H) 2-0 (A) FinalUrawa Reds 1-1 (H) 3-1 (A) SFAl Karama 2-1 (A) 2-0 (H) QF H AChonburi 1-1 2-0 GSChunnam Dragons 1-1 4-3 GSMelbourne Victory 2-0 4-3 GS

2009 – Round of 16

Kawasaki Frontale 2-3 (H) R16 H AShandong Luneng 3-0 1-0 GSFC Seoul 1-2 4-2 GSSriwijaya 5-0 3-0 GS

2010 – Round of 16

Seongnam Chunma 0-3 (A) R16 H ASuwon Bluewings 2-1 0-0 GSHenan Jianye 1-1 1-1 GSS’pore Armed Forces 3-0 4-2 GS

2011 – Round of 16

Cerezo Osaka 0-1 (H) R16 H AMelbourne Victory 5-1 1-1 GSTianjing Teda 2-0 1-2 GSJeju United 3-1 1-2 GS


Address: Banpaku Kinen Koen Sports Hiroba,3-3 Senri-Banpaku-Koen, Suita City,Osaka 565-0826, Japan

Tel: (+81) 6 6875 8111

Fax: (+81) 6 6875 7778


Website: www.gamba-osaka.net

Stadium: Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium

Capacity: 21,000


www.the-afc.com 65

Group E

Club ProfileWhile other Japanese clubs may have had more sustained success in one competition or another, only Gamba Osaka have, in recent times, managed to claim every trophy available to J.League clubs.

Since 2002, the team have steadily established themselves among the most dominant in Asia, winning the J.League in 2005, the J.League Cup in 2007 and the AFC Champions League in 2008 as well as the Emperor’s Cup in both 2008 and 2009. All of that was achieved under Akira Nishino, who left at the end of last season after a nine-year association with the club and has been replaced by Brazilian tactician Jose Carlos Serrao.

Gamba’s record for consistency in the J.League has only been eclipsed in recent seasons by Kashima Antlers, with the Osaka club finishing second in 2010 while also claiming third place in five of the last eight seasons, including last year.

Gamba became only the second Japanese club to win the AFC Champions League when they defeated Adelaide United in the 2008 final, achieving the unique feat of winning every one of their away games throughout the competition. They lost out to cross-town rivals Cerezo Osaka in the second round of last year’s competition.

Coach

Jose Carlos Serrao

New coach Jose Carlos Serrao has a tough act to follow as he takes over from the hugely successful Akira Nishino, who masterminded almost a decade of success for Gamba Osaka during his association with the club.

The 61-year-old is widely travelled and, despite the vast majority of his coaching work being done in his native Brazil, he also has experience of working in Asia having served as head coach at Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2004.

Serrao was handed the position after J.League officials overruled a move by Gamba to install former Japan international Wagner Lopes as head coach with the Brazil-born former striker not holding the required license to lead the team. As a result Lopes will act as Serrao’s assistant.

Star Players

Yasuhito Endo

Former AFC Player of the Year Yasuhito Endo continues to be the driving force for Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team and he was instrumental in his country’s victory at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January 2011.

With an eye for goal from set pieces and a creative talent to match anyone in the region, Endo is a scourge to defences right across Asia. He was nominated for the AFC Player of the Year Award in 2008 when he steered his club to the ACL title and he finally won the crown in 2009 after a number of fine performances for both Gamba and Japan.

Akira Kaji

Former FC Tokyo and Japan right-back Akira Kaji remains one of the most attack-minded defenders in Japanese football despite his decision in 2008 to retire from the international scene.

Kaji, a veteran of more than 60 games for Japan and a member of Gamba’s AFC Champions League-winning side in 2008, is one of the most experienced players in the J.League and he was part of the Japan squad that won the AFC Asian Cup title in 2004, making him one of the few players to have won Asian titles at both club and national team levels.

Yasuyuki Konno

Versatile defender Yasuyuki Konno played a key role in FC Tokyo securing a return to the top flight and victory in the Emperor’s Cup final last season. However, the Japan international decided during the off-season to move to Gamba Osaka after eight years at the capital club, where he established himself as one of the most assured players in Japan following his transfer from Consadole Sapporo.

Konno is capable of playing in the centre of defence – where he shone for Japan during their AFC Asian Cup triumph in 2011 – or on the left. The 29-year-old is equally adept at playing in midfield, where he spent much of his early career.

Young star

Shohei Otsuka

A winner of the 2007 AFC U-17 Championship with Japan, Shohei Otsuka is another in the long line of talent to emerge from Gamba’s youth academy, which has produced the likes of current Bayern Munich midfielder Takashi Usami.

Otsuka, a striker, also represented Japan at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea Republic in 2008 and was a member of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2010 Asian Games football tournament in Guangzhou.

www.the-afc.com66


Media ContactName: Nic Kerber

Tel: (+61) 4 4899 4435

Fax: (+61) 8 8340 3033


Facts & StatsDomestic honoursLeague: NilPremiership: 1 – 2006

Continental recordACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2008 – Runners-up 2007 – Group stage




Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 17:00Bunyodkor (UZB) – Adelaide United (AUS)Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD4 – April 18, 19:30Adelaide United (AUS) – Pohang Steelers (KOR)Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Adelaide United (AUS) – Gamba Osaka (JPN)Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

MD5 – May 02, 19:30Adelaide United (AUS) – Bunyodkor (UZB)Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

MD3 – April 03, 20:00Pohang Steelers (KOR) – Adelaide United (AUS)Steelyard, Pohang

MD6 – May 16, 19:00Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Adelaide United (AUS)Expo ’70 Stadium, Osaka



P W D L F A Pts 21 6 8 7 31 29 26

Play-offs – Did not qualify


P W D L F A Pts 21 11 5 5 31 19 38

Play-offs – Runners-upLost to Melbourne Victory 1-0 in Grand Final


P W D L F A Pts 27 7 8 12 24 33 29



P W D L F A Pts 30 15 5 10 51 36 50

Play-offs – 4th Lost to Gold Coast United 3-2


Address:Hindmarsh Stadium, 4A Manton Street,PO Box 620, Hindmarsh SA 5007, Australia

Tel: (+61) 8 8340 3000

Fax: (+61) 8 8340 3033


Website: www.adelaideunited.com.au

Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium

Capacity: 16,500

ACL Record2008 – Runners-up

Gamba Osaka 0-3 (A) 0-2 (H) FinalBunyodkor 3-0 (H) 0-1 (A) SFKashima Antlers 1-1 (A) 1-0 (H) QF H APohang Steelers 1-0 2-0 GSChangchun Yatai 0-0 0-0 GSBinh Duong 4-1 2-1 GS

2009

Did not qualify

2010 - Round of 16

Jeonbuk Motors 2-3 (H) aet R16 H APohang Steelers 1-0 0-0 GSShandong Luneng 0-1 2-0 GSSanfrecce Hiroshima 3-2 0-1 GS

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 67

Group E

Club Profile

Formed in 2003 as members of the now-defunct National Soccer League, Adelaide United emerged as premiership winners during the inaugural A-League season in 2005-06.

They failed to get past the group stage of the AFC Champions League on their debut in 2007 but they became the first Australian side to reach the final the following year, eliminating J.League champions Kashima Antlers in the quarter-finals and stunning Uzbek giants Bunyodkor in the last four. However, their dream ended in the final as they were well beaten by Japan’s Gamba Osaka.

The South Australian side qualified again in 2010 and topped their group, finishing ahead of defending champions Pohang Steelers. But they went out in the Round of 16 after losing 3-2 to Jeonbuk Motors in an extra-time thriller.

Adelaide finished third in the A-League table in 2011, which earned them a berth in the AFC Champions League play-offs. Thanks to goals by Nigel Boogaard, Evgeniy Levchenko and Sergio van Dijk, they beat Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura 3-0 in February to seal their place in the group stage.

Coach

John Kosmina

A former Australia international forward, John Kosmina was the coach of Adelaide United when they joined the National Soccer League in 2003 and remained in charge when they became part of the A-League, leading them to the Premiership title in the inaugural season in 2006.

Kosmina resigned after Adelaide’s loss to Melbourne Victory in the 2007 grand final and served as an assistant coach for the Socceroos before taking charge of Sydney FC. Following his dismissal by Sydney in early 2009, the outspoken 55-year-old worked as a television commentator and coached at lower level clubs before being re-appointed by Adelaide last December on a caretaker basis.

Star Players

Eugene Galekovic

An A-League championship winner with Melbourne Victory in 2007, Eugene Galekovic joined Adelaide United the following season and played a key role in their run to the AFC Champions League final in 2008, keeping six clean sheets and allowing only four goals in 10 games.

Despite the team’s poor form early in the 2011-12 A-League season, the lanky 30-year-old, who was Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2004 Athens Olympics, has continued to impress and he was handed the club captaincy in December, replacing defender Jon McKain, following John Kosmina’s return as caretaker coach.

Cassio

Since joining Adelaide United in 2007, Cassio has been a huge hit with Reds fans, offering a major attacking threat for the club on the left flank and chipping in with some crucial goals. The former Flamengo player played a huge role in the club’s run to the 2008 AFC Champions League final, setting up all of the goals in the 3-0 home win over Bunyodkor in the semi-finals.

Twice named Adelaide’s player of the year, the 32-year-old Brazilian has formed a strong attachment to the club and is reportedly close to securing an Australian passport, which would make him eligible to play for the national team.

Sergio van Dijk

Following two prolific seasons with Brisbane Roar, Sergio van Dijk joined Adelaide United in early 2010, initially on a six-month contract to play for the Reds in the AFC Champions League. However, the move soon became permanent and the Dutchman went on to bag the A-League golden boot in the 2010-11 season with 16 goals.

Born in the Netherlands with an Indonesian father, van Dijk was offered the opportunity to play international football for the South-east Asian country. The 29-year-old has reportedly agreed to represent the Merah Putih and is in the process of applying for Indonesian citizenship.

Young star

Daniel Mullen

Daniel Mullen had yet to celebrate his 19th birthday when he was brought in to replace the suspended Sasa Ognenovski for Adelaide’s AFC Champions League semi-final clash against Bunyodkor in 2008. However, he was able to help the Reds to keep a clean sheet in their unlikely 3-0 win over the Uzbek side.

A versatile defender who can play at centre-back or right-back, Mullen, now 22, has also netted some crucial goals for his club including one against Waitakere United of New Zealand in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008. He was named Australia’s U-20 Player of the Year in 2009.

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Bunyodkor (UZB)

Media ContactName Ulugbek Mirzaev

Tel (+998) 94 692 1100

Fax (+998) 71 150 8355


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 4 – 2011, 10, 09, 08Cup: 2 – 2010, 08

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Round of 16 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Quarter-finals 2008 – Semi-finals




Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 17:00Bunyodkor (UZB) – Adelaide United (AUS) Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD4 – April 18, 17:00Bunyodkor (UZB) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Jar Stadium, Tashkent

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Pohang Steelers (KOR) – Bunyodkor (UZB)Steelyard, Pohang

MD5 – May 02, 19:30Adelaide United (AUS) – Bunyodkor (UZB)Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

MD3 – April 03, 19:00Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Bunyodkor (UZB)Expo ’70 Stadium, Osaka

MD6 – May 16, 17:00Bunyodkor (UZB) – Pohang Steelers (KOR) Jar Stadium, Tashkent


Domestic Record2008League – Champions

P W D L F A Pts30 25 4 1 75 13 79

Cup – WinnersBeat Pakhtakor 3-1 (aet) in final

2009League – Champions

P W D L F A Pts30 28 2 0 85 13 86

Cup – Runners-upLost to Pakhtakor 1-0 in final


P W D L F A Pts26 20 5 1 45 10 65

Cup – WinnersBeat Shortan 1-0 in final


P W D L F A Pts26 19 4 3 51 14 61

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Nasaf 4-3 on penalties after 1-1 aggregate draw

ACL Record2008 – Semi-finals

Adelaide Utd 0-3 (A) 1-0 (H) SFSaipa 2-2 (A) 5-1 (H) QF H AAl Ittihad (KSA) 2-0 0-1 GSSepahan 2-0 1-1 GSAl Ittihad (SYR) 1-0 2-0 GS


Pohang Steelers 3-1 (H) 1-4 (A) QFPiroozi 1-0 (A) R16 H AEttifaq 2-1 0-4 GSAl Shabab (UAE) 0-0 0-2 GSSepahan 2-2 1-0 GS

2010 – Round of 16

Al Hilal (KSA) 0-3 (A) R16 H AAl Ittihad (KSA) 3-0 1-1 GSAl Wahda (UAE) 4-1 2-1 GSZobahan 0-1 0-3 GS

2011 – Round of 16

Sepahan 1-3 (A) R16 H AAl Wahda (UAE) 3-2 1-1 GSAl Ittihad (KSA) 0-1 1-1 GSPiroozi 0-0 3-1 GS


Address 3, Beruniy Street, Shaykhontohur District, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Telephone (+998) 71 150 8351

Fax (+998) 71 150 8355


Web Site www.fcbunyodkor.com

Stadium Jar Stadium

Capacity 9,000


www.the-afc.com 69

Group E

Club Profile

Since the club’s formation as Kuruvchi in 2005, Bunyodkor have enjoyed a meteoric rise in Uzbek football. They moved up from the regional league to the top flight in just two years, and finished runners-up behind Pakhtakor in 2007 before they won four consecutive league championships and two Uzbek Cups.

The Tashkent side spared little expense putting together a strong squad that included established Uzbekistan internationals like Server Djeparov, Timur Kapadze and Anvarjon Soliev as well as former World Player of the Year Rivaldo. However, despite progressing past the group stage of the AFC Champions League in all four of their previous appearances, they have yet to land the title.

They bowed out to Adelaide United in the semi-finals in 2008 and lost to eventual winners Pohang Steelers in the quarter-finals in 2009 after surrendering a 3-1 lead from the first leg. In the past two seasons, they have gone out in the round of 16, going down 3-0 to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in 2010 and 3-1 to Iranian side Sepahan last year.

Coach

Mirdjalal Kasimov

Mirdjalal Kasimov is in his second spell as Bunyodkor coach after returning to the club in 2010 following the departure of Luis Felipe Scolari.

A legend as a captain and a playmaker for his country, Kasimov turned to coaching after his retirement in 2005 and was an assistant coach for the Uzbekistan national team at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup before taking charge of Bunyodkor for the first time.

He led them through to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League before he was appointed head coach of the Uzbekistan national team in September 2008, occupying that position until he returned to Bunyodkor.

Star Players

Sakhob Juraev

Since he was signed from Lokomotiv in 2009, Sakhob Juraev has gradually cemented his position in the Bunyodkor defence. The quick and creative 25-year-old left-back has played regularly for the Tashkent side in the AFC Champions League during the past two seasons and he has also made a number of appearances for the national team under Vadim Abramov.

In the absence of the injured Vitaly Denisov, Juraev was Uzbekistan’s first-choice at left-back during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and he helped his country to reach the semi-finals for the first time despite being hampered by a knee injury.

Victor Karpenko

Victor Karpenko began his career as a striker but such is the versatility of the talented Uzbekistan international that he was also deployed in central midfield and on the flanks before playing at right-back for his country at the AFC Asian Cup in 2011.

The 34-year-old, who is renowned for his long-distance shooting, spent several seasons playing for clubs in Russia and Kazakhstan before returning to Uzbekistan in 2007 to join Bunyodkor, where he has become a key figure. He played in all of his club’s matches in the AFC Champions League in 2010 and 2011.

Lutfulla Turaev

Uzbekistan international midfielder Lutfulla Turaev was signed by Bunyodkor during the off-season after he starred for Nasaf during their run to the AFC Cup title last year.

The 23-year-old, who began his career at Mashal before he joined Nasaf in 2009, was one of the last players to be cut from the national squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2011, but he made up for that with an excellent season for the Karshi side.

He scored four goals and played every minute for Nasaf during their AFC Cup campaign and was also named in the Uzbek League’s all-star team at the end of a season in which his side finished runners-up.

Young star

Javlon Ibragimov

A talented 21-year-old midfielder, who can play either in the centre or on the right wing, Javlon Ibragimov was snapped up by Bunyodkor last year after making an impression for their Tashkent rivals Lokomotiv during the 2010 season.

Ibragimov possesses very good technical abilities and pace, and helped Uzbekistan’s U-23 side to reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010. He started in five of Bunyodkor’s seven matches during the AFC Champions League last season and saw action in Uzbekistan’s World Cup qualifying matches against Kyrgyzstan in July.

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Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Media ContactName: Cho Jung-kil

Mobile: (+82) 10 6472 6595

Fax: (+82) 54 282 9500

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 4 – 2007, 1992, 88, 86Cup: 2 – 2008, 1996

Continental RecordACL: 2010 – Quarter-finals 2009 – Champions 2008 – Group stage

ACC: 1999 – Quarter-finals 1998 - Champions 1997 - Champions


ASC: 1998 – Runners-up 1997 – Runners-up

Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:00Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Pohang Steelers (KOR)Expo ’70 Stadium, Osaka

MD4 – April 18, 19:30Adelaide United (AUS) – Pohang Steelers (KOR)Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Pohang Steelers (KOR) – Bunyodkor (UZB)Steelyard, Pohang

MD5 – May 02, 19:30Pohang Steelers (KOR) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Steelyard, Pohang

MD3 – April 03, 20:00Pohang Steelers (KOR) – Adelaide United (AUS)Steelyard, Pohang

MD6 – May 16, 17:00Bunyodkor (UZB) – Pohang Steelers (KOR)Jar Stadium, Tashkent


Domestic Record2008League – 5th Lost to Ulsan Hyundai 4-2 penalties after 0-0 draw in play-offs

Regular season – 5th P W D L F A Pts 26 13 5 8 43 34 44

Cup – WinnersBeat Gyeongnam 2-0 in final

2009League – 3rd Lost to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 1-0 in play-off semi-finals

Regular season – 2nd P W D L F A Pts 28 14 11 3 55 33 53

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 2-1

2010League – 9th (missed play-offs)

P W D L F A Pts 28 8 9 11 39 48 33

Cup – Round of 16Lost to Gwangju Sangmu 2-1 aet

2011League – 3rd Lost to Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 in play-off semi-finals

Regular season – 2nd P W D L F A Pts 30 17 8 5 59 33 59

Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3-0


H AAdelaide United 0-2 0-1 GSBinh Duong 0-0 4-1 GSChangchun Yatai 2-2 0-1 GS

2009 – Champions

Al Ittihad 2-1 FinalUmm Salal 2-0 (H) 2-1 (A) SFBunyodkor 1-3 (A) 4-1 (H) QFNewcastle Jets 6-0 (H) R16 H ACentral Coast 3-2 0-0 GSKawasaki Frontale 1-1 2-0 GSTianjin Teda 1-0 0-0 GS


Zobahan 1-2 (A) 1-1 (H) QFKashima Antlers 1-0 (A) R16 H AAdelaide United 0-0 0-1 GSSanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 3-4 GSShandong Luneng 1-0 2-1 GS

2011

Did not qualify


Address Dong Yang Building 7F,614-8 Jukdodong, Bukgu Pohang City,Gyeongbuk, Korea 791-843

Tel: (+82) 54 282 2002

Fax: (+82) 54 282 9500

Email www.steelers.co.kr

Website [email protected]

Stadium Pohang Steelyard

Capacity 25,000


www.the-afc.com 71

Group E

Club Profile

Pohang Steelers made history in 2009 when they defeated Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Tokyo to become the first team to be crowned Asian champions three times.

As the POSCO Atoms, they were one of the most successful teams in the early years of the K-League winning three championships and finishing runners-up twice from 1985 to 1992. They changed their name to Pohang Steelers in 1997 and won their first Asian Club Championships that year with a 2-1 win over K-League rivals Ilhwa Chunma in the final. They repeated that feat a year later when they beat Dalian Wanda of China in a penalty shootout.

Following those successes, the team did not challenge for silverware again until 2004, when they lost a penalty shootout to Suwon Bluewings in the K-League championship final. Under Sergio Farias, the team flourished as they won the K-League in 2007 and the Korean FA Cup the following year before they landed the AFC Champions League in 2009.

Having finished third in the K-League last season, Pohang took on Chonburi in February for a spot in the 2012 AFC Champions League and booked their place in the group stage with a 2-0 win over the Thai club.

Coach

Hwang Sun-hong

A Korean football legend, Hwang Sun-hong spent six seasons as a striker with Pohang Steelers in the 1990s, winning a pair of Asian Club Championship titles.

Following his retirement in 2003, he began coaching at Chunnam Dragons, rising up to the position of assistant coach before taking up his first head coaching position at Busan I’Park.

Hwang failed to make a significant impact at Busan during three seasons as head coach but he enjoyed better fortune after returning to Pohang last year as the Steelers finished second in the K-League regular season standings and third in the play-offs and also reached the semi-finals of the Korean FA Cup.

Star Players

Derek Asamoah

Born in Accra, Derek Asamoah spent the early years of his career in England’s lower leagues, where he enjoyed a degree of success and earned a call-up to the Ghana national team. After disappointing spells at Nice in France and Scottish side Hamilton, he revived his fortunes at Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Sofia, where he became a firm crowd favourite.

Signed by Pohang in late 2010, the pacey and skilful 30-year-old, who can be deployed on either wing or as a second striker, enjoyed a solid first season in the K-League as he netted eight goals and set up another six.

Shin Hyung-min

Shin Hyung-min made his professional debut in 2008 and quickly established himself in the Pohang Steelers line-up. He played a key role in his team’s run to the AFC Champions League title the following year when he started in all of their matches from the quarter-finals onwards.

The versatile 25-year-old defender, who can be deployed either in the back four or as a defensive midfield, made his senior international debut for Korea Republic in 2010. He was named Pohang’s captain for the 2012 season after Kim Hyung-il left the club to complete his national service.

No Byung-jun

No Byung-jun wrote his name in Pohang Steelers history in 2009 when he hammered in a free-kick to give the Korean side the lead against Al Ittihad in the AFC Champions League final. The goal helped Pohang to win the match 2-1 and No was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

The 32-year-old, who joined Pohang in 2008 after spells at Chunnam Dragons and Austrian side Grazer AK, went out on loan to Ulsan Hyundai in the second half of 2010. However, he returned to the Steelers last year and made a big impact whenever he came off the bench during the season as he netted seven goals.

Young star

Ko Mu-yeol

Ko Mu-yeol only made his professional debut for Pohang Steelers in the 2011 season. But such was the impact made by the 21-year-old that he appeared in 32 matches during the campaign and was the club’s second highest scorer behind Brazilian striker Mota with 11 goals.

Ko, who stands 1.85 metres tall, also played for the Korea Republic U-23 squad last year during their qualifying campaign for the 2012 Olympic football tournament.

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Group E Fixtures


06/03/2012(Tuesday)

19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) vs Pohang Steelers (KOR) ___ ___

17:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Adelaide United (AUS) ___ ___

20/03/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Bunyodkor (UZB) ___ ___

19:30 Adelaide United (AUS) vs Gamba Osaka (JPN) ___ ___

03/04/2012(Tuesday)

20:00 Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Adelaide United (AUS) ___ ___

19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) vs Bunyodkor (UZB) ___ ___


19:30 Adelaide United (AUS) vs Pohang Steelers (KOR) ___ ___

17:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Gamba Osaka (JPN) ___ ___


19:30 Pohang Steelers (KOR) vs Gamba Osaka (JPN) ___ ___

19:30 Adelaide United (AUS) vs Bunyodkor (UZB) ___ ___


19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) vs Adelaide United (AUS) ___ ___

17:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) vs Pohang Steelers (KOR) ___ ___


Mat

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GROUP F

Group F

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

FC Tokyo (JPN)

Brisbane Roar (AUS)

Beijing Guoan (CHN)

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Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

Media ContactName: Heo Jin-young

Tel: (+82) 10 2210 6486

Fax: (+82) 52 202 6145

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 2 - 2005, 1996Cup: Nil

Continental RecordACL: 2009 - Group stage 2006 - Semi-finals

ACC: 1998 - 2nd round



Fixtures

MD1 - March 06, 19:30Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) - Beijing Guoan (CHN)Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan

MD4 - April 17, 19:30Brisbane Roar (AUS) - Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

MD2 - March 20, 14:00FC Tokyo (JPN) - Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)National Stadium, Tokyo

MD5 - May 02, 19:30Beijing Guoan (CHN) - Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)Workers’ Stadium, Beijing

MD3 - April 04, 19:30Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) - Brisbane Roar (AUS)Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan

MD6 - May 16, 19:30Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) - FC Tokyo (JPN)Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan


Domestic Record2008League – 3rdLost to FC Seoul 4-2 aet in play-off semi-finals

Regular season - 4th P W D L F A Pts 26 14 7 5 39 26 49

Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Daegu 2-1

2009League – 8th (missed play-offs)

P W D L F A Pts 28 9 9 10 32 29 36

Cup – 2nd round Lost to Koyang Kookmin Bank 7-6 on penalties after 1-1 draw

2010League – 5thLost to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3-1 in play-offs


Cup – 2nd round Lost to Jeju United 1-0

2011League – Runners-upLost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4-2 on aggregate in play-off final


Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-2 aet

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009 - Group stage

H ANagoya Grampus 1-3 1-4 GSNewcastle Jets 0-2 0-1 GSBeijing Guoan 1-0 1-0 GS

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address 137-1, Seobu-Dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan, Korea Republic

Tel: (+82) 52 202 6141

Fax: (+82) 52 202 6145


Website www.uhfc.tv

Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium

Capacity 43,122


www.the-afc.com 77

Group F

Club Profile

Having lifted their second K-League title in 2005, Ulsan Hyundai entered the AFC Champions League for the first time the following year and reached the last four after they demolished Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab 7-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. They had one foot in the final after a 3-2 away win over K-League rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the first leg but a 4-1 home loss in the return match saw them bow out.

They returned to the competition in 2009 but they failed to make it past the group stage after losing four of their six games to finish third in their section.

Ulsan won the K-League Cup last year with a 3-2 victory over Busan I’Park in the final and they just made it into the K-League championship play-offs after a sixth-place finish in the table during the regular season.

Kim Ho-gon’s side then defied the odds to beat FC Seoul, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Pohang Steelers to reach the play-off finals before they succumbed 4-2 on aggregate to Jeonbuk.

Coach

Kim Ho-gon

A former Korea Republic international defender, Kim Ho-gon played in the squad that won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1978.

A long-time assistant coach with the national team, Kim had a spell in charge of K-League club Busan I’Park before taking charge of the Korea Republic U-23 side at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Following the retirement of Kim Jung-nam in 2008, he was appointed as head coach at Ulsan and after two barren seasons, he led the club to victory in the K-League Cup and an appearance in the K-League Championship final last year.

Star Players

Kwak Tae-hwi

A tall and agile centre-back, Kwak Tae-hwi made his professional debut for FC Seoul in 2005 and moved two years later to Chunnam Dragons, where he won Korean FA Cup in 2007 and made his senior international debut for Korea Republic in 2008.

He spent a season at Japanese side Kyoto Sanga and played for his country at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup before he joined Ulsan last year. Handed the club captaincy, he played a major role in his side’s second place finish in the league as he netted nine goals during their campaign.

Lee Keun-ho

A pacey and prolific forward, Korea Republic international Lee Keun-ho signed for Ulsan in the off-season after he had played for three years in the J.League. He was twice named on the K-League’s Best XI team while he was at Daegu before he spurned offers from Europe to move to Japanese side Jubilo Iwata in 2009.

He joined Gamba Osaka midway through the 2010 season and was the joint third highest scorer in the J.League last year with 15 goals. He started in all seven of Gamba’s games in the AFC Champions League in 2011 and scored twice.

Lee Ho

Lee Ho began his career at Ulsan, but after he started in all three matches at the 2006 FIFA World Cup for Dick Advocaat’s Korea Republic side, the defensive midfielder was signed by the Dutchman when he left to take charge of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.

He returned to Korea in 2009 to play for Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma but he was snapped up the following year by Al Ain and played for the United Arab Emirates side in all six of their matches in the AFC Champions League in 2010 before he rejoined Ulsan.

Young star

Kim Shin-wook

Standing 1.96-metres tall, Kim Shin-wook cuts an imposing figure in the Ulsan attack with his height and aerial ability. That was especially evident last season in the K-League Cup when the 23-year-old netted 11 goals in his side’s victorious campaign.

He was included in the Korea Republic squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2011 but he only played for 22 minutes in extra-time against Japan in the semi-finals. However, the former centre-back’s physical presence caused problems for the Japanese defence and he made the crucial knock-down from which Korea equalised in the last minute of the game.

www.the-afc.com78

FC Tokyo (JPN)

Media ContactName Fumitoshi Wakabayashi

Tel (+81) 80 2021 4947

Fax (+81) 42 342 8973


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: NilCup: 1 - 2011





Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:30Brisbane Roar (AUS) – FC Tokyo (JPN)Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

MD4 – April 17, 19:30FC Tokyo (JPN) – Beijing Guoan (CHN)Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

MD2 – March 20, 14:00FC Tokyo (JPN) – Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)National Stadium, Tokyo

MD5 – May 02, 19:30FC Tokyo (JPN) – Brisbane Roar (AUS) National Stadium, Tokyo

MD3 – April 04, 20:00Beijing Guoan (CHN) – FC Tokyo (JPN) Workers’ Stadium, Beijing

MD6 – May 16, 19:30Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) – FC Tokyo (JPN)Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan



P W D L F A Pts34 16 7 11 50 46 55

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Kashiwa Reysol 2-1

2009League – 5th

P W D L F A Pts34 16 5 13 47 39 53

Cup – 4th roundLost to Vegalta Sendai 3-0

2010League – 16th (relegated)

P W D L F A Pts34 8 12 14 36 41 36

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Kashima Antlers 2-1

2011League – Winners (J2)

P W D L F A Pts38 23 8 7 67 22 77

Cup – WinnersBeat Kyoto Sanga 4-2 in final


Address 2-15-10 Sarue, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0023, Japan

Tel (+81) 3 3635 8960

Fax (+81) 3 3635 8974

E-mail

Website www.fctokyo.co.jp

Stadium Tokyo Stadium

Capacity 49,416

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 79

Group F

Club Profile

FC Tokyo make their first-ever appearance in the AFC Champions League after securing their spot in the group stage by winning the Emperor’s Cup final against Kyoto Sanga. The victory capped a fine 2011 for the team from Japan’s capital after they also secured promotion to the J.League’s top flight as second division champions having surprisingly been relegated the previous year.

Amongst the best supported clubs in the country, FC Tokyo have often fallen short of expectations in the J.League, only joining the upper tier of the league in 2000 for the first time before their relegation in 2010 brought to a close a run of 11 consecutive seasons in the top flight.

Prior to the Emperor’s Cup win – the club’s first – FC Tokyo’s only previous success had come in the J.League Cup, which they won in 2004 by defeating Urawa Reds on penalties and in 2009, when they beat Kawasaki Frontale.

In their previous incarnation as Tokyo Gas FC, the club also won the Japan Football League title in 1998.

Coach

Ranko Popovic

Serbian coach Ranko Popovic took over at the helm of FC Tokyo after Kiyoshi Okuma stepped down in the aftermath of the club’s success in the Emperor’s Cup final on New Year’s Day.

The 44-year-old is no stranger to Japanese football. He previously served as head coach at Oita Trinita before spending 2011 in the Japan Football League with Machida Zelvia, who he guided to promotion to J2 after a third-place finish.

He previously worked as an assistant coach at Austrian club Sturm Graz, where he also spent four seasons as a player, before spending a season as an assistant coach at Sanfrecce Hiroshima. In 2007 he coached FK Spartak Zlatibor Volda in his homeland prior to joining Oita.

Star Players

Naohiro Ishikawa

Previously on the books of Yokohama F Marinos, Naohiro Ishikawa joined FC Tokyo in 2003 and quickly established himself as one of the key players for the Chofu-based club with his penetrative displays down the right wing.

A member of the Japan squad that featured at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the 30-year-old Ishikawa has also represented the full Japan national side and was a member of the J.League Team of the Year in 2009.

Naotake Hanyu

Former Japan international Naotake Hanyu joined FC Tokyo from JEF United Chiba at the start of the 2008 season and the goal-scoring creative midfielder has been a regular at the heart of the team since.

Hanyu came to prominence for Japan’s university team in 2001 when they won the gold medal at the Universiade, with Hanyu scoring three times during the tournament. He was a member of the Japan squad during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, playing five times as the then-defending champions reached the semi-finals.

Lucas

Brazilian striker Lucas made a triumphant return to FC Tokyo mid-way through the 2011 season, with the 33-year-old scoring twice in the 4-2 win over Kyoto Sanga in the final of the Emperor’s Cup.

The 33-year-old is no stranger to the AFC Champions League, having scored twice in the second leg of the 2008 final while playing for Gamba Osaka. The former Stade Rennais striker spent three seasons with Gamba, who he joined in at the start of that season having spent the previous three years with FC Tokyo. He returned to Brazil with Atletico Paranaense at the start of 2011 before re-signing for FC Tokyo midway through the year.

Young star

Shuichi Gonda

Having stepped in as a youngster to fill the gloves of the experienced Yoichi Doi as FC Tokyo’s starting goalkeeper at the start of the 2008 season, 23-year-old Shuichi Gonda has established himself over the last three seasons as one of the best young custodians in Japanese football.

Gonda made his debut for the Japan national team at the start of 2010 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen and was the first-choice between the posts as Japan sought a berth at the 2012 Olympic football tournament in London. He was also a member of Alberto Zaccheroni’s squad that won the AFC Asian Cup in 2011 and was in goal when FC Tokyo won the J.League Cup in 2009.

www.the-afc.com80

Brisbane Roar (AUS)

Media ContactName: Daniel Lato

Tel: (+61) 7 3123 7015; (+61) 438 830 201

Fax: (+61) 7 3009 0516


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 1 - 2011Cup: 1 - 2011

Continental RecordACL: No previous appearances ACC: Did not participate



Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:30Brisbane Roar (AUS) – FC Tokyo (JPN)Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

MD4 – April 17, 19:30Brisbane Roar (AUS) – Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Beijing Guoan (CHN) – Brisbane Roar (AUS) Workers’ Stadium, Beijing

MD5 – May 02, 19:30FC Tokyo (JPN) – Brisbane Roar (AUS)National Stadium, Tokyo

MD3 – April 04, 19:30Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) – Brisbane Roar (AUS)Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan

MD6 – May 16, 19:30Brisbane Roar (AUS) – Beijing Guoan (CHN)Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane



P W D L F A Pts 21 8 7 6 25 21 31

Play-offs – Preliminary finalLost to Newcastle Jets 3-2 (aet)


P W D L F A Pts 21 10 6 5 36 25 36

Play-offs – Preliminary finalLost to Adelaide United 1-0


P W D L F A Pts 27 8 6 13 32 42 30


2010-11League – 1st (Premiership winners)

P W D L F A Pts 30 18 11 1 58 26 65

Play-offs – ChampionsBeat Central Coast Mariners 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 draw in grand final


Address: Locked Bag 10, Kelvin Grove BC,QLD 4059, Australia

Tel: (+61) 7 3123 7100

Fax: (+61) 7 3009 0516


Website: www.brisbaneroar.com.au

Stadium: Brisbane Stadium

Capacity: 52,500

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 81

Group F

Club Profile

After finishing second from last in the A-League in the 2009-10 campaign, Brisbane Roar engineered a remarkable turnaround last year, losing only one game during the regular season, topping the table and qualifying for the AFC Champions League for the first time. The Queensland side went on to claim their maiden league title in a dramatic grand final against Central Coast Mariners as they came from 2-0 down with three minutes left in extra-time to draw level before winning in a penalty shootout.

They extended their streak of unbeaten matches in the A-League to 36 matches after going undefeated in their first eight matches of the 2011-12 season, setting a new record for an Australian club in the country’s various football codes.

Originally known as Queensland Roar, the club were one of the eight founder members of the A-League in 2005 but enjoyed little success in the league’s first five seasons, finishing no higher than third and missing the championship play-offs on three occasions.

Coach

Ange Postecoglou

Born in Greece, Ange Postecoglou moved to Australia at the age of five and made his name as a defender and coach in the National Soccer League at South Melbourne. Capped four times by the Socceroos, he went on to coach the Australia U-20s and Greek side Panachaiki before taking charge of Brisbane Roar midway through the 2009-10 season following the dismissal of Frank Farina.

Postecolglou, 45, set about rebuilding the team and although they finished a disappointing ninth that year, they turned on the style in 2011-12, losing only one game in their campaign and winning both the Premiership and A-League title for the first time.

Star Players

Michael Theoklitos

A winner of two A-League championships with Melbourne Victory, Michael Theoklitos has rebuilt his career at Brisbane Roar after a disastrous spell at Norwich City in 2009 which saw him concede seven goals in his only match for the English club.

Theoklitos was signed by the Queensland club the following year and played a major role in their highly successful 2010-11 campaign. The 31-year-old kept 12 clean sheets during the season, went a league-record 876 minutes without conceding a goal and won the A-League’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third time.

Mitch Nichols

Tipped for stardom when he was signed as an 18-year-old in 2007, Mitch Nichols firmly established himself as a key man for Brisbane Roar during the 2010-11 A-League season. He appeared in 32 games, netted six goals and proved a vital cog in midfield as the club suffered just one loss en route to their first league championship.

Having represented Australia at U-20 and U-23 level, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder made his first senior international appearance in 2009 and was one of only three A-League players called up by Socceroos coach Holger Osieck for World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Thailand last November.

Sayed Mohamed Adnan

Prior to his arrival at Brisbane Roar last year, Sayed Mohamed Adnan had made his name as a key defender for the Bahrain national team and Qatari club Al Khor. He played for his country at the Asian Cup finals in 2004 and 2007 and was a runner-up for the AFC Player of the Year award in 2009.

The 28-year-old centre-back signed with the A-League champions last July after impressing coach Ange Postecoglou with his composure on the ball and his pinpoint passing ability, and he has since established himself firmly at the heart of the Roar defence.

Young star

Kofi Danning

Born in Ghana, Kofi Danning moved to Australia at the age of seven and nurtured his talent at the Australian Institute of Sport before joining Sydney FC and making his A-League debut in 2009 at the age of 16.

Despite showing tremendous potential with his speed and strength on the ball, the Australia U-23 international suffered a serious knee injury that sidelined him for most of 2010 and he was unable to secure a regular spot in the Sydney line-up after his return. The desire for more playing time prompted the 20-year-old to sign for Brisbane before the 2011-12 season.

www.the-afc.com82

Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Media ContactName: Jiang Xiaojun

Tel: (+86) 1351 105 3533

Fax: (+86) 10 6552 7932


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 1 – 2009 Cup: 3 – 2003, 1997, 96

Continental RecordACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage


ACWC: 1999 – 2nd round 1998 – 3rd place


Fixtures

MD1 – March 06, 19:30Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) – Beijing Guoan (CHN)Ulsan Munsu Stadium, Ulsan

MD4 – April 17, 19:30FC Tokyo (JPN) – Beijing Guoan (CHN)Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo

MD2 – March 20, 19:30Beijing Guoan (CHN) – Brisbane Roar (AUS) Workers’ Stadium, Beijing

MD5 – May 02, 19:30Beijing Guoan (CHN) – Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)Workers’ Stadium, Beijing

MD3 – April 04, 20:00Beijing Guoan (CHN) – FC Tokyo (JPN)Workers’ Stadium, Beijing

MD6 – May 16, 19:30Brisbane Roar (AUS) – Beijing Guoan (CHN)Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane


Domestic Record2008League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts30 16 10 4 44 27 58

No Cup competition


P W D L F A Pts30 13 12 5 48 28 51

No Cup competition

2010League – 5th

P W D L F A Pts30 12 10 8 35 29 46

No Cup competition


P W D L F A Pts30 14 11 5 49 21 53

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Shandong Luneng 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 draw


Address: Stand No.18, Workers’ Stadium,Chao Yang District, Beijing, China

Tel: (+86) 10 6552 7930

Fax: (+86) 10 6554 7932


Website: www.gaf.citic.com

Stadium: Workers’ Stadium

Capacity: 61,000


H ANam Dinh 3-0 3-1 GSKrung Thai Bank 4-2 3-5 GSKashima Antlers 1-0 0-1 GS


H ANewcastle Jets 2-0 1-2 GSNagoya Grampus 1-1 0-0 GSUlsan Hyundai 0-1 0-1 GS

2010 – Round of 16

Suwon Bluewings 0-2 (A) R16 H AMelbourne Victory 1-0 0-0 GSKawasaki Frontale 2-0 3-1 GSSeongnam Chunma 0-1 1-3 GS

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 83

Group F

Club ProfileBeijing Guoan won the Chinese Super League title for the first time in their history in 2009 and in the process earned a third consecutive appearance in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.

The club’s first two appearances in the competition ended at the first hurdle but 2010 saw the capital side reach the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Suwon Bluewings from Korea Republic.

That result – which saw them become the first Chinese club to reach the knockout phase of the competition since Shanghai Shenhua in 2006 – was followed by a disappointing showing in the Chinese Super League, where Beijing struggled to match the form shown the previous season and finished fifth, outside the qualification spots for the 2011 AFC Champions League and the club’s worst performance in the league since 2005.

Last season saw a return to form under Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco, who took over from Wei Kexing prior to the start of the season and steered Beijing to second place, behind run-away leaders Guangzhou Evergrande.

Beijing’s best performance in Asian competition came in 1998 when they finished third in the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup.

Coach

Jaime Pacheco

Portuguese coach Jaime Pacheco arrived in Beijing at the start of the 2011 season and steered the club to second place in the Chinese Super League, earning a berth in the 2012 AFC Champions League just a year after Beijing had endured a disappointing domestic season.

Pacheco has extensive experience in his native Portugal, where he has worked as Boavista coach on three occasions, winning the league title with the club in 2001. The 53-year-old has also worked in the Spanish Primera Liga, where he coached Mallorca, and also had a spell in charge of Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab.

Star Players

Darko Matic

Croatian defensive midfielder Darko Matic has been a firm favourite with Beijing Guoan fans since he joined the capital side from Tianjin Teda in 2009. Generally regarded as the team’s best ever foreign signing, he played a key role in Beijing’s first Chinese Super League championship in 2009.

The 31-year-old played for clubs in Germany, Switzerland, Bosnia and Slovakia before he moved to China to join Tianjin in 2007. He helped Tianjin to finish fourth in 2008 and qualify for the AFC Champions League and he has been voted the league’s best midfielder on three occasions.

Xu Yunlong

A member of Bora Milutinovic’s squad when China made their first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals in 2002, right-back Xu Yunlong captains Beijing Guoan and is one of the most experienced players on the club’s books.

Xu, 33, has spent his entire professional career with the capital club as well as making over 70 appearances for the national team. He led the side to their only domestic league success to date in 2009 and has extensive experience of playing in the AFC Champions League.

Shao Jiayi

Creative midfielder Shao Jiayi returned to China in the winter after 10 seasons in Germany and chose to return to the club he left in 2002, when he signed for 1860 Munich as a 21-year-old.

While this will be his first appearance in the AFC Champions League, the former China national team midfielder – he was a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad – has the experience and talent to steer Beijing to success both at home and at continental level.

Young star

Zhang Xizhe

Despite only turning 21 in January, midfielder Zhang Xizhe has already made his debut appearance for the full national team after being given the opportunity to impress by former coach Gao Hongbo in a friendly meeting with Costa Rica last March.

Zhang spent several months playing in Singapore’s S-League with the club’s satellite team Beijing Guoan Talent in 2010 and has also represented China at U-20 level.

www.the-afc.com84

Group F Fixtures


06/03/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN) ___ ___

19:30 Brisbane Roar (AUS) vs FC Tokyo (JPN) ___ ___

20/03/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs Brisbane Roar (AUS) ___ ___

14:00 FC Tokyo (JPN) vs Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) ___ ___


20:00 Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs FC Tokyo (JPN) ___ ___

19:30 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)) vs Brisbane Roar (AUS) ___ ___

17/04/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 FC Tokyo (JPN) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN) ___ ___

19:30 Brisbane Roar (AUS) vs Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) ___ ___


19:30 Beijing Guoan (CHN) vs Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) ___ ___

19:30 FC Tokyo (JPN) vs Brisbane Roar (AUS) ___ ___


19:30 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) vs FC Tokyo (JPN) ___ ___

19:30 Brisbane Roar (AUS) vs Beijing Guoan (CHN) ___ ___


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GROUP G

Group G

Tianjin Teda (CHN)




www.the-afc.com88

Tianjin Teda (CHN)

Media ContactName: Liu Da

Mobile: (+86) 1390 211 3925

Fax: (+86) 22 6622 0600


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: NilCup: 2 – 1960, 2011

Continental RecordACL: 2011 – Round of 16 2009 – Group stage




Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 20:00Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Central Coast Mariners (AUS)Tianjin Teda Football Stadium, Tianjin

MD4 – April 18, 19:00Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Tianjin Teda (CHN)Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya

MD2 – March 21, 19:00Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) – Tianjin Teda (CHN)Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

MD5 – May 01, 19:30Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – Tianjin Teda (CHN)Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

MD3 – April 03, 19:30Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN)Tianjin Teda Football Stadium, Tianjin

MD6 – May 15, 19:30Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)Tianjin Teda Football Stadium, Tianjin



P W D L F A Pts30 16 9 5 54 29 57

No Cup competition

2009League – 6th

P W D L F A Pts30 12 9 9 36 29 45

No Cup competition

2010League – 2nd

P W D L F A Pts30 13 11 6 37 29 50

No Cup competition

2011League – 10th

P W D L F A Pts30 8 13 9 37 41 37

Cup – WinnersBeat Shandong Luneng 2-1 in final


Address: C-513, Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China

Tel: (+86) 22 6628 6621

Fax: (+86) 22 6622 0600


Website: http://sports.enorth.com.cn/teda

Stadium: Tianjin Teda Football Stadium

Capacity: 37,000

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify


H AKawasaki Frontale 3-1 0-1 GSCentral Coast 2-2 1-0 GSPohang Steelers 0-0 0-1 GS

2010

Did not qualify

2011 – Round of 16

Jeonbuk Motors 0-3 (A) R16 H AJeju United 3-0 1-0 GSGamba Osaka 2-1 0-2 GSMelbourne Victory 1-1 1-2 GS


www.the-afc.com 89

Group G

Club Profile

While the city of Tianjin has been home to a football club since 1957, the current Tianjin Teda side only came into being in 1998 as a second division outfit. However, they quickly won promotion to the top flight after topping the table and going unbeaten throughout the season.

The club have since established their place in the Chinese Super League and between 2004 and 2010 they did not finish lower than sixth. The 2011 season, however, was a disappointing one in the league as Tianjin struggled and finished 10th. But they qualified for the 2012 edition of the AFC Champions League with a 2-1 win over Shandong Luneng in the Chinese FA Cup final.

Tianjin failed to make a significant impression on their AFC Champions League debut in 2009 when they bowed out at the end of the group stage. But despite their struggles in the domestic league last season, they put in a much stronger performance in the AFC Champions League and qualified for the round of 16 with a second-place finish in their group.

Coach

Josip Kuze

Following the departure of former China national team boss Arie Haan, Croatian coach Josip Kuze was appointed head coach of Tianjin Teda in late 2011, having previously worked with the Albania national team.

The 59-year-old, who spent his whole career as a player with Dynamo Zagreb in his native Croatia, has worked extensively throughout the world and has had stints in Australia, with Sydney Croatia, as well as in the J.League, where he worked with Gamba Osaka and JEF United, and throughout Europe and Africa.

Star Players

Li Weifeng

After a two-year spell in Korea, former China international captain Li Weifeng returned to Chinese football at Tianjin Teda at the start of 2011 and has now appeared for four different clubs in the AFC Champions League after previously playing for Shenzhen Jianlibao, Shanghai Shenhua and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the competition.

The 33-year-old is solid and dependable in defence and is a strong header of the ball. However, he has often been let down by his temperament which has resulted in him receiving a number of red cards during the course of his career.

Chen Tao

As one of the more creative players in the Chinese Super League in recent years, Chen Tao has developed into one of the most widely recognised players in China, featuring regularly for the national side during their qualification matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

Chen joined Tianjin full-time at the start of 2011 after spending a season on loan from Shanghai Shenhua and he arrived with an impressive resume already, having featured for China’s U-20 team at the FIFA World Youth Championships in the Netherlands in 2005 as well as winning the East Asian Championship in the same year.

Yu Dabao

A native of Qingdao, Yu Dabao caught the attention of several European clubs while he was still a teenager and he was eventually signed as an 18-year-old by Portuguese giants Benfica in 2006. However, things did not quite work out for Yu with the Lisbon side and he spent much of the next three seasons on loan at various Portuguese clubs before returning to China in 2010.

Quick, strong and good in the air, the 23-year-old helped Tianjin to finish second in the China Super League in 2010 and has featured regularly for the national side since making his debut in December 2010 against Estonia.

Young star

Ma Leilei Locally-born midfielder Ma Leilei began his football career at neighbouring Tianjin Locomotive before moving to Tianjin Teda in 2008, where he made his professional debut as an 18-year-old, appearing in the group stages of the AFC Champions League.

Ma was part of the China squad that captured the AFC U-17 Championship in Japan in 2004 and scored twice against Kawasaki Frontale in his first season in the AFC Champions League in 2009, when Tianjin were eliminated at the group stage.

www.the-afc.com90


Media ContactName: Chun Hyu-sung

Tel: (+82) 10 6783 4448

Fax: (+82) 31 709 4443


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 7 – 2006, 03, 02, 01, 1995, 94, 93Cup: 2 – 2011, 1999

Continental RecordACL: 2010 – Champions 2007 – Semi-finals 2004 – Runners-up 2003 – Group stage

ACC: 1997 – Runners-up 1995 – Winners 1994 – Semi-finals



Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 19:00Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya

MD4 – April 18, 19:30Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) – Central Coast Mariners (AUS)Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

MD2 – March 21, 19:00Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) – Tianjin Teda (CHN)Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

MD5 – May 01, 19:30Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN)Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

MD3 – April 03, 19:00Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

MD6 – May 15, 19:30Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin


Domestic Record2008League – 5th Lost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1 in play-offs

Regular season – 3rd P W D L F A Pts 26 16 6 4 45 21 51

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Pohang Steelers 8-7 on penalties after 1-1 draw

2009League – Runners-upLost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-1 on aggregate in play-off final


Cup – Runners-upLost to Suwon Samsung Bluewings 4-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw in final

2010League – 4thLost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-0 in play-offs


Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Jeju United 2-0

2011League – 10th (Missed play-offs)

P W D L F A Pts 30 9 8 13 43 47 35

Cup – WinnersBeat Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-0 in final


Address: Tancheon Complex, 486 Yatap-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-Do, 463-839, Korea

Tel: (+82) 31 709 4133

Fax: (+82) 31 709 4443


Website: www.esifc.com

Stadium: Tancheon Sports Complex

Capacity: 16,000

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010 – Champions

Zobahan 3-1 FinalAl Shabab 3-4 (A) 1-0 (H) SFSuwon Bluewings 4-1 (H) 0-2 (A) QFGamba Osaka 3-0 (H) R16 H AKawasaki Frontale 2-0 0-3 GSMelbourne Victory 3-2 2-0 GSBeijing Guoan 3-1 1-0 GS

2011

Did not qualify


www.the-afc.com 91

Group G

Club Profile

Winners of the Asian Club Championship in 1995, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma were crowned continental champions for a second time in 2010 when they beat Iranian side Zobahan 3-1 in the AFC Champions League final.

The victory in Tokyo helped to banish the painful memories of their previous appearance in the AFC Champions League final in 2004 when they lost 6-3 on aggregate after a stunning 5-0 home reverse against Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the second leg.

The club suffered further heartbreak in 2007 when they went out in the semi-finals after losing to eventual winners Urawa Red Diamonds in a penalty shootout.

Despite their victory in 2010, Seongnam were unable to defend their title last year after failing to finish in the top three in the K-League. The seven-time Korean league winners slipped even further in 2011, dropping to 10th and missing the play-offs. But victory in the Korean FA Cup secured them a spot in the AFC Champions League once again.

Coach

Shin Tae-yong

A former Korea Republic international midfielder, Shin Tae-yong worked as an assistant coach with Queensland Roar after hanging up his boots before he returned in 2009 to Korea to take charge of Seongnam, the club where he spent most of his career.

Having won the Asian Club Championship title with the club in 1995 (when they were known as Ilhwa Chunma), Shin became the first man to win the continental title as both a player and a head coach when Seongnam won the AFC Champions League in 2010.

Star Players

Sasa Ognenovski

In just five years, Sasa Ognenovski went from playing amateur football in his native Australia to winning the AFC Player of the Year award in 2010 and playing for the Socceroos in the AFC Asian Cup final in 2011.

Signed by Queensland Roar at the age of 27, the 1.95m-tall centre-back caught the attention of Seongnam when he helped Adelaide United to reach the AFC Champions League final in 2008. He joined the Korean club the following year and captained them to victory in the 2010 AFC Champions League, scoring the opener in their 3-1 win over Zobahan in the final.

Hwang Jae-won

Hwang Jae-won began his professional career in 2004 with Pohang Steelers, a club where he enjoyed much success over six and a half seasons. He helped Sergio Farias’ side to win the K-League in 2007 and the Korean FA Cup the following year before he captained them to victory in the 2009 AFC Champions League final.

A nominee for the AFC Player of the Year award in 2009, he joined Suwon Bluewings the following year and helped to shore up their defence as they won the Korean FA Cup. The 30-year-old Korea Republic international signed for Seongnam during the off-season after he missed much of the 2011 campaign because of a knee injury.

Ha Kang-jin

Ha Kang-jin made his professional debut for Suwon Bluewings in 2010 and looked set to succeed Lee Woon-jae after going between the posts in place of the veteran goalkeeper for their Korean FA Cup final victory over Busan I’Park.

However, he moved to Seongnam last year after Suwon had signed Korea Republic international goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong and firmly established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. The 23-year-old played a key role in Seongnam’s FA Cup final victory over Suwon in 2011, shutting out his former club in a 1-0 win.

Young star

Yoon Bit-garam

The captain of the Korea Republic team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2007, Yoon Bit-garam made his professional debut for Gyeongnam in 2010, winning the K-League’s Rookie of the Year award that season and being named in the league’s Best XI the following year.

Regarded as one of the brightest young talents in his country, the 21-year-old midfielder shot to international fame at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup when he came on as a substitute against Iran in the quarter-finals and scored a spectacular extra-time winner.

www.the-afc.com92


Media ContactName: Eiji Tomura

Mobile: (+81) 90 7850 7791

Fax: (+81) 52 242 9194


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 1 - 2010Cup: 2 - 1999, 95

Continental Record ACL: 2011 – Round of 16 2009 – Semi-finals


ACWC: 2001 – Quarter-finals 1997 – Runners-up


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 19:00Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya

MD4 – April 18, 19:00Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Tianjin Teda (CHN)Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya

MD2 – March 21, 19:30Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN)Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

MD5 – May 01, 19:30Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN)Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

MD3 – April 03, 19:30Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN)Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin

MD6 – May 15, 19:00Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Central Coast Mariners (AUS)Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya


Domestic Record2008League – 3rd

P W D L F A Pts34 17 8 9 48 35 59

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Gamba Osaka 2-1

2009League – 9th

P W D L F A Pts34 14 8 12 46 42 50

Cup – Runners-upLost to Gamba Osaka 4-1 in final


P W D L F A Pts34 23 3 8 54 37 72

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Kashima Antlers 2-1


P W D L F A Pts34 21 8 5 67 36 71

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Yokohama F.Marinos 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 draw


Address: 7F, Hiyasa YS Building, 5-1-32, Sakae, Naka-ku,Nagoya City, Aichi, Japan 460-0008

Telephone: (+81) 52 242 9190

Fax: (+81) 52 242 9194

Website: www.nagoya-grampus.jp


Stadium: Mizuho Athletic Stadium

Capacity: 20,000

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify


Al Ittihad 2-6 (A) 1-2 (H) SFKawasaki Frontale 1-2 (A) 3-1 (H) QFSuwon Bluewings 2-1 (H) R16 H AUlsan Hyundai 4-1 3-1 GSBeijing Guoan 0-0 1-1 GSNewcastle Jets 1-1 1-0 GS

2010

Did not qualify

2011 – Round of 16

Suwon Bluewings 0-2 (A) R16 H AHangzhou Greentown 1-0 0-2 GSAl Ain 4-0 1-3 GSFC Seoul 1-1 2-0 GS


www.the-afc.com 93

Group G

Club Profile

Nagoya Grampus return for their third appearance in the AFC Champions League after once again reaching the knockout stages in the 2011 edition of the continental club championship.

Grampus backed up a year that had seen them win their first-ever J.League crown in 2010 by finishing as runners-up in 2011 behind new champions Kashiwa Reysol while also making it through to the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League.

However, Dragan Stojkovic’s side were unable to build on their previous performance in the competition, when they progressed as far as the last four in 2009 but missed out on a place in the final to Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

Despite that, Grampus continued to enjoy a period of relative success that has been a long time coming for a club long seen as one of the greatest underachievers in Japanese football. Prior to 2010, their previous best performance in the league came in 1996 when they finished as runners-up with Carlos Queiroz at the helm, the same year they reached the final of the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup.

Coach

Dragan Stojkovic

Dragan Stojkovic’s name has become synonymous with Nagoya Grampus, the club he represented as a player for eight seasons before returning in 2008 as head coach. In his first full season he qualified the club for the AFC Champions League by taking Grampus to third position in the J.League.

A mercurial player in his heyday, Stojkovic represented Yugoslavia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals and played for Red Star Belgrade before joining Olympic Marseille, from where he eventually signed for Grampus in 1994.

Since his retirement from playing, Stojkovic has served as the president of the Serbian Football Association and was president of Red Star Belgrade before returning to Japan, where his J.League title-winning run in 2010 saw him named the league’s Manager of the Year.

Star Players

Seigo Narazaki

Named the J.League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2010 season – the first time a goalkeeper had won the award –Seigo Narazaki remains one of the best custodians in Japan despite being overlooked by the national team since the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

His assured nature between the posts has made the 35-year-old first choice for Grampus since he joined the club from the defunct Yokohama Flugels in 1998 and he was a member of the Japan squads for the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, although he only played in Germany in 2006.

Narazaki was the starting goalkeeper under former national coach Zico when Japan won the AFC Asian Cup in China in 2004.

Marcus Tulio Tanaka

Charismatic central defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka has already tasted success in continental club competition, having been a key part of the Urawa Red Diamonds side that won the AFC Champions League title in 2007.

The Brazil-born Japan international joined Grampus at the start of the 2010 season and was instrumental in the club’s first-ever J.League victory while also playing a major role in defence as the national team reached the second round of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the first time Japan had done so in an overseas-based finals.

His all-action style and leadership from defence mark the 30-year-old Tulio out as one of the personalities of Japanese football.

Josh Kennedy

After finishing as the J.League’s joint top scorer in 2010, Australia international striker Josh Kennedy went one better in 2011 by claiming sole ownership of the individual crown.

The towering forward claimed 19 goals in 31 games for Grampus in 2011 to add to the 17 in 31 matches he scored in 2010, highlighting his importance to the club since joining from German side Karlsruher SC.

Kennedy has also established himself as a regular member of the Australia national squad, representing his nation at both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, but he missed the finals of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar due to a back injury.

Young star

Kensuke Nagai

Young striker Kensuke Nagai is highly rated within Japanese football and made his debut for the senior national side when he was part of an experimental team that faced Yemen in early 2010 in qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup finals.

The 23-year-old, who left Vissel Kobe to join Grampus after an earlier spell at Avispa Fukuoka, represented Japan at U-19 and U-23 levels and established himself as a regular member of Dragan Stojkovic’s side throughout the 2011 season.

www.the-afc.com94


Media ContactName: Ben O’Neill

Tel: (+61) 2 411 092 404

Fax: (+61) 2 4353 7211


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: NilCup: 1 - 2008

Continental Record ACL: 2009 – Group stage




Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 20:00Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Central Coast Mariners (AUS)Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin

MD4 – April 18, 19:30Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) – Central Coast Mariners (AUS)Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

MD2 – March 21, 19:30Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN)Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

MD5 – May 01, 19:30Central Coast Mariners (AUS)– Tianjin Teda (CHN)Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

MD3 – April 03, 19:00Central Coast Mariners (AUS) – Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

MD6 – May 15, 19:00Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Central Coast Mariners (AUS)Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya


Domestic Record2007-08League – 1st (Premiership winners)

P W D L F A Pts 21 10 4 7 30 25 34

Play-offs – Runners-upLost to Newcastle Jets 1-0 in grand final


P W D L F A Pts 21 7 7 7 35 32 28

Play-offs – Minor semi-finalLost to Queensland Roar 4-1 on aggregate


P W D L F A Pts 27 7 9 11 32 29 30


2010-11League – 2nd

P W D L F A Pts 30 16 9 5 50 31 57

Play-offs – Runners-upLost to Brisbane Roar 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 draw in grand final

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify


H APohang Steelers 0-0 2-3 GSTianjin Teda 0-1 2-2 GSKawasaki Frontale 0-5 1-2 GS

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address:PO Box 5244, Chittaway BayNSW 2261, Australia

Tel: (+61) 2 4353 7200

Fax: (+61) 2 4353 7211

Website: www.ccmariners.com.au


Stadium: Central Coast Stadium

Capacity: 20,059


www.the-afc.com 95

Group G

Club Profile

Despite being one of the A-League’s smaller franchises, Central Coast Mariners have been one of its leading sides, winning the Premiership crown in 2008 and reaching the Grand Final three times in the first six seasons of the competition.

Despite their good domestic record, the team from Gosford have yet to land the A-League title after narrow defeats in all three finals that they have appeared in. They lost 1-0 to Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets in 2006 and 2008 respectively, and suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Brisbane Roar last year after squandering a 2-0 lead with only three minutes left in extra-time.

The Mariners are making their second appearance in the AFC Champions League after a disappointing debut in 2009 when they went out at the group stage and failed to register a win. But given their current strong run of form and the experience of coach Graham Arnold, they promise to put in a far better showing this season.

Coach

Graham Arnold

A former Australia international striker, Graham Arnold served as an assistant coach for the national team under Frank Farina and Guus Hiddink before taking charge of the Socceroos for their first appearance in the AFC Asian Cup finals in 2007. However, he was heavily criticised for the team’s failure to progress past the quarter-finals.

Appointed to replace long-time coach Lawrie McKinna after the Mariners’ disappointing eighth-place finish in 2010, Arnold made a number of changes to the Mariners squad and led them to a second-place finish in the A-League during the regular season and an appearance in the Grand Final last year.

Star Players

Alex Wilkinson

A former Australia U-17 and U-20 international, Alex Wilkinson has played at the heart of the Central Coast Mariners defence in all six A-League seasons, skippering the club in five of those campaigns.

The 27-year-old centre-back has proven to be one of the league’s most reliable defenders during his time with the Mariners thanks to his strong, disciplined approach and his excellent reading of the game. He has attracted interest from abroad and spent four months on loan with Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Sainty last year.

Joshua Rose

Having played for Brisbane Strikers in the National Soccer League and New Zealand Knights during the first season of the A-League, defender Joshua Rose joined Romanian side Universitatea Craiova in 2006 and proved a big hit with the club’s fans during his three years there.

The cultured left-back became Graham Arnold’s first signing when he joined Central Coast in March 2010 and played a major role in the club’s second-placed finish during the 2010-11 season, chipping in with three goals and seven assists. He was named on the A-League’s all-star team and was also selected by his teammates as their player of the year.

Mathew Ryan

Having played for the Central Coast Mariners youth team, Mathew Ryan signed a senior contract with the club before the 2010-11 season and quickly found himself thrust into a starting role at the age of 18 when regular goalkeeper Jess Vansrattan suffered a serious knee injury early in the campaign.

Ryan took full advantage of the opportunity and kept 14 clean sheets to help the Mariners to finish runners-up in the A-League. He was named the league’s Young Player of the Year and was also the man of the match in the Grand Final despite Central Coast’s penalty shootout loss to Brisbane Roar.

Young star

Mustafa Amini

A graduate of the Australian Institute of Sport, Mustafa Amini is regarded as one of the country’s brightest young talents, having played a key part in Australia’s runners-up finish at the AFC U-19 Youth Championship in 2010.

The attacking midfielder only joined Central Coast in 2010 but his creative ability, excellent touch and keen eye for goal quickly attracted the interest of German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, who signed the 18-year-old to a four-year contract last year before loaning him back to the Mariners. He will leave for Dortmund following the completion of the AFC Champions League group stage.

www.the-afc.com96

Group G Fixtures



20:00 Tianjin Teda (CHN) vs Central Coast Mariners (AUS) ___ ___

19:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) vs Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) ___ ___


19:30 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) vs Nagoya Grampus (JPN) ___ ___

19:00 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) vs Tianjin Teda (CHN) ___ ___

03/04/2012(Tuesday)

19:00 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) vs Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma

(KOR) ___ ___

19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) vs Nagoya Grampus (JPN) ___ ___


19:30 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) vs Central Coast Mariners

(AUS) ___ ___

19:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) vs Tianjin Teda (CHN) ___ ___

01/05/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) vs Tianjin Teda (CHN) ___ ___

19:30 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) vs Nagoya Grampus (JPN) ___ ___

15/05/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) vs Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) ___ ___

19:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) vs Central Coast Mariners (AUS) ___ ___


Mat

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GROUP H

Group H





www.the-afc.com100


Media ContactName: Kitti Cheevasittiyanon

Tel: (+66) 81 696 0993

Fax: (+66) 2 642 7721


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 2 – 2011, 08Premiership: 1 – 2011

Continental Record ACL: 2009 – Qualifying play-off

AFC Cup: 2009 – Group stage




Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 18:30 Buriram United (THA) – Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)Buriram Stadium, Buriram

MD4 – April 17, 19:00Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Buriram United (THA)Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju

MD2 – March 21, 20:00Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) – Buriram United (THA) Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou

MD5 – May 01, 19:00Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) – Buriram United (THA) Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

MD3 – April 04, 18:30Buriram United (THA) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)Buriram Stadium, Buriram

MD6 – May 15, 18:30Buriram United (THA) – Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)Buriram Stadium, Buriram


Domestic Record2008League – Champions

P W D L F A Pts30 18 7 5 38 15 61

No cup competition

2009League – 9th

P W D L F A Pts30 9 9 12 37 41 36

Cup – 4th roundLost to TTM Samut Sakhon 1-0


P W D L F A Pts30 17 12 1 51 19 63

Cup – 4th roundLost to Royal Thai Army 1-0 aet


P W D L F A Pts30 18 9 3 67 32 63

Cup – WinnersBeat Muangthong United 1-0 aet in final

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009 – Qualifying play-off

Armed Forces 1-4 (H) aet PO1

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address:475 Siripinyo Building, 14F, 1405 Si Ayuthaya Rd, Phayathai, Ratchthewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Tel: (+66) 2 642 7720

Fax: (+66) 2 642 7721


Website: www.buriramunited.co.th

Stadium: Buriram Stadium

Capacity: 24,000


www.the-afc.com 101

Group H

Club Profile

Buriram United came into existence in 2010 after well-known Buriram politican Newin Chidchob took over the Provincial Electricity Authority club and moved them to his home province in north-eastern Thailand.

Newin said that his “ultimate goal” was to win the Thai Premier League and he succeeded last season with Buriram running away with the title by 16 points, winning 26 of their 34 games and losing just once. They also won the Thai FA Cup, beating 2010 league champions Muang Thong United 1-0 after extra-time, and the Thai League Cup, downing Thai Port 2-0 in the final.

Nicknamed the “Thunder Castle”, the club have changed their official name to Buriram United for the upcoming season after Newin completed the takeover of PEA. They play their home matches at a purpose-built, 24,000 all-seater capacity stadium which was opened last year.

Provincial Electricity Authority won the Thai Premier League in 2008 but never made it to the group stage of the AFC Champions League, going down 4-1 after extra-time to Singapore Armed Forces in a play-off tussle.

Coach

Attaphol Puspakom

A former Thailand international striker, Attaphol is one of the most successful managers in Thai club football. He came to international prominence in 2003 when he guided BEC Tero Sasana to the final of the inaugural AFC Champions League, where the Fire Dragons went down 2-1 on aggregate to Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.

Attaphol also coached Krung Thai Bank in the AFC Champions League in 2008 when they conceded 17 goals in two matches against Kashima Antlers but beat Beijing Guoan 5-3 at home.

He took Muang Thong United to the Thai Premier League title in 2009 and completed the domestic treble with Buriram last season.

Star Players

Franck Ohandza

On loan from Club Brugge in Belgium, 20-year-old striker Franck Ohandza has quickly become something of a folk hero in Buriram. Quick-footed, pacey and opportunistic, he was top scorer in the Thai Premier League with 19 goals. That tally included his first hat-trick in Thai football in a league game against Samut Songkhram.

Highly rated at home, he starred for Cameroon at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia last August. The Indomitable Lions finished second in a tight Group B that included Portugal, New Zealand and Uruguay before losing on penalties to Mexico in the round of 16 after a 1-1 draw, Ohandza scoring their goal but missing from the spot.

Suchao Nutnum

A firm fan favourite, Suchao has been one of the main reasons for the success of Buriram in Thai domestic football. He made his name with TOT from 2004 to 2009 before joining Persib Bandung in Indonesia for a season.

Since signing for Buriram in 2010, the attacking midfielder has been a mainstay of the side. Famed for his tireless running and eager tackling, the 28-year-old also knows the way to goal having scored 33 times for TOT.

A regular in the Thailand national team under coaches Peter Reid and Bryan Robson, he has been given fewer starts by current manager Winfried Schafer.

Jakkraphan Kaewprom

The industrious Jakkraphan Kaewprom has enjoyed a fruitful couple of seasons. After spending the early part of his career with BEC Tero Sasana, the 23-year-old defensive midfielder helped Muang Thong United win the Thai Premier League in the 2010-11 campaign.

Jakkraphan joined Buriram last year and was an integral part of the squad that won the domestic treble. His league performances brought him to the attention of then national coach Peter Reid and he made his international debut in 2008. Normally deployed as a full back for the national team, he capped a great display by scoring the goal that eased Thailand past Palestine in a World Cup qualification match last year.

Young star

Theeraton Bunmathan

The hard-tackling 22-year-old Theeraton has made the left-back position his own at Buriram and has been handed regular starts for the Thailand national team by coach Winfried Schafer. Technically sound and fairly quick, he is not scared to venture down the left flank although he needs to develop his crossing ability.

He gained notoriety last November when he was sent off twice in three days. Playing for Thailand, he was dismissed in stoppage time of the World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia and then received two yellow cards when competing for the Thailand under-23s in their SEA Games encounter with hosts Indonesia.

www.the-afc.com102


Media ContactName: Gu Fang

Tel: (+86) 1866 571 1911

Fax: (+86) 20 3830 2860


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 1 – 2011 Cup: Nil

Continental Record ACL: No previous appearances




Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 19:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju

MD4 – April 17, 19:30Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) – Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou

MD2 – March 21, 20:00Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) – Buriram United (THA)Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou

MD5 – May 01, 19:30Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou

MD3 – April 04, 19:00Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) – Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

MD6 – May 15, 18:30Buriram United (THA) – Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)Buriram Stadium, Buriram



P W D L F A Pts 30 10 10 10 41 42 40

No Cup competition

2009League – 9th (relegated for involvement in match-fixing)

P W D L F A Pts 30 9 10 11 38 38 37

No Cup competition

2010League – Winners (League One)

P W D L F A Pts 24 17 6 1 61 21 57

No Cup competition


P W D L F A Pts 30 20 8 2 67 23 68

Cup – 2nd roundLost to Shaanxi Chanba 11-10 on penalties after 1-1 draw

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address: 21F, Talented Building, No. 45, Tianhe Street, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China

Tel: (+86) 20 3830 2926

Fax: (+86) 20 3830 2860


Website: www.gzhengdafc.com

Stadium: Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium

Capacity: 56,000


www.the-afc.com 103

Group H

Club ProfileGuangzhou Evergrande are making their first appearance in the AFC Champions League after taking Chinese football by storm over the last two years.

Under their previous owners, the club were relegated to the Chinese second division following a match-fixing scandal before being taken over by the Guangzhou Real Estate Group. A significant injection of cash saw Guangzhou Evergrande sign several of China’s leading players – including Gao Lin, Zheng Zhi and Sun Xiang – as well as former Beijing Guoan coach Lee Jang-soo.

Guangzhou predictably cruised to the title, earning promotion to the Chinese Super League and again the club invested heavily in talent before cantering to the top-flight title, winning by an impressive 15 points from Beijing.

While Guangzhou will be making their debut in the competition, the Chinese Super League champions will not be underestimated by anyone despite the modest performances in the competition by Chinese clubs in the past.

Coach

Lee Jang-soo

Lee Jang-soo is no stranger to continental success, having worked as assistant coach when Ilhwa Chuna won the Asian Club Championship title in 1995 before taking charge of the club the following year and leading Ilhwa to both the Asian Super Cup and the Afro-Asian Club Championship.

Since then, the Korean has spent much of his career in China, working with Chongqing Lifan – where he won the 2000 FA Cup, a feat he repeated two years later with Qingdao Beilaite.

Following stints in Korea with Chunnam Dragons and FC Seoul, he returned to China and steered Beijing Guoan to the verge of the Chinese Super League title in 2009 before being fired near the end of the season. Lee promptly signed with Guangzhou, leading them to the second division title in 2010 and the Chinese Super League crown in 2011.

Star Players

Dario Conca

Argentinian midfielder Dario Conca joined Guangzhou Evergrande in a blaze of publicity last July as the club made the 28-year-old one of the highest paid player in the world with a record-breaking deal that lured him to the Chinese Super League from Brazilian side Fluminense, where he had played since 2008.

Formerly of Buenos Aires giants River Plate, the attacking midfielder settled into life in China quickly, scoring nine times in 15 league matches after signing in the middle of the season. Conca was twice named the Brazilian league’s player of the year – in 2009 and 2010 – and represented Argentina at under-20 level.

Zheng Zhi

Zheng Zhi returned to China in mid-2010, signing for Guangzhou Evergrande while the club were still in the second division after stints in England with Charlton Athletic and in Scotland with Glasgow giants Celtic.

Zheng had caught the eye of European scouts during his time with Shandong Luneng, where his creativity was the driving force behind that club’s success in the Chinese Super League and where he won the league and FA Cup in 2006.

That was Zheng’s second league success after also winning the title two years earlier with Shenzhen Jianlibao and in 2011 the 31-year-old captured a third title as Guangzhou won their first-ever crown, with Zheng wearing the captain’s armband.

Gao Lin

National team striker Gao Lin was one of the first high-profile domestic players to join the Guangzhou Evergrande project, signing for the club from Shanghai Shenhua ahead of the 2010 season as Guangzhou prepared for life in the second division.

His 20-goal haul was key to the club securing promotion to the Chinese Super League and Gao managed to hold on to his place in the team despite the arrival of several high-profile foreign stars.

The 25-year-old – known in China as Gaolinsmann – is a regular in the China national squad and was a member of the China squad that won the East Asian Championship in both 2005 and 2010.

Young star

Zhang Linpeng

After impressing at Shanghai East Asia, Zhang Linpeng joined the growing band of China’s leading players at Guangzhou Evergrande ahead of the 2011 season and the young defender – he turns 23 on May 9 – quickly established himself at the club.

He was also named captain of the China side that attempted unsuccessfully to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games – where he played in midfield – while also graduating to the full national side. Zhang is regularly tipped to be a future captain of the national team and has been widely compared to former Asian Player of the Year Fan Zhiyi.

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Media ContactName: Kim Uk-hun

Tel: (+82) 10 4727 0269

Fax: (+82) 63 273 1762


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 2 – 2011, 09Cup: 3 – 2005, 03, 00

Continental Record ACL: 2011 – Runners-up 2010 – Quarter-finals 2007 – Quarter-finals 2006 – Champions 2004 – Semi-finals


ACWC: 2002 – Runners-up


Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 19:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju

MD4 – April 17, 19:00Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Buriram United (THA)Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju

MD2 – March 21, 19:00Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

MD5 – May 01, 19:30Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou

MD3 – April 04, 18:30Buriram United (THA) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)Buriram Stadium, Buriram

MD6 – May 15, 19:00Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju


Domestic Record2008League – 4thLost to Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 in play-offs


Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Koyang Kookmin Bank 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw

2009League – ChampionsBeat Seongnam Chunma 3-1 on aggregate in play-off final

Regular season – 1st P W D L F A Pts 28 17 6 5 59 33 57

Cup – Semi-finalsLost to Suwon Bluewings 3-0

2010League – 3rdLost to Jeju United 1-0 in play-offs

Regular season – 3rd P W D L F A Pts 28 15 6 7 54 36 51

Cup – Quarter-finalsLost to Suwon Bluewings 2-0

2011League – ChampionsBeat Ulsan Hyundai 4-2 on aggregate in play-off final

Regular season – 1st P W D L F A Pts 30 18 9 3 67 32 63

Cup – 2nd round Lost to Busan I’Park 2-1

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify


Al Shabab 0-2 (H) 1-0 (A) QFAdelaide United 3-2 (A) aet R16 H APersipura Jayapura 8-0 4-1 GSKashima Antlers 1-2 1-2 GSChangchun Yatai 1-0 2-1 GS

2011– Runners-up

Al Sadd 2-2 (H) 2-4 pen FinalAl Ittihad 3-2 (A) 2-1 (H) SFCerezo Osaka 3-4 (A) 6-1 (H) QFTianjin Teda 3-0 (H) R16 H AShandong Luneng 1-0 2-1 GSArema Indonesia 6-0 4-0 GSCerezo Osaka 1-0 0-1 GS


Address: 2F, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, 763-1, Banwol-Dong, Dukjin-Gu, Jeonju City,Jeonbuk, Korea 561-370

Tel: (+82) 63 273 1763

Fax : (+82) 63 273 1762


Website: www.hyundai-motorsfc.com

Stadium: Jeonju World Cup Stadium

Capacity: 43,389


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Group H

Club Profile

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were firm favourites to lift the AFC Champions League title for a second time last season after an impressive run to the final which saw them net 29 goals in 11 matches. But despite hosting the final in Jeonju, the Korean side lost in a penalty shootout to Al Sadd of Qatar after a 2-2 draw.

They made up for that by winning the K-League championship for the second time in three years after a 4-2 aggregate win over Ulsan Hyundai in the final.

Jeonbuk made their first foray onto the Asian stage in 2001-02 when they reached the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Two years later, they reached the AFC Champions League semi-finals but they again suffered disappointment at the hands of a Saudi club, losing 4-3 on aggregate to Al Ittihad.

They finally tasted continental success in 2006 when they became the first east Asian side to win the AFC Champions League after a 3-2 aggregate victory over Al Karama of Syria.

Coach

Lee Heung-sil

With Choi Kang-hee leaving Jeonbuk Motors after six successful years to become the head coach of the Korea Republic national team, the K-League side have turned to his long-time assistant Lee Heung-sil to take over as their caretaker manager.

A former Korea Republic international midfielder, Lee spent his entire career with POSCO Atoms, the club which later evolved into Pohang Steelers. After retiring as a player in 1992, he coached at high school level before joining Choi at Jeonbuk in 2005 and helping the club to win the AFC Champions League the following year and K-League titles in 2009 and 2011.

Star Players

Lee Dong-gook

Veteran striker Lee Dong-gook was in tremendous form in the AFC Champions League last season when he won the Most Valuable Player award after bagging a tournament-leading nine goals for Jeonbuk.

Having first shot to fame with a six-goal haul for Korea Republic at the Asian Cup in 2000, the 32-year-old has been in prolific form since he joined Jeonbuk in 2009 following disappointing spells at English side Middlesbrough and Seongnam Ilhwa Chumna. He claimed the K-League’s MVP award in 2009 and 2011 after helping the club to win the league championship in both years.

Eninho

Brazilian attacking midfielder Eninho played a key role in Jeonbuk’s run to the AFC Champions League final last season, scoring and creating many of the Korean side’s goals and proving a handful for opposing defences with his clever running, his pinpoint crosses and his expertise in deadball situations.

During the knockout rounds, the 30-year-old netted seven goals, many of a spectacular nature including one directly from a corner in the semi-final win over Al Ittihad and an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner in the final against Al Sadd.

Kim Jung-woo

Former Nagoya Grampus and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma player Kim Jung-woo is expected to add some bite to the Jeonbuk Motors midfield after signing for the K-League champions as a free agent during the off-season.

The 29-year-old, who has played more than 60 international matches for Korea Republic and appeared in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and 2010 World Cup, signed a three-year contract with Jeonbuk in January after being one of the most highly sought-after free agents following his departure from Seongnam.

Young star

Kim Hyun

A product of the Jeonbuk Motors youth system, striker Kim Hyun appears set for a bright professional career after impressing at junior level and winning the Korea Football Association’s best youth player award for U-17s in 2011. The well-built 18-year-old, who stands 1.9-metres tall, is naturally strong in the air but also has excellent ball-control skills and is good at maintaining possession. Kim has yet to make his first-team debut but will relish the opportunity to play alongside his role model, Jeonbuk star forward Lee Dong-gook.

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Media ContactName Masaaki Kawahara

Tel (+81) 80 1105 4239

Fax (+81) 4 7167 6166


Facts & StatsDomestic HonoursLeague: 2 – 2011, 1972 (as Hitachi) Cup: 2 – 1975, 72 (both as Hitachi)





Fixtures

MD1 – March 07, 18:30 Buriram United (THA) – Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)Buriram Stadium, Buriram

MD4 – April 17, 19:30Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) – Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou

MD2 – March 21, 19:00Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

MD5 – May 01, 19:00Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) – Buriram United (THA)Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

MD3 – April 04, 19:00Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) – Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa

MD6 – May 15, 19:00Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju



P W D L F A Pts34 13 7 14 48 45 46

Cup – Runners-upLost to Gamba Osaka 1-0 aet in final

2009League – 16th (relegated)

P W D L F A Pts34 7 13 14 41 57 34

Cup – 3rd roundLost to Vissel Kobe 1-0

2010League – Winners (J2)

P W D L F A Pts36 23 11 2 71 24 80

Cup – 4th roundLost to Gamba Osaka 4-1 aet


P W D L F A Pts34 23 3 8 65 42 72

Cup – 4th roundLost to Nagoya Grampus 9-8 on penalties after 3-3 draw

ACL Record2008

Did not qualify

2009

Did not qualify

2010

Did not qualify

2011

Did not qualify


Address 1-2-50, Hitachidai, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0083, Japan

Tel (+81) 4 7162 2201

Fax (+81) 4 7167 6166


Website www.reysol.co.jp

Stadium Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium

Capacity 15,135


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Group H

Club ProfileKashiwa Reysol captured their first-ever J.League title last season to complete an extraordinary 12 months for the club from the Tokyo suburbs that saw them become the first side to claim the title in their first season following promotion from the J.League’s second division.

The Sun Kings had claimed the J2 title in 2010 but little was expected of them on their return to the top flight after a season spent in the lower league. However, an impressive start to the campaign gave Nelsinho’s side the springboard from which to launch what turned out to be a remarkable success.

The victory – secured on the last day of the season thanks to a 3-1 win over former AFC Champions League winners Urawa Reds – was Kashiwa’s first in the J.League era, although the club had previously been Japanese champions under their pre-J.League guise of Hitachi back in 1975.

As a result of their league success, Kashiwa represented Japan at the FIFA Club World Cup in December, where they reached the semi-finals, losing to Santos of Brazil before slipping to defeat at the hands of reigning AFC Champions League holders Al Sadd from Qatar in the third place play-off.

Coach

Nelsinho Baptista

Widely travelled Brazilian coach Nelsinho Baptista is no stranger to Japanese football, having previously worked at both Verdy Kawasaki and Nagoya Grampus, but the last two years have seen the 61-year-old enjoy greater success than ever before, with the J.League title win his first in Japan. His previous best was steering Verdy to the first stage in 1995, only to see them lose in the championship play-off to Yokohama F.Marinos.

Nelsinho – who spent much of his career as a player with Sao Paolo – has worked extensively throughout his homeland and also has experience as coach at Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal. His success with Kashiwa in 2011 saw him named the J.League’s Coach of the Year.

Star Players

Leandro Domingues

Brazilian midfielder Leandro Domingues has been central to Kashiwa’s rise from the second division to being crowned kings of Japanese football over the last two years. Arriving from Vitoria at the start of the 2010 season, the 28-year-old’s performances drove Kashiwa to the J2 title.

But while his first season in Japan was a success, no one could have predicted the turn of events in 2011, which saw Leandro lead Kashiwa to their first-ever J.League title. His performances were such that he was named the J.League Player of the Year at the end of a campaign in which he scored 15 goals in 30 games.

Jorge Wagner

A new recruit as the club prepared for life in the top flight of Japanese football at the start of the 2011 season, Jorge Wagner was to emerge from his first season in the J.League as one of the key performers.

The versatile Wagner – who started the season in defence but was soon shifted to midfield – claimed 11 goals in 30 games and his performances were such that he was one of four Kashiwa players named to the J.League’s Team of the Year.

Junya Tanaka

Another of the Kashiwa players to be named to the J.League’s Team of the Year, Junya Tanaka’s performances over the 2011 season saw him called up for the Japan national team squad by coach Alberto Zaccheroni for the FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Uzbekistan.

While Tanaka had yet to make his national team debut by the end of January, the 24-year-old attacking midfielder has done plenty to impress, scoring 13 times in 30 league matches last season and earning a place on the J.League’s Team of the Year.

Young star

Hiroki Sakai

Hiroki Sakai’s assured performances at right back for Kashiwa Reysol saw the 21-year-old named the J.League’s Rookie of the Year, becoming the first defender to win the award since Daisuke Nasu of Yokohama F.Marinos in 2003.

A member of Japan’s Olympic squad seeking a berth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Sakai was also a member of the Kashiwa side that won the 2010 second division title and was also named in the J.League’s Team of the Year for 2011.

Photos: FIFA/Getty Images

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Group H Fixtures



18:30 Buriram United (THA) vs Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) ___ ___

19:00 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) vs Guangzhou Evergrande

(CHN) ___ ___


19:00 Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) ___ ___

20:00 Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) vs Buriram United (THA) ___ ___


19:00 Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) ___ ___

18:30 Buriram United (THA) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) ___ ___

17/04/2012(Tuesday)

19:30 Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) vs Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) ___ ___

19:00 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) vs Buriram United (THA) ___ ___

01/05/2012(Tuesday)

19:00 Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) vs Buriram United (THA) ___ ___

19:30 Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) vs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

(KOR) ___ ___

15/05/2012(Tuesday)

18:30 Buriram United (THA) vs Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) ___ ___

19:00 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) vs Kashiwa Reysol (JPN) ___ ___


Mat

chd

ay 1

Mat

chd

ay 2

Mat

chd

ay 3

Mat

chd

ay 4

Mat

chd

ay 5

Mat

chd

ay 6

KNOCKOUT STAGE


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Knockout Stage Schedule

Round 16

Day/Date Match

29/05/2012(Tuesday)

Group A Winner vs Group C Runner-up

Group C Winner vs Group A Runner-up

Group E Winner vs Group G Runner-up

Group G Winner vs Group E Runner-up


Group B Winner vs Group D Runner-up

Group D Winner vs Group B Runner-up

Group F Winner vs Group H Runner-up

Group H Winner vs Group F Runner-up

Quarter Finals

LEG 1 LEG 2

19/09/2012 (Wednesday)

02/10/2012 (Tuesday)


Semi Finals

LEG 1 LEG 2



Final

09/11/2012 (Friday)or

10/11/2012 (Saturday)

www.the-afc.com112Al Sadd’s players revel after their AFC Champions League victory in 2011.

ACL 2011


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Goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr made a series of fine stops including two saves in a penalty shootout to help Al Sadd of Qatar to lift the AFC Champions League title for the first time in a dramatic final against Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

The hosts dominated proceedings in front of a club-record crowd of 41,805 at Jeonju World Cup Stadium but needed a stoppage-time header by Lee Sung-hyun to level the score at 2-2 and force extra-time.

Having saved brilliantly to deny Jeong Shung-hoon in added time, Saqr then stopped efforts by Kim Dong-chan and Park Won-jae in the shootout. That presented Nadir Belhadj

with the opportunity to fire in the crucial spot kick as Al Sadd became the first west Asian side to lift the AFC Champions League trophy in six years.

It brought the curtain down on an eventful and ultimately glorious campaign for the Qatari side that had begun in February when they defeated Al Ittihad of Syria and Dempo of India in the play-offs to qualify for the competition for the eighth time in nine seasons.

Jorge Fossati’s side went unbeaten in six group games to top their section and edged Al Shabab 1-0 in the round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time.

Al Sadd stall Motors in shootout

Al Sadd captain Abdulla Koni lifts the AFC Champions League trophy after the Qatari club beat Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in a penalty shootout in the final.

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AFC Champions League 2011 - Final

04/11/11

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors …………………2 (Eninho 19, Lee Sung-hyun 90+2)

Al Sadd………………………………………..2 (Sim Woo-yeon 30-og, Abdul Kader Keita 61)

After extra-time. Al Sadd win 4-2 on penalties

Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju

Al Sadd’s Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati celebrates his side’s dramatic victory in Jeonju

They were handed a huge favour in the last eight when Iranian side Sepahan fielded an ineligible player in the first leg to hand the Qataris a decisive 3-0 victory.

And in the semi-finals, they found themselves at the centre of a massive brawl with Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings after Mamadou Niang netted a controversial second goal in their 2-1 aggregate win.

With the final taking place at Jeonbuk’s home ground, Al Sadd were viewed as the decided underdogs against the K-League front-runners, who had netted 31 goals en route to the final and swept aside two-time winners Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia 5-3 on aggregate in the last four.

And the hosts looked to be on course for their second AFC Champions League title when Eninho curled home a free-kick from the left edge of the box with 17 minutes gone.

But the visitors stunned the raucous home crowd into silence with an equaliser 12

minutes later. Abdulkader Keita flighted a cross towards the six-yard box and as Khalfan Ibrahim attempted to get on the end of it, the ball flicked off defender Sim Woo-yeon and flew past goalkeeper Kim Min-sik.

Al Sadd took the lead in the 63rd minute on a quick counter-attack as a low cross from the left found Keita, who brought the ball under control on the edge of the box before lashing it past Kim into the bottom corner of the net.

Jeonbuk surged forward in search of an equaliser and their efforts were rewarded in stoppage time when substitute Lee Sung-hyun met Eninho’s corner with a header at the far post to send the match to extra-time.

The home side were well on top in the extra 30 minutes. But with Lee Dong-gook squandering a glorious opportunity, Saqr denying Jeong and the upright keeping the ball out after an Eninho corner had deflected off an Al Sadd defender, the match would go to a shootout with Al Sadd’s goalkeeper emerging as his side’s hero.


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Knockout Stage results

Final

04/11/11 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 aet FT: 2-2 Al Sadd win 4-2 on penalties

HT: 1-1

Semi-finals

19/10/11 26/10/11

Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 1Al Sadd win 2-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

19/10/11 26/10/11

Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 5-3 on aggregate

HT: 2-1HT: 2-0

Quarter-finals

14/09/1127/09/11

Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 6 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 9-5 on aggregate

HT: 1-2HT: 1-0

14/09/1127/09/11

Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 FC Seoul (KOR) 1FC Seoul (KOR) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0Al Ittihad win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

14/09/11

28/09/11

Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 3Match awarded to Al Sadd as Sepahan fielded an ineligible playerAl Sadd (QAT) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 2Al Sadd win 4-2 on aggregate

HT: 0-2

14/09/1128/09/11

Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 1Zobahan (IRN) 1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 2 aet FT: 1-1Suwon Samsung Bluewings win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Round of 16

24/05/11 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Al Hilal (KSA) 1Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 2-0HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

25/05/11 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0Zobahan (IRN) 4 Al Nassr (KSA)1 FC Seoul (KOR) 3 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 2 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Sepahan 6 4 1 1 14 5 13

Al Hilal 6 4 1 1 11 6 13

Al Gharafa 6 2 1 3 6 7 7

Al Jazira 6 0 1 5 7 20 1

01/03/11 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 2Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

15/03/11 Sepahan (IRN) 5 Al Jazira (UAE) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 0-1

05/04/11 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Al Jazira (UAE) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

20/04/11 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 0Al Jazira (UAE) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 3

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

04/05/11 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1Al Gharafa (QAT) 5 Al Jazira (UAE) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 1-2

11/05/11 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0Al Jazira (UAE) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 4

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

Sepahan finished ahead of Al Hilal due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Al Sadd 6 2 4 0 8 6 10

Al Nassr 6 2 2 2 10 7 8

Esteghlal 6 2 2 2 11 10 8

Pakhtakor 6 1 2 3 8 14 5

01/03/11 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 1Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Nassr (KSA) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

15/03/1116/03/11

Al Nassr (KSA) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

05/04/1106/04/11

Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Nassr (KSA) 0 Esteghlal (IRN) 4 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

19/04/11 Al Nassr (KSA) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 1Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 1-1

03/05/1104/05/11

Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 2Al Nassr (KSA) 4 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0

HT: 0-2HT: 2-0

11/05/11 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Nassr (KSA) 1Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Al Nassr finished ahead of Esteghlal due to better goal difference.

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Zobahan 6 4 1 1 7 3 13

Al Shabab 6 3 2 1 8 4 11

Emirates 6 2 0 4 6 10 6

Al Rayyan 6 1 1 4 4 8 4

02/03/11 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 1Zobahan (IRN) 2 Emirates (UAE) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

16/03/11 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 0 Emirates (UAE) 2 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

06/04/11 Al Shabab (KSA) 4 Emirates (UAE) 1Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 3

HT: 1-1HT: 1-2

19/04/11 Emirates (UAE) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 1Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0

03/05/11 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0Emirates (UAE) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

10/05/11 Al Rayyan (QAT) 2 Emirates (UAE) 0Zobahan (IRN) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ittihad 6 3 2 1 10 5 11

Bunyodkor 6 2 3 1 8 6 9

Al Wahda 6 1 3 2 6 8 6

Piroozi 6 1 2 3 6 11 5

02/03/11 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Piroozi (IRN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

16/03/11 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1Piroozi (IRN) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

05/04/11 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Piroozi (IRN) 0Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3

HT: 0-0HT: 0-2

20/04/11 Piroozi (IRN) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 3Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

03/05/11 Bunyodkor (UZB) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 2Piroozi (IRN) 3 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2

HT: 2-1HT: 2-1

10/05/11 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Piroozi (IRN) 0Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Gamba Osaka 6 3 1 2 13 7 10

Tianjin Teda 6 3 1 2 8 6 10

Jeju United 6 2 1 3 6 10 7

Melbourne Victory 6 1 3 2 7 11 6

01/03/11 Jeju United (KOR) 0 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 1Gamba Osaka (JPN) 5 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 3-1

15/03/11 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1 Jeju United (KOR) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 1-1

05/04/11 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1Jeju United (KOR) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

20/04/11 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Jeju United (KOR) 1

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0

04/05/11 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 3 Jeju United (KOR) 1Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 1-1

11/05/11 Jeju United (KOR) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

Gamba Osaka finished ahead of Tianjin Teda due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group F

P W D L F A Pts

FC Seoul 6 3 2 1 9 4 11

Nagoya Grampus 6 3 1 2 9 6 10

Al Ain 6 2 1 3 4 9 7

Hangzhou Greentown 6 1 2 3 3 6 5

01/03/11 Hangzhou (CHN) 2 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 0 HT: 0-0

02/03/11 Al Ain (UAE) 0 FC Seoul (KOR) 1 HT: 0-1

15/03/11 FC Seoul (KOR) 3 Hangzhou (CHN) 0 HT: 1-0

06/04/11 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 FC Seoul (KOR) 1 Hangzhou (CHN) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

12/04/11 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 4Al Ain (UAE) 0 HT: 2-0

19/04/11 FC Seoul (KOR) 0 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 2Al Ain (UAE) 1 Hangzhou (CHN) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

04/05/11 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Hangzhou (CHN) 0FC Seoul (KOR) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

11/05/11 Hangzhou (CHN) 1 FC Seoul (KOR) 1Al Ain (UAE) 3 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

Group H

P W D L F A Pts

Suwon Bluewings 6 3 3 0 12 3 12

Kashima Antlers 6 3 3 0 9 3 12

Sydney FC 6 1 2 3 6 11 5

Shanghai Shenhua 6 0 2 4 3 13 2

02/03/11 Sydney FC (AUS) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 0 Shanghai (CHN) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

16/03/11 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 4 Shanghai (CHN) 0 HT: 2-0

06/04/11 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Sydney FC (AUS) 1 Shanghai (CHN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

13/04/11 Sydney FC (AUS) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 3 HT: 0-1

19/04/11 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1Shanghai (CHN) 2 Sydney FC (AUS) 3

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

03/05/11 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 3 Sydney FC (AUS) 1Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 Shanghai (CHN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

10/05/11 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2Sydney FC (AUS) 1Shanghai (CHN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 3

HT: 0-1 HT: 0-1

Suwon Bluewings finished ahead of Kashima Antlers due to better goal difference.

Group G

P W D L F A Pts

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 5 0 1 14 2 15

Cerezo Osaka 6 4 0 2 11 4 12

Shandong Luneng 6 2 1 3 9 8 7

Arema Indonesia 6 0 1 5 2 22 1

02/03/11 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 2 Arema Indonesia (IDN) 1Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

16/03/11 Arema Indonesia (IDN) 0 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 4 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 2-0

05/04/11 Arema Indonesia (IDN) 1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

20/04/11 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 5 Arema Indonesia (IDN) 0 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

03/05/11 Arema Indonesia (IDN) 0 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 4 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 2

HT: 0-2HT: 1-1

10/05/11 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) 4 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 6 Arema Indonesia (IDN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 4-0

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Al Sadd became the first club to win the AFC Champions League after beginning the competition at the play-off stage.

Play-off results

West

12/02/11 Al Sadd (QAT) 5 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 HT: 3-0

19/02/11 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Dempo (IND) 0 HT: 1-0

East

12/02/11 Sriwijaya (IDN) 2 Muang Thong United (THA) 2 aet FT: 1-1Sriwijaya win 7-6 on penalties

HT: 0-0

19/02/11 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 4 HT: 0-2

ACL 2010


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Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma laid to rest the ghosts of 2004 and ensured that the AFC Champions League trophy remained in Korea by sweeping aside Iranian side Zobahan 3-1 in the 2010 final at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Skipper Sasa Ognenovski gave the K-League side a 29th minute lead and Cho Byung-kuk struck eight minutes after the interval half to put Seongnam in control.

And although Mohammadreza Khalatbari pulled a goal back for Zobahan midway through the second half, Kim Cheol-ho’s late strike sealed a deserved win for the Korean outfit.

With the win, Seongnam extended Korean dominance in Asia’s premier club competition following Pohang Steelers’ victory of a year earlier. But more importantly for Shin Tae-yong’s side, they finally banished the memories of the 2004 final, when they allowed a 3-1 first-leg lead to slip as they

capitulated 5-0 at home against Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the return match.

The Korean side were relentless on the road to Tokyo winning eight of their 11 matches including all six home games and scoring 22 goals. Having topped a group that included Chinese champions Beijing Guoan, Australian champions Melbourne Victory and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale, they dismissed 2008 AFC Champions League winners Gamba Osaka of Japan in the round of 16 before ousting K-League rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the quarter-finals.

That set up a semi-final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab, who edged a seven-goal thriller in the first leg in Riyadh thanks to Faisal Bin Sultan’s last-minute winner. But Chong Dong-geon got the only goal in the return game to send Seongnam to the final on away goals.

The final pitted the tournament’s best attack against the best defence as Seongnam met

Seongnam extend Korean dominance

Jubilation for Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma after their 3-1 win over Zobahan in the 2010 final in Tokyo.

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a Zobahan side that had conceded only five times in 11 games en route to Tokyo.

The Iranian side nearly went ahead in the 24th minute when Ognenovski’s goal-line clearance denied Igor Castro. And the Australian centre-back then put his side ahead five minutes later, heading home from close range after Kim Sung-hwan’s long throw-in had caused havoc in the Zobahan box.

The Korean side maintained their advantage at the break thanks to goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong, who turned an effort by Mohammad Hosseini around the post just before half-time.

And Seongnam extended their advantage in the 54th minute when Cho Dong-geon flicked on a corner for Cho Byung-kuk to head in his side’s second.

With 24 minutes left, Zob Ahan hit back as Khalatbari headed in after Jung had parried a shot by Igor Castro.

But with the Iranians pushing for an equaliser, Seongnam snatched a decisive third with eight minutes left as an effort by Colombian forward Mauricio Molina struck a defender and fell nicely for Kim Cheol-ho, who tucked the ball into the unguarded net.

Shin was a member of the Seongnam side that won the Asian Club Championship in 1995, but the 41-year-old felt that winning the continental title as a coach was extra special.

“I have won as a player before and now as a head coach but I am happier tonight,” the former Korea Republic international midfielder said.

“As a player I had belief that we could become champion but since I became a head coach I did not think that I would ever have this opportunity to participate in a major tournament like this.

“So to become champion as a coach it is twice as good as when I won as a player so I am very happy.”


13/11/10

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma ………….…..…3(Sasa Ognenovski 29, Cho Byung-kuk 53, Kim Cheol-ho 83)

Zobahan ……………………………………..1(Mohammadreza Khalatbari 67)

National Stadium, Tokyo

Seongnam‘s Cho Dong-geon shields the ball from Zobahan defender Farshad Talebi in the final.


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Final

13/11/10 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Zobahan (IRN) 1 HT: 1-0

Semi-finals

05/10/1020/10/10

Al Shabab (KSA) 4 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0Aggregate score 4-4. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win on away goals

HT: 1-2HT: 1-0

06/10/1020/10/10

Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al HIlal (KSA) 0Al HIlal (KSA) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1Zobahan win 2-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Quarter-finals

15/09/1022/09/10

Al HIlal (KSA) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Gharafa (QAT) 4 Al HIlal (KSA) 2 aet FT: 3-0Al HIlal win 5-4 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 3-0

15/09/1022/09/10

Zobahan (IRN) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 1Zobahan win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

15/09/10 22/09/10

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1Al Shabab win 2-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

15/09/1022/09/10

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 4 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 0Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0

Round of 16

11/05/10 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 Esteghlal (IRN) 2Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 2 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-2HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

12/05/10 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Mes Kerman (IRN) 0 Al HIlal (KSA) 3 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 3 aet FT: 2-2

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0HT: 0-1HT: 0-1

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Al Gharafa 6 4 1 1 11 9 13

Esteghlal 6 3 2 1 9 5 11

Al Ahli 6 2 0 4 11 9 6

Al Jazira 6 1 1 4 6 14 4

23/02/10 Al Jazira (UAE) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 0-1

09/03/10 Esteghlal (IRN) 0 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Gharafa (QAT) 3 Al Ahli (KSA) 2

HT: 0-0 HT: 1-1

23/03/10 Esteghlal (IRN) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 5 Al Jazira (UAE) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

31/03/10 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

14/04/10 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 4 Al Jazira (UAE) 2

HT: 2-1HT: 2-0

28/04/10 Al Jazira (UAE) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Ahli (KSA) 0 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Zobahan 6 4 1 1 8 3 13

Bunyodkor 6 3 1 2 10 7 10

Al Ittihad 6 2 2 2 9 7 8

Al Wahda 6 1 0 5 3 13 3

23/02/10 Bunyodkor (UZB) 3 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

09/03/10 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Zobahan (IRN) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 2-0

24/03/10 Zobahan (IRN) 3 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

30/03/10 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 4-0

14/04/10 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

28/04/10 Bunyodkor (UZB) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Al Hilal 6 3 2 1 11 7 11

Mes Kerman 6 3 0 3 13 13 9

Al Sadd 6 2 2 2 12 9 8

Al Ahli 6 1 2 3 9 16 5

24/02/10 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Mes Kerman (IRN) 4 Al Ahli (UAE) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 1-1

10/03/10 Al Ahli (UAE) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 5 Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Mes Kerman (IRN) 1

HT: 0-3HT: 2-0

24/03/10 Al Sadd (QAT) 4 Mes Kerman (IRN) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

30/03/10 Mes Kerman (IRN) 3 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 3

HT: 1-1HT: 1-2

13/04/10 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Mes Kerman (IRN) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0

HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0

27/04/10 Mes Kerman (IRN) 3 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 2-1

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Shabab 6 3 1 2 10 8 10

Pakhtakor 6 3 0 3 8 10 9

Sepahan 6 2 2 2 5 5 8

Al Ain 6 2 1 3 8 8 7

24/02/10 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

10/03/10 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 3

HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0

23/03/10 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 1

HT: 1-1HT: 2-1

31/03/10 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

13/04/10 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0

HT: 3-2HT: 1-0

27/04/10 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Seongnam Chunma 6 5 0 1 11 6 15

Beijing Guoan 6 3 1 2 7 5 10

Kawasaki Frontale 6 2 0 4 8 8 6


23/02/10 Seongnam (KOR) 2 Kawasaki (JPN) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

09/03/10 Kawasaki (JPN) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0 Seongnam (KOR) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

23/03/10 Seongnam (KOR) 3 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Kawasaki (JPN) 4 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 3-0

31/03/10 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Seongnam (KOR) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1 Kawasaki (JPN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

14/04/10 Kawasaki (JPN) 3 Seongnam (KOR) 0 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

28/04/10 Seongnam (KOR) 3 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 2 Kawasaki (JPN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

Group F

P W D L F A Pts


Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 4 0 2 17 6 12

Changchun Yatai 6 1 0 5 10 7 3

Persipura Jayapura 6 1 0 5 4 29 3

23/02/10 Persipura (IDN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 4 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0

HT: 0-2HT: 1-0

09/03/10 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 9 Persipura (IDN) 0 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2

HT: 3-0HT: 1-0

24/03/10 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 2 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 5 Persipura (IDN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

30/03/10 Persipura (IDN) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 3 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0

HT: 1-3HT: 0-0

14/04/10 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 8 Persipura (IDN) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 3-0

28/04/10 Persipura (IDN) 2 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

Changchun Yatai finished ahead of Persipura Jayapura due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group H

P W D L F A Pts

Adelaide United 6 3 1 2 6 4 10

Pohang Steelers 6 3 1 2 8 7 10

Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 3 0 3 11 11 9


24/02/10 Sanfrecce (JPN) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

10/03/10 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Sanfrecce (JPN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

24/03/10 Adelaide United (AUS) 3 Sanfrecce (JPN) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

30/03/10 Sanfrecce (JPN) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

13/04/10 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Sanfrecce (JPN) 3 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 0

HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0

27/04/10 Sanfrecce (JPN) 4 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 3 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1

HT: 3-1HT: 0-0

Adelaide United finished ahead of Pohang Steelers due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group G

P W D L F A Pts


Gamba Osaka 6 3 3 0 11 5 12

Singapore Armed Forces 6 1 1 4 6 16 4

Henan Jianye 6 0 3 3 3 8 3

24/02/10 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0 Henan Jianye (CHN) 0 Armed Forces (SIN) 0

HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0

10/03/10 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Henan Jianye (CHN) 1 Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

23/03/10 Armed Forces (SIN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4 Henan Jianye (CHN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2

HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0

31/03/10 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Henan Jianye (CHN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

13/04/10 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1 Armed Forces (SIN) 2 Henan Jianye (CHN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

27/04/10 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 6 Armed Forces (SIN) 2 Henan Jianye (CHN) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1

HT: 4-1 HT: 0-1

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Play-off results

West

30/01/10 Al Karamah (SYR) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 HT: 0-0

06/02/10 Al Wahda (UAE) 5 Churchill Brothers (IND) 2 HT: 1-1

East

30/01/10 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 3 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0 HT: 1-0

31/01/10 SHB Da Nang (VIE) 0 Muang Thong United (THA) 3 HT: 0-2

06/02/10 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Muang Thong United (THA) 0 Singapore Armed Forces win 4-3 on penalties

HT: 0-0

Seongnam netted 25 goals on their path to the title in 2010.

ACL 2009


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In the first AFC Champions League final to be decided by a single game, Pohang Steelers made history by becoming the first club to be crowned Asian champions three times.

The Korean outfit entered the final as slight underdogs against an Al Ittihad side that had recorded emphatic wins against Pakhtakor and Nagoya Grampus en route to the National Stadium in Tokyo.

However, second-half strikes by No Byung-jun and Kim Hyung-il put the Steelers in control before Mohammed Noor pulled back a goal to give the Saudis a glimmer of hope.

Pohang held on though to become the second Korean club after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2006 to win the AFC Champions League.

The victory marked a glorious peak for Sergio Farias’ five-year tenure as Pohang head coach. Having already won every title available in Korea during his time there, the Brazilian left just over a month after engineering the AFC Champions League triumph to take charge of Saudi side Al Ahli.

Pohang fans had waited a long time to see their club return to the top of Asian football. The Steelers were a major force on the continent when they captured back-to-back Asian Club Championships in 1997 and 1998 but had been in the doldrums for a number of years, missing out on the first five editions of the AFC Champions League because of their disappointing form in the K-League.

The arrival of Farias in 2005 sparked a revival. Just two years later, Pohang won their first league championship in over a decade after a 4-1 aggregate victory over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the K-League championship final.

However, their AFC Champions League debut in 2008 was a disappointment as they won only one of six group games and missed out on the knockout stage.

They returned to the competition a year later as Korean FA Cup holders although they struggled initially, with three draws in their first four games during the group stage. But a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Central Coast Mariners and a 2-0 win at Kawasaki Frontale made them group winners and they

Three times the charm for Steelers

Pohang Steelers savour their third continental title after defeating Al Ittihad 2-1 in the 2009 final in Tokyo.

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soundly thrashed Australia’s Newcastle Jets 6-0 in the round of 16.

Their battling qualities came to the fore in an epic quarter-final clash against Bunyodkor. Trailing 3-1 after the first leg, Pohang netted three second-half goals to take control in the return match, only for Bunyodkor to force extra-time with a last-minute goal.But the Korean side advanced thanks to Stevica Ristic’s extra-time winner.

Qatar’s Umm Salal were despatched 4-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, setting up a final meeting with Al Ittihad, who had swept aside Nagoya 8-3.

With the final turned from a two-legged affair to a single-game championship match played at a neutral venue, Al Ittihad spent two weeks in Tokyo after the Nagoya match to acclimatise for the final but the extra conditioning did not seem to be a factor during a turgid first half.

Apart from a long-range free-kick by Hicham Aboucherouane which forced a wonderful

save out of Pohang goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong, there was little to excite the crowd of 25,743.

Al Ittihad turned up the heat in the second half and were unfortunate not to take the lead in the 47th minute when Amine Chermiti headed against the crossbar.

But against the run of play, Pohang took the lead in the 57th minute as tournament MVP No fired in a free-kick from 25 metres that went through the Al Ittihad wall and into the far corner of the net.

Pohang doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Kim Jae-sung’s free-kick from the right was headed in by Kim Hyung-il.

Al Ittihad would not throw in the towel and cut the deficit to one in the 77th minute when Noor volleyed home from close range.

But it proved to be only a consolation for the Saudis as Shin repelled everything thrown at him in the dying minutes to confirm Pohang’s victory.


07/11/09

Al Ittihad ……………………............………1(Mohammed Noor 74)

Pohang Steelers ………………............…..2 (No Byung-jun 57, Kim Hyung-il 66)

National Stadium, Tokyo

Macedonian forward Stevica Ristic celebrates Pohang’s win in Tokyo.


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Final

07/11/09 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 HT: 0-0

Semi-finals

21/10/0928/10/09

Al Ittihad (KSA) 6 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 2Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2Al Ittihad win 8-3 on aggregate

HT: 1-2HT: 0-1

21/10/0928/10/09

Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Umm Salal (QAT) 0Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2Pohang Steelers win 4-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

Quarter-finals

23/09/0930/09/09

Umm Salal (QAT) 3 FC Seoul (KOR) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 1 Umm Salal (QAT) 1Umm Salal win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 0-2HT: 1-1

23/09/0930/09/09

Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 3 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1Nagoya Grampus win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 0-1 HT: 2-1

23/09/0930/09/09

Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0Al Ittihad win 5-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

23/09/0930/09/09

Bunyodkor (UZB) 3 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 4 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 aet FT: 3-1Pohang Steelers win 5-4 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

Round of 16

26/05/09 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Umm Salal (QAT) 0 aet FT: 0-0Umm Salal win 4-3 on penalties

HT: 0-0

27/05/09 Piroozi (IRN) 0 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 Ettifaq (KSA) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

24/06/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 2 aet FT: 2-2 FC Seoul win 5-4 on penaltiesNagoya Grampus (JPN) 2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3Pohang Steelers (KOR) 6 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 0

HT: 1-1

HT: 1-0HT: 2-1HT: 2-0

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Al Hilal 6 4 2 0 10 4 14

Pakhtakor 6 4 1 1 9 5 13

Saba Battery 6 1 2 3 7 9 5

Al Ahli 6 0 1 5 6 14 1

10/03/09 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Saba Battery (IRN) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

17/03/09 Saba Battery (IRN) 0 Al Ahli (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1

HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0

07/04/09 Saba Battery (IRN) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

22/04/09 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Saba Battery (IRN) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 3

HT: 1-1HT: 1-1

06/05/09 Saba Battery (IRN) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

20/05/09 Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Saba Battery (IRN) 5 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 2-0

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Piroozi 4 2 1 1 5 6 7

Al Shabab 4 2 1 1 4 2 7

Al Gharafa 4 1 0 3 7 8 3

10/03/09 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 HT: 1-3

17/03/09 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Piroozi (IRN) 0 HT: 0-0

08/04/09 Piroozi (IRN) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 HT: 2-0

21/04/09 Al Gharafa (QAT) 5 Piroozi (IRN) 1 HT: 3-0

06/05/09 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Al Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 HT: 0-0

20/05/09 Piroozi (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 HT: 0-0

Piroozi finished ahead of Al Shabab due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Sharjah withdrew from competition. All results for matches involving Sharjah declared null and void.

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Ettifaq 6 4 0 2 15 8 12

Bunyodkor 6 2 2 2 5 9 8

Sepahan 6 2 1 3 9 7 7

Al Shabab Al Arabi 6 2 1 3 6 11 7

11/03/09 Bunyodkor (UZB) 2 Ettifaq (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

18/03/09 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 2 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Ettifaq (KSA) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 0-1

08/04/09 Bunyodkor (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Ettifaq (KSA) 4 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 1

HT: 1-1HT: 1-1

21/04/09 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 1 Ettifaq (KSA) 4

HT: 0-1HT: 1-1

05/05/09 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Ettifaq (KSA) 4 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0

HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0

19/05/09 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Ettifaq (KSA) 0 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

Bunyodkor finished ahead of Al Shabab Al Arabi due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ittihad 6 3 3 0 14 4 12

Umm Salal 6 2 2 2 6 13 8

Al Jazira 6 0 5 1 6 7 5

Esteghlal 6 0 4 2 6 8 4

11/03/09 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

18/03/09 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Jazira (UAE) 1 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3

HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1

07/04/09 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 0 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

22/04/09 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Jazira (UAE) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

05/05/09 Umm Salal (QAT) 2 Al Jazira (UAE) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1

HT: 0-2HT: 0-0

19/05/09 Al Jazira UAE) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 7 Umm Salal (QAT) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 3-0


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Nagoya Grampus 6 3 3 0 10 4 12

Newcastle Jets 6 3 1 2 6 5 10

Ulsan Hyundai 6 2 0 4 4 10 6


10/03/09 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 3 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 2 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

17/03/09 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 2 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

07/04/09 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

22/04/09 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 0 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

06/05/09 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 4 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 2 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1

HT: 2-1HT: 0-0

20/05/09 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 0 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-1

Group F

P W D L F A Pts

Gamba Osaka 6 5 0 1 17 4 15

FC Seoul 6 3 1 2 14 11 10


Sriwijaya 6 1 0 5 7 24 3

10/03/09 Sriwijaya (IDN) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 4 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

17/03/09 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 5 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0 FC Seoul (KOR) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4

HT: 3-0HT: 0-1

08/04/09 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 5 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

21/04/09 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 FC Seoul (KOR) 1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1

HT: 0-2HT: 1-0

05/05/09 FC Seoul (KOR) 5 Sriwijaya (IDN) 1 HT: 1-0

06/05/09 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 HT: 0-0

20/05/09 Sriwijaya (IDN) 4 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 FC Seoul (KOR) 2

HT: 0-2HT: 0-0

Group H

P W D L F A Pts



Tianjin Teda 6 2 2 2 6 5 8

Central Coast Mariners 6 0 2 4 5 13 2

11/03/09 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0 Central Coast (AUS) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

18/03/09 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 2 Central Coast (AUS) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

08/04/09 Central Coast (AUS) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 5 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0

HT: 0-3HT: 0-0

21/04/09 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2 Central Coast (AUS) 1 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

05/05/09 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 3 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 3 Central Coast (AUS) 2

HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0

19/05/09 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2Central Coast (AUS) 0 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

Group G

P W D L F A Pts




Singapore Armed Forces 6 0 1 5 4 19 1

11/03/09 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 4 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Shanghai (CHN) 4 Armed Forces (SIN) 1

HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0

18/03/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 Shanghai (CHN) 0 Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

07/04/09 Armed Forces (SIN) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 4 Shanghai (CHN) 2 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1

HT: 1-2 HT: 1-0

22/04/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 5 Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Shanghai (CHN) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 2-1

05/05/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 3 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 0 Armed Forces (SIN) 1 Shanghai (CHN) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 1-0

19/05/09 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 3 Armed Forces (SIN) 1Shanghai (CHN) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1

HT: 2-0 HT: 1-1

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Play-off results

West

25/02/09 Sharjah (UAE) 3 Dempo SC (IND) 0 HT: 2-0

East

18/02/09 Provincial Electricity Authority (THA) 1 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 4 aet FT: 1-1

HT: 1-1

25/02/09 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 2 PSMS Medan (IDN) 1 aet FT: 1-1 HT: 1-0

Pohang lost only one of 12 games during their run to the championship in 2009.

ACL 2008


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Gamba Osaka became the second consecutive J.League club to win the AFC Champions League with an emphatic victory over Adelaide United of Australia in the two-legged final.

Goals by Lucas, Yasuhito Endo and Michihiro Yasuda in the first leg in Japan had given Gamba a formidable advantage to take to South Australia for the return game.

And the Japanese side effectively wrapped up the tie when Lucas scored twice in the first 15 minutes at Hindmarsh Stadium to complete a 5-0 aggregate victory, which was the largest ever margin of victory in an AFC Champions League final played over two legs.

In the end, it was a deserved victory for Gamba, who became just the third club after Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad in 2005 and Japanese rivals Urawa Reds in 2007 to go through the entire competition with an unbeaten record. More impressively, they won nine matches and all six of their away games on their march to the title.

But while Akira Nishino’s side ultimately took the title in a convincing manner, they had hardly looked like a championship side eight months

earlier when they kicked off their campaign at home against Thailand’s Chonburi and needed a stoppage-time equaliser by Lucas to salvage a 1-1 draw.

However, Gamba got on track with a pair of remarkable away wins. They first came from 2-0 down to beat Korean side Chunnam Dragon 4-3 and then won a see-saw encounter by the same score against Australian champions Melbourne Victory thanks to another late Lucas goal.

They duly won their next two games to clinch first place in their group and then dispatched Syria’s Al Karama 4-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to set up a last four meeting with J.League rivals and defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds.

Urawa entered the semi-final tie as favourites and Gamba needed a late Endo penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg. But in the return game, they recovered from a 1-0 deficit at half-time with goals by Satoshi Yamaguchi, Endo and Tomokazu Myojin that lifted them to a memorable 3-1 victory and a place in the AFC Champions League final.

Gamba clinch title in emphatic fashion

Celebrations Down Under as Gamba Osaka lift the trophy after their emphatic victory over Adelaide United.

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Adelaide had conceded only four goals in 10 games during their run to the final but they were put to the sword by Gamba in the first leg at the Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium.

But in the return game, they recovered from a 1-0 deficit at half-time with goals by Satoshi Yamaguchi, Endo and Tomokazu Myojin lifting them to a memorable 3-1 victory and a place in the AFC Champions League final.

Adelaide conceded only four goals in 10 games during their run to the final but they were put to the sword by Gamba in the first leg at the Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium.

Lucas opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the 37th minute and then set up the second for Endo six minutes later before Yasuda volleyed home Gamba’s third midway through the second half. Endo had a last minute effort disallowed but the Japanese side appeared well on course for the trophy as they travelled to Australia for the second leg.

Any hope that Adelaide had of rescuing the tie then disappeared within the first quarter-of-an-hour of the return match.

After just four minutes, Lucas turned the ball in after Adelaide goalkeeper Mark Birighitti had parried Hayato Sasaki’s shot from the edge of the area.

And 11 minutes later, the Brazilian took one touch to control Takahiro Futagawa’s through ball on the counter-attack and poked the ball past Birighitti for his sixth goal of the competition.

Having watched Urawa become the first Japanese team to win the AFC Champions League a year earlier, Nishino said there was a determination within his side to emulate that feat.

“I wanted to win after what Reds did but I wanted to do it with a different style,” said the Gamba coach. “We won all our away matches and that showed we are in good shape.

“As a coach I’m very satisfied, it’s something I have aimed for throughout the season. The standard has been very high and I’m really very happy that we have won.”


First Leg 05/11/08

Gamba Osaka…………………………… 3(Lucas 37, Yasuhito Endo 43, Michihiro Yasuda 68)Adelaide United ………………………….0

Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka

Second Leg 12/11/08

Adelaide United………………………… 0Gamba Osaka…………………………... 2(Lucas 4, 14)

Hindmarsh Stadium, AdelaideGamba Osaka win 5-0 on aggregate

Gamba Osaka’s 5-0 aggregate victory was the most emphatic triumph in AFC Champions League final history.


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Urawa Red Diamonds received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions

Final

05/11/0812/11/08

Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2Gamba Osaka win 5-0 on aggregate

HT: 2-0HT: 0-2

Semi-finals

08/10/0822/10/08

Adelaide United (AUS) 3 Kuruvchi (UZB) 0 Kuruvchi (UZB) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 0Adelaide United win 3-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

08/10/0822/10/08

Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3Gamba Osaka win 4-2 on aggregate

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

Quarter-finals

17/09/08 24/09/08

Saipa (IRN) 2 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Kuruvchi (UZB) 5 Saipa (IRN) 1Kuruvchi win 7-3 on aggregate

HT: 2-2HT: 3-0

17/09/08 24/09/08

Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0Adelaide United win 2-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

17/09/08 24/09/08

Al Qadisiya (KUW) 3 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0Urawa Red Diamonds win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

17/09/08 24/09/08

Al Karama (SYR) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 0Gamba Osaka win 4-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Kuruvchi 6 4 1 1 8 2 13

Al Ittihad (KSA) 6 3 0 3 6 5 9

Sepahan 6 2 1 3 5 8 7

Al Ittihad (SYR) 6 2 0 4 4 8 6

12/03/08 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

19/03/08 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

09/04/08 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

23/04/08 Kuruvchi (UZB) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

07/05/08 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

21/05/08 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Saipa 6 3 3 0 7 3 12

Al Quwa Al Jawiya 6 2 2 2 5 5 8

Al Wasl 6 2 1 3 5 7 7

Al Kuwait 6 1 2 3 4 6 5

12/03/08 Al Wasl (UAE) 0 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Saipa (IRN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

19/03/08 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Saipa (IRN) 2 Al Wasl (UAE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

09/04/08 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Wasl (UAE) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

23/04/08 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 2 Al Wasl (UAE) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

07/05/08 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Wasl (UAE) 2 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0

HT: 1-2HT: 1-0

21/05/08 Al Wasl (UAE) 1 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 1-1

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Al Qadisiya 6 3 2 1 8 7 11

Pakhtakor 6 3 2 1 13 6 11

Arbil 6 2 2 2 8 11 8

Al Gharafa 6 0 2 4 3 8 2

12/03/08 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Arbil (IRQ) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

19/03/08 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Arbil (IRQ) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

09/04/08 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Arbil (IRQ) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

23/04/08 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Arbil (IRQ) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 5

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

07/05/08 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Arbil (IRQ) 1

HT: 2-1HT: 0-1

21/05/08 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Arbil (IRQ) 4 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-2

Al Qadisiya finished ahead of Pakhtakor due to better record in head-to-head meetings

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Karama 6 3 2 1 8 3 11

Al Wahda 6 2 3 1 6 7 9

Al Sadd 6 1 3 2 6 8 6

Al Ahli 6 0 4 2 5 7 4

12/03/08 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 2-0

19/03/08 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 1-1

09/04/08 Al Ahli (KSA) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

23/04/08 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

07/05/08 Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 0

HT: 2-1HT: 0-0

21/05/08 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts


Changchun Yatai 6 3 3 0 10 3 12


Binh Duong 6 0 1 5 4 17 1

12/03/08 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 2 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

19/03/08 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 4 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

09/04/08 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

23/04/08 Adelaide United (AUS) 4 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

07/05/08 Binh Duong (VIE) 0 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 5 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0

HT: 0-3HT: 0-0

21/05/08 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 Binh Duong (VIE) 0 HT: 0-0

22/05/08 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 HT: 0-0

Group F

P W D L F A Pts



Krung Thai Bank 6 2 1 3 20 27 7

Nam Dinh 6 0 1 5 4 27 1

12/03/08 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 9 Nam Dinh (VIE) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3

HT: 0-3HT: 1-0

19/03/08 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 6 Nam Dinh (VIE) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 4 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

09/04/08 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 9 Nam Dinh (VIE) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 3-0

23/04/08 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Kashima Antlers 0 (JPN) Nam Dinh (VIE) 2 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

07/05/08 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 8 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3 Nam Dinh (VIE) 0

HT: 3-0HT: 2-0

21/05/08 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 5 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3 Nam Dinh (VIE) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 4

HT: 3-0HT: 0-1

Group G

P W D L F A Pts

Gamba Osaka 6 4 2 0 14 8 14


Chunnam Dragons 6 1 3 2 8 10 6

Chonburi 6 1 2 3 7 10 5

12/03/08 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 Chunnam (KOR) 0Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Chonburi (THA) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

19/03/08 Chunnam (KOR) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4 Chonburi (THA) 3 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0

09/04/08 Chunnam (KOR) 1 Chonburi (THA) 0 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4

HT: 0-0HT: 2-2

23/04/08 Chonburi (THA) 2 Chunnam (KOR) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

07/05/08 Chunnam (KOR) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1 Chonburi (THA) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

21/05/08 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 3 Chonburi (THA) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Chunnam (KOR) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Gamba striker Lucas and Adelaide’s Scott Jamieson challenge for the ball during the final.

www.the-afc.com144Gamba’s impressive unbeaten run to the 2008 title saw them win nine of 12 games.

ACL 2007


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Urawa Red Diamonds became the first Japanese side to win the AFC Champions League as goals from Yuichiro Nagai and Yuki Abe earned the J.League champions a 2-0 win over Sepahan of Iran at Saitama World Cup Stadium and a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Nagai put Urawa ahead in the 22nd minute in front of more than 59,000 fans before Abe doubled his side’s advantage on the night with a header from close range 19 minutes from time, wrapping up what was a comfortable win for Holger Osieck’s side.

It brought a glorious end to the club’s first continental campaign which came just a year after their maiden J.League championship. Urawa went unbeaten through their 12 games in the competition although it was by no means an easy stroll to the title for the Japanese club, who had to endure a tough opening round group and a tense penalty shootout in the semi-finals.

After a straightforward 3-0 win over Indonesia’s Persik Kediri in their home opener, Reds had to come from two goals down to draw 2-2

with Australian champions Sydney FC in their second game.

A home win and away draw against Shanghai Shenhua put them in pole position but they left themselves with some work to do after only managing a 3-3 away draw with Persik in their penultimate group game.

Needing to avoid defeat at home against Sydney in their final game, they played out a goalless draw to advance and then eliminated defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with a 4-1 aggregate triumph in the quarter-finals.

Their semi-final clash with another Korean outfit, Seognam Ilhwa Chunma, was a more compelling affair. Urawa held the upper hand after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Korea but Seongnam recovered from going a goal in the return match at Saitama to take a 2-1 lead before Makoto Hasebe’s 73rd minute equaliser forced the match into extra-time and, subsequently, penalties.

Choi Sung-kuk missed Seongnam’s second spot kick and it would prove decisive as Urawa

Red letter day for Urawa

The celebrations kick-off in Saitama after Urawa Red Diamonds became the first Japanese club to lift the AFC Champions League title in 2007.

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netted all five of their attempts to seal a 5-3 shootout win and become the first Japanese club to reach the AFC Champions League final.

They travelled to Esfahan to face a well-organised Sepahan side which had allowed only one goal in their previous six AFC Champions League matches during their run to the final.

Brazilian playmaker Robson Ponte gave the visitors the lead with a dipping shot from outside the box shortly before half-time but Mahmoud Karimi levelled for the Iranian side by tucking away a rebound just seconds after the interval.

With a precious away goal in hand, Reds made the long journey back home knowing that they held the upper hand.

And they pressed their advantage home in Saitama, taking the lead midway through the first half when Ponte’s ball forward took a deflection and eluded Jaba Mujiri before falling nicely for Nagai to lash the ball past goalkeeper Abaas Mohammadi from the edge of the box.

Washington nearly made it 2-0 with an outrageous lob from just inside the Sepahan half that clipped the top of Mohammadi’s crossbar.

But with the Iranian side offering little real threat, the result was sealed in the 71st minute when Abe pounced to head home the rebound after a fierce shot by Nagai had been superbly saved by Mohammadi.


First leg 07/11/07

Sepahan ……….........…….........................1 (Mahmoud Karimi 47)

Urawa Red DIamonds …………............…1 (Robson Ponte 45)

Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan

Second leg 14/11/07

Urawa Red Diamonds…........................…2 (Yuichiro Nagai 22, Yuki Abe 71)

Sepahan …………………......................…..0

Saitama World Cup Stadium, Saitama Urawa Reds win 3-1 on aggregateUrawa coach Holger Osieck shows his delight on

the touchline after his side’s 3-1 aggregate win over Sepahan.


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Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors received a bye into the knockout stage as the defending champions.

Final

07/11/07 14/11/07

Sepahan (IRN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Sepahan 0 (IRN) Urawa Red Diamonds win 3-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0

Semi-finals

03/10/07 24/10/07

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 2 (AET)Aggregate score 4-4. Urawa Red Diamonds win 5-3 on penalties

HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0

03/10/07 24/10/07

Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 0Sepahan win 3-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0

Quarter-finals

19/09/07 26/09/07

Sepahan (IRN) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 0Aggregate score 0-0. Sepahan win 5-4 on penalties

HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0

19/09/07 26/09/07

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 4-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-1 HT: 0-1

19/09/07 26/09/07

Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 1Aggregate score 1-1. Al Wahda win on away goals

HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1

19/09/07 26/09/07

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 0 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds win 4-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Al Wahda 6 4 1 1 13 6 13

Al Zawra’a 6 3 2 1 9 6 11

Al Arabi 6 2 1 3 10 12 7

Al Rayyan 6 0 2 4 3 11 2

07/03/07 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

21/03/07 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 0 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 4 Al Arabi (KUW) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

11/04/07 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 1 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

25/04/07 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

09/05/07 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 3 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

23/05/07 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 2

HT: 0-3HT: 1-1

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Al Hilal 4 2 2 0 5 1 8

Pakhtakor 4 2 0 2 3 5 6

Al Kuwait 4 0 2 2 2 4 2

07/03/07 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 HT: 1-0

21/03/07 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 HT: 0-0

11/04/07 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 HT: 0-0

25/04/07 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 HT: 1-0

09/05/07 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 HT: 0-0

23/05/07 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 HT: 1-0

Esteghlal (IRN) disqualified for failing to comply with player registration rules

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Sepahan 6 4 1 1 12 5 13

Al Shabab 6 3 1 2 9 3 10

Al Ain 6 1 3 2 5 8 6

Al Ittihad 6 0 3 3 3 13 3

07/03/07 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2

HT: 2-1HT: 0-1

21/03/07 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

11/04/07 Al Shabab (KSA) 4 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Sepahan (IRN) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 2-1

25/04/07 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

09/05/07 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 5

HT: 0-0HT: 0-3

23/05/07 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Karama 6 3 2 1 11 7 11

Neftchi 6 3 1 2 6 7 10

Al Najaf 6 2 2 2 9 8 8

Al Sadd 6 1 1 4 6 10 4

07/03/07 Al Najaf (IRQ) 0 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

21/03/07 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Najaf (IRQ) 4 Neftchi (UZB) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

11/04/07 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Neftchi (UZB) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Najaf (IRQ) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

25/04/07 Al Najaf (IRQ) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 4 Neftchi (UZB) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 2-1

09/05/07 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Najaf (IRQ) 1

HT: 1-1HT: 1-0

23/05/07 Al Najaf (IRQ) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Neftchi (UZB) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Urawa Red Diamonds 6 2 4 0 9 5 10

Sydney FC 6 2 3 1 8 5 9

Persik Kediri 6 2 1 3 6 16 7


07/03/07 Urawa (JPN) 3 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Sydney FC (AUS) 2

HT: 2-0HT: 0-2

31/03/07 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 Sydney FC (AUS) 2 Urawa (JPN) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

11/04/07 Persik Kediri (IDN) 2 Sydney FC (AUS) 1 Urawa (JPN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0

HT: 1-1HT: 1-0

25/04/07 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 Urawa (JPN) 0 Sydney FC (AUS) 3 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

09/05/07 Persik Kediri (IDN) 3 Urawa (JPN) 3 Sydney FC (AUS) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0

HT: 2-1HT: 0-0

23/05/07 Urawa (JPN) 0 Sydney FC (AUS) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 6 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

Group F

P W D L F A Pts


Chunnam Dragons 6 3 1 2 7 8 10

Arema Malang 6 1 1 4 2 9 4

Bangkok University 6 0 3 3 4 7 3

07/03/07 Bangkok University (THA) 0 Chunnam (KOR) 0 Arema Malang (IDN) 1 Kawasaki (JPN) 3

HT: 0-0

HT: 1-1

21/03/07 Kawasaki (JPN) 1 Bangkok University (THA) 1 Chunnam (KOR) 2 Arema Malang (IDN) 0

HT: 0-1

HT: 0-0

11/04/07 Chunnam (KOR) 1 Kawasaki (JPN) 3 Bangkok University (THA) 0 Arema Malang (IDN) 0

HT: 0-1

HT: 0-0

25/04/07 Arema Malang (IDN) 1 Bangkok University (THA) 0 Kawasaki (JPN) 3 Chunnam (KOR) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

09/05/07 Chunnam (KOR) 3 Bangkok University (THA) 2 Kawasaki (JPN) 3 Arema Malang (IDN) 0

HT: 1-2

HT: 1-0

23/05/07 Bangkok University (THA) 1 Kawasaki (JPN) 2 Arema Malang (IDN) 0 Chunnam (KOR) 1

HT: 1-1

HT: 0-0

Group G

P W D L F A Pts

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 6 4 1 1 13 6 13



Dong Tam Long An 6 0 0 6 4 18 0

07/03/07 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong (CHN) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 4 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

21/03/07 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Shandong (CHN) 2 Seongnam (KOR) 1

HT: 0-2HT: 0-0

11/04/07 Shandong (CHN) 4 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Seongnam (KOR) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

25/04/07 Seongnam (KOR) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 2 Shandong (CHN) 3

HT: 1-0HT: 2-1

09/05/07 Shandong (CHN) 2 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 1-1

23/05/07 Adelaide United (AUS) 3 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 0 Seongnam (KOR) 3 Shandong (CHN) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 2-0

Seongnam finished ahead of Shandong due to better record in head-to-head meetings. Urawa midfielder Makoto Hasebe holds off the attention of

a Seongnam player during the semi-finals.

www.the-afc.com152Jubilant Urawa captain Keita Suzuki lifts the AFC Champions League trophy.

ACL 2006


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Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors let a two-goal advantage slip but a dramatic late header by Brazilian striker Ze Carlo saw the Korean side become the first east Asian team to lift the AFC Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win against Al Karama of Syria.

Second-half strikes in Homs by Iyad Mando and Mohanad Ibrahim had wiped out Jeonbuk’s 2-0 lead from the first leg. But with only two minutes left, Chung Jung-kwan’s cross from the right flank found Ze Carlo completely unmarked in the Al Karama box.

The Brazilian buried the ball into the Al Karama net to complete Jeonbuk’s unlikely championship run, earning the Korean FA Cup holders the AFC Champions League title and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.

While Jeonbuk struggled in 2006 in their domestic league, where they finished with the fourth worst record, they enjoyed an excellent run on the continental stage as they eliminated Japanese champions Gamba Osaka and Chinese champions Dalian Shide during the

group stage and overturned a two-goal deficit to beat China’s Shanghai Shenhua in the quarter-finals.

They faced another tough task in the last four after losing 3-2 at home against K-League champions Ulsan Hyundai in the first leg of the semi-finals.

But Choi Kang-hee’s side put their league rivals to the sword in the return game as they recorded a stunning 4-1 win to set up a meeting in the final with Al Karama.

The Syrian team had also overcome the odds in order to become the first club from their country to reach the AFC Champions League final. Playing in the competition for the first time, they had eliminated a number of top west Asian sides, including two-time defending champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals.

Jeonbuk had suffered heartbreak in their previous two continental campaigns. They lost 2-1 after extra time to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the 2002 Asian Cup Winners’ Cup and missed

Ze Carlo heads Jeonbuk to victory

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors coach Choi Kang-hee (centre) is surrounded by his jubilant players after the Korean side beat Syria’s Al Karama to win the AFC Champions League in 2006.

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out on the 2004 AFC Champions League final after Osama Al Harbi’s last-minute strike earned Al Ittihad a 4-3 aggregate win.

However, they put themselves into a strong position in the 2006 final as they grabbed a 2-0 lead at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium with goals by Yeom Ki-hun and Brazilian playmaker Botti.

Yeom, who had recovered from serious injuries sustained in a car crash just four months earlier, capped an excellent performance by curling in the opening goal after 59 minutes.

Botti then netted the second in stoppage time, stabbing the ball home after Al Karama goalkeeper Mosab Balhous could only parry a low cross by Chung Jung-kwan.

Needing two goals to rescue the tie, Al Karama dominated the return match at the Khaled Bin Al Waleed Stadium in Homs.

The pressure paid off when the Syrians opened the scoring in the 54th minute after Mohanad Ibrahim unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area which beat Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae and cannoned off both posts before Mando slammed the ball into the net.

Six minutes later Al Karama levelled the aggregate score when Bilal Abduldaim made his way down the right flank before finding Ibrahim, who caught Kwoun off guard with his shot from a tight angle that looped over the keeper and into the net.

But Al Karama would rue their missed opportunities when Chung broke down the right in the dying minute before crossing towards Ze Carlo, who peeled away from his marker to head into an empty net.


First Leg 01/11/06

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ………………….2(Yeom Ki-hun 59, Botti 90+1)

Al Karama ……………………………………..0

Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju

Second Leg 08/11/06

Al Karama ……………………………………2 (Iyad Mando 54, Mohanad Ibrahim 60)

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ………………....1 (Ze Carlo 88)

Khaled bin Al Walid Stadium, HomsJeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 3-2 on aggregate

Chung Jung-kwan and Ze Carlo celebrate during Jeonbuk’s 2-0 win in the first leg of the final.


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Al Ittihad received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions

Final

01/11/0608/11/06

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

Semi-finals

27/09/0618/10/06

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 6-4 on aggregate

HT: 1-2HT: 0-2

27/09/0618/10/06

Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 1Al Karama win 1-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

Quarter-finals

13/09/0620/09/06

Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 4 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 aet FT: 2-0Al Karama win 4-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

13/09/0620/09/06

Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 0Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 2Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

13/09/0620/09/06

Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 3Al Qadisiya win 5-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

13/09/0620/09/06

Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 6 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1Ulsan Hyundai win 7-0 on aggregate

HT: 3-0HT: 0-0

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Al Qadisiya 6 3 2 1 9 11 11

Pakhtakor 6 3 1 2 11 7 10

Al Ittihad 6 2 2 2 6 7 7

Foolad 6 1 1 4 8 9 4

08/03/06 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Foolad (IRN) 6 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 3-0

22/03/06 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Foolad (IRN) 0Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

12/04/06 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Foolad (IRN) 0

HT: 1-1HT: 2-0

26/04/06 Foolad (IRN) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

03/05/06 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Foolad (IRN) 0

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0

17/05/06 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Foolad (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ain 6 4 1 1 10 6 13

Al Hilal 6 3 1 2 12 7 10

Mash’al 6 2 2 2 7 11 8

Al Mina’a 6 0 2 4 6 11 2

08/03/06 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 0 Mash’al (UZB) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

22/03/06 Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1 Mash’al (UZB) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 1

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

12/04/06 Al Hilal (KSA) 5 Mash’al (UZB) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 2-1

26/04/06 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Mash’al (UZB) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

03/05/06 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Mash’al (UZB) 2 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

17/05/06 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Mash’al (UZB) 1 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Al Shabab 6 4 1 1 9 6 13

Al Sadd 6 4 1 1 13 5 13


Al Arabi 6 1 0 5 5 12 3

08/03/06 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

22/03/06 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 4 Al Arabi (KUW) 1

HT: 0-2HT: 1-0

12/04/06 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Al Shabab (KSA) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

26/04/06 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 3 Al Quwa Al Jawiya 0 (IRQ)

HT: 2-0HT: 1-0

03/05/06 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 3

HT: 2-0HT: 0-2

17/05/06 Al Arabi (KUW) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-1

Al Shabab finished ahead of Al Sadd due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Karama 6 4 0 2 10 11 12

Saba Battery 6 3 1 2 13 8 10

Al Wahda 6 2 1 3 14 15 7

Al Gharafa 6 2 0 4 11 14 6

08/03/06 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Saba Battery (IRN) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 1-1

22/03/06 Saba Battery (IRN) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

12/04/06 Saba Battery (IRN) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 4 Al Karama (SYR) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

26/04/06 Al Karama (SYR) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Saba Battery (IRN) 4

HT: 0-0HT: 1-2

03/05/06 Saba Battery (IRN) 4 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 4 Al Karama (SYR) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 2-2

17/05/06 Al Gharafa (QAT) 5 Al Wahda (UAE) 3 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Saba Battery (IRN) 0

HT: 2-1HT: 1-0


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Jeonbuk Motors 6 4 1 1 11 5 13

Dalian Shide 6 4 0 2 7 6 12

Gamba Osaka 6 3 1 2 26 7 10

Da Nang 6 0 0 6 1 27 0

08/03/06 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Da Nang (VIE) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2

HT: 1-1HT: 0-1

22/03/06 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 15 Da Nang (VIE) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 0

HT: 6-0HT: 1-0

12/04/06 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Dalian Shide (CHN) 0 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 3 Da Nang (VIE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

26/04/06 Da Nang (VIE) 0 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

03/05/06 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Da Nang (VIE) 0

HT: 0-1

HT: 1-0

17/05/06 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 3 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Da Nang (VIE) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 5

HT: 0-0

HT: 0-3

Group F

P W D L F A Pts

Ulsan Hyundai 2 2 0 0 3 0 6

Tokyo Verdy 1969 2 0 0 2 0 3 0

08/03/06 Tokyo Verdy (JPN) 0 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 2 HT: 0-0

03/05/06 Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 1 Tokyo Verdy (KOR) 0 HT: 1-0

Arema Malang (IDN) and Thai Tobacco Monopoly (THA) were disqualified for failing to comply with the competition’s Player Registration rules.

Group G

P W D L F A Pts


Gach Dong Tam Long An 2 0 0 2 3 7 0

08/03/06 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 3 Dong Tam (VIE) 1 HT: 2-0

03/05/06 Dong Tam (VIE) 2 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 4 HT: 1-1

Persipura Jayapura (IDN) and Provincial Electricity Authority (THA) were disqualified for failing to comply with the competition’s Player Registration rules.

Brazilian striker Ze Carlo netted some timely goals for Jeonbuk in 2006 including the winner in the final.

www.the-afc.com160Yeom Ki-hun (left) celebrates with Jeonbuk teammate Kim Hyueng-bum after scoring the opening goal in the first leg of the final.

ACL 2005


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Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia confirmed their status as Asia’s top club when they won the AFC Champions League for a second year running thanks to a 4-2 win over Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates which wrapped up a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Having drawn the first leg in Al Ain 1-1, Al Ittihad were fast out of the blocks in the return match, storming into a two-goal lead at the break following a second-minute strike from Mohamed Kallon and a Mohammed Noor header on 33 minutes .

Although Al Ain pulled one back through a Shebab Ahmed penalty 10 minutes after the restart, the side from Jeddah reasserted their supremacy a minute later through Joseph-Desire Job, later sent off.

Ahmed Dokhi netted a fourth for the hosts with 22 minutes left before Luis Tejada pulled back a consolation for the visitors in added time.

Granted a bye into the knockout stage as the tournament’s defending champions, Al

Ittihad ruthlessly swept aside their opponents, netting 20 goals in just six games.

Shandong Luneng gave the Jeddah side a brief scare in the quarter-finals when Li Xiaopeng scored early in the second leg to put the Chinese side ahead after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in China. But Al Ittihad ran riot thereafter, romping to a 7-2 win and an 8-3 aggregate victory.

Returning in the semi-finals to Korea, where they had captured the title the previous year with a 5-0 win over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Al Ittihad amazingly repeated the trick, hammering Busan I’Park by the same score en route to a 7-0 aggregate triumph.

And so the third AFC Champions League final featured the winners of the first two tournament as Al Ittihad took on 2003 winners Al Ain, who had thumped Chinese champions Shenzhen Jianlibao 6-0 in the last four.

The club from the UAE took the match to their opponents in the first leg at the Tahnon Bin

Al Ittihad tighten grip

Jubilant scenes on the victory podium in Jeddah after Al Ittihad successfully defended their AFC Champions League crown in 2005.

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Mohammed Stadium and grabbed the lead through Ali Msarri five minutes into the second half.

But with five minutes remaining, Adnan Ibrahim was hacked down in the Al Ain box and Kallon converted the spot kick to send the tie back to Jeddah all square.

Having struck late in the first leg, Kallon found the net again early in the return match, accurately placing a free-kick from the edge of the Al Ain box into the top right corner of the net.

The hosts extended their lead on 33 minutes. Tcheco floated a free-kick into the danger area from the left and an unchallenged Mohammed Noor planted a header just wide of Abdulla Mutaz’s right hand and in off the left upright.

Al Ain cut the deficit when skipper Fahad Ali was tripped in the box by Tcecho and Shebab stepped up to send Mabrouk Zaid the wrong way with 35 minutes left to play.

But their joy lasted just 60 seconds as Alberto Blanco and Ali Msarri both failed to make contact with Tcheco’s free-kick from the right and Job was on hand at the near post to head home.

And any hopes the visitors had of finding a way back into the game was snuffed out when Dokhi, overlapping down the right, fired the ball across Mutaz and into the far corner of the net.

Tejada’s late effort was no more than a consolation for the vanquished men in purple.


First Leg 26/10/05

Al Ain ……………………………………1 (Ali Msarri 50)

Al Ittihad …………………………………1 (Mohamed Kallon 85)

Tahnon Bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain

Second Leg 05/11/05

Al Ittihad ………………………………..4 (Mohamed Kallon 2, Mohammed Noor 33, Joseph-Desire Job 57, Ahmed Dokhi 69)

Al Ain ……………………………………2 (Shehab Ahmed 55-pen, Luis Tejada 90)

Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, JeddahAl Ittihad win 5-3 on aggregate

Al Ittihad’s Osama Al Harbi battling for possession against Al Ain in the first leg of the final.


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Al Ittihad received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions

Final

26/10/0505/11/05

Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Al Ain (UAE) 2Al Ittihad win 5-3 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

Semi-finals

28/09/0512/10/05

Al Ain (UAE) 6 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 0 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0Al Ain win 6-0 on aggregate

HT: 4-0HT: 0-0

28/09/0512/10/05

Busan I’Park (KOR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 5 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Busan I’Park (KOR) 0Al Ittihad win 7-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

Quarter-finals

14/09/0521/09/05

Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 1Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 3 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 aet FT: 2-1Shenzhen Jianlibao win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

14/09/0521/09/05

Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 7 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2Al Ittihad win 8-3 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

14/09/0521/09/05

Busan I’Park (KOR) 3 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Busan I’Park (KOR) 2Busan I’Park win 5-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

14/09/0521/09/05

Al Ain (UAE) 1 Pas (IRN) 1 Pas (IRN) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 3Aggregate score 4-4. Al Ain win on away goals

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Pas 6 5 1 0 12 4 16

Al Salmiya 6 3 0 3 8 9 9

Al Rayyan 6 2 1 3 6 7 7

Al Shorta 6 0 2 4 2 8 2

09/03/05 Pas (IRN) 2 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Salmiya (KUW) 3 Al Shorta (IRQ) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

15/03/05 Al Shorta (IRQ) 1 Pas (IRN) 1 HT: 1-0

16/03/05 Al Rayyan (QAT)2 Al Salmiya (KUW) 1 HT: 1-0

06/04/05 Al Rayyan (QAT) 2 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 Pas (IRN) 5 Al Salmiya (KUW) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

19/04/05 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 HT: 0-0

20/04/05 Al Salmiya (KUW) 0 Pas (IRN) 1 HT: 0-0

11/05/05 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 Al Salmiya (KUW) 1 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Pas (IRN) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

25/05/05 Al Salmiya (KUW) 2 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Pas (IRN) 1 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0

HT: 2-0 HT: 0-0

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ain 6 4 1 1 13 6 13

Sepahan 6 3 2 1 10 6 11

Al Shabab 6 3 1 2 7 7 10

Al Wahda 6 0 0 6 5 16 0

09/03/05 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Al Wahda (SYR) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 1

HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0

16/03/05 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Wahda (SYR) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 2

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

06/04/05 Al Wahda (SYR) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 3Al Ain (UAE) 3 Al Shabab (KSA) 0

HT: 0-1 HT: 2-0

20/04/05 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Wahda (SYR) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

11/05/05 Al Wahda (SYR) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

25/05/05 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 Al Wahda (SYR) 1

HT: 2-0HT: 2-0

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ahli 6 5 0 1 18 5 15

Pakhtakor 6 3 0 3 9 8 9

Al Zawra’a 6 2 1 3 6 13 7

Al Jaish 6 1 1 4 7 14 4

08/03/05 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Ahli (KSA) 2 HT: 1-2

09/03/05 Al Jaish (SYR) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 HT: 0-2

16/03/05 Al Ahli (KSA) 3 Al Jaish (SYR) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 2

HT: 2-0HT: 0-1

05/04/05 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Jaish (SYR) 5 HT: 0-2

06/04/05 Al Ahli (KSA) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 HT: 0-0

20/04/05 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1Al Jaish (SYR) 0 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

11/05/05 Al Ahli (KSA) 5 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1Pakhtakor (UZB) 4 Al Jaish (SYR) 1

HT: 3-1HT: 0-0

24/05/05 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 HT: 0-0

25/05/05 Al Jaish (SYR) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 4 HT: 0-2

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Sadd 6 4 0 2 8 6 12

Neftchi 6 3 0 3 8 7 9

Al Kuwait 6 2 1 3 5 6 7

Al Ahli 6 2 1 3 8 10 7

09/03/05 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 1-0

16/03/05 Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 0Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

06/04/05 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 0Neftchi (UZB) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

20/04/05 Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Al Kuwait (KUW) 3 Al Sadd (QAT) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 2

HT: 1-2HT: 1-2

11/05/05 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 0 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 1

HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1

25/05/05 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Neftchi (UZB) v Al Ahli (UAE)

HT: 1-0Void*

*Neftchi were awarded a 3-0 victory after Al Ahli refused to play in Uzbekistan, citing security concerns


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Shenzhen Jianlibao 6 4 1 1 9 3 13


Jubilo Iwata 6 3 0 3 11 4 9

Hoang Anh Gia Lai 6 0 0 6 1 25 0

09/03/05 Shenzhen (CHN) 1 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 0Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 1 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 5

HT: 0-0HT: 0-2

16/03/05 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 6 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0Suwon Bluewings 0 (KOR) Shenzhen (CHN) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 0-0

06/04/05 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1 Shenzhen (CHN) 5 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0

HT: 0-0HT: 2-0

20/04/05 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 1 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 Shenzhen (CHN) 2

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

11/05/05 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 6 Hoang Anh Gia Lai 0 (VIE) Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 3 Shenzhen (CHN) 0

HT: 4-0HT: 0-0

25/05/05 Shenzhen (CHN) 1 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 0 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

Shenzhen Jianlibao finished ahead of Suwon Bluewings due to better record in head-to-head meetings.

Group F

P W D L F A Pts


Yokohama F.Marinos 6 4 0 2 10 4 12

PSM Makassar 6 1 1 4 4 14 4

BEC Tero Sasana 6 0 1 5 3 12 1

09/03/05 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1 F.Marinos (JPN) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

16/03/05 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 F.Marinos (JPN) 2 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

06/04/05 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 1 F.Marinos (JPN) 2

HT: 0-0HT: 0-2

20/04/05 F.Marinos (JPN) 2 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 6 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 4-0

11/05/05 PSM Makassar (IDN) 2 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 2 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 F.Marinos (JPN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 1-1

25/05/05 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 4 F.Marinos (JPN) 3 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0

HT: 0-2HT: 0-0

Group G

P W D L F A Pts

Busan I’Park 6 6 0 0 25 0 18


Persebaya Surabaya 6 1 1 4 2 10 4

Binh Dinh 6 1 1 4 2 15 4

09/03/05 Busan I’Park (KOR) 8 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Persebaya (IDN) 1 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2

HT: 3-0HT: 0-1

16/03/05 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Persebaya (IDN) 0Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Busan I’Park (KOR) 2

HT: 0-0HT:0-1

06/04/05 Binh Dinh (VIE) 1 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2 Busan I’Park (KOR) 4 Persebaya (IDN) 0

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

20/04/05 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Binh Dinh (VIE) 1Persebaya (IDN) 0 Busan I’Park (KOR) 3

HT: 0-1HT: 0-2

11/05/05 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Busan I’Park (KOR) 4Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 Persebaya 0 (IDN)

HT: 0-3HT: 1-0

25/05/05 Busan I’Park (KOR) 4 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0Persebaya (IDN) 1 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 1-0

Persebaya finished third due to better record in head-to-head meetings against Binh Dinh.

Al Ittihad swept aside China’s Shandong Luneng 8-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.

www.the-afc.com168Al Ittihad netted an outstanding 20 goals in six knockout stage games during their run to the title in 2005.

ACL 2004


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Al Ittihad won their first AFC Champions League title in what must rank as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of Asian club football.

Trailing 3-1 from the home leg in Jeddah against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, the Tigers scored five unanswered goals in the second leg in front of a full house in Korea to win Asia’s most prestigious knockout tournament 6-3 on aggregate.

Few, except perhaps the hundred or so hopeful Al Ittihad fans who travelled to Korea, would have predicted such an outcome for the six-time Saudi league champions after the first leg in Jeddah, which the K-League champions won 3-1.

The home side had dominated that match but fell behind in the 27th minute when Denis Laktionov ran virtually unchallenged into the

Al Ittihad box before firing the ball into the roof of the net.

Al Ittihad would draw level a minute later as Redha Tukar met Tcheho’s corner from the right with a thumping header that flew in at the near post.

However, the hosts were unable to make their dominance count and were caught twice on the counter-attack late in the match, first by Kim Do-hoon in the 81st minute and then by Jang Hak-young a minute from time.

It put the winners of the 1995 Asian Club Championship very much in the driving seat ahead of the return game in Korea a week later. And Al Ittihad’s chances of overturning the deficit were further dented when coach Tomaslav Ivic was dismissed after the first-leg defeat and replaced by his inexperienced assistant Dragan Talajic.

Ittihad comeback stuns Seongnam

Al Ittihad produced a remarkable 5-0 win over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in Korea to lift the AFC Champions League title for the first time in 2004.

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But the Croatian’s first game in charge would go down in the annals of the games.

The Korean side tried to press home their advantage at the Seongnam Sports Complex but after they had weathered an early storm, the visitors took the lead on 27 minutes when Redha Tukar rose high above Park Woo-hyun in the Seongnam defence to head home Tcheco’s corner from the right.

Seongnam responded with their best spell of the game and had some good chances to put themselves back in the driving seat. However, Al Ittihad doubled their lead just before the break as Tcheco’s lofted free-kick fell to Hamzah Idris who prodded the ball home from close range.

The goal came at a crucial time for the Saudi club and self-belief coursed through his side in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Having absorbed Seongnam’s early pressure, they went ahead on aggregate for the first time with a magnificent goal on the counter-attack in the 55th minute. Manaf Abushgeer was released down the left by Idris and his low cross eluded a crowd of players before finding skipper Mohammad Noor who slid in at the far post.

Now chasing the game, the Koreans left large gaps at the back and they were cruelly exposed again in the 78th minute as Noor scored the killer fourth goal on yet another lethal counter-attack.

The visitors capped an amazing night five minutes into added time as Abushgeer turned defender Kim Sung-il on the left of the Seongnam box before curling the ball past the hapless Seongnam keeper to round off a comeback few had thought possible.


First Leg 24/11/04

Al Ittihad ……………………………........…1 (Redha Tukar 28)

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma…………….… 3 (Denis Laktionov 27, Kim Do-hoon 81, Jang Hak-young 90)

Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

Second Leg 01/12/04

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma …………..…..0

Al Ittihad ……………………………..……..5 (Redha Tukar 27, Hamzah Idris 45, Mohammed Noor 55, 78, Manaf Abushgeer 90)

Seongnam Sports Complex, SeongnamAl Ittihad win 6-3 on aggregate

Al Ittihad’s players rejoice after Manaf Abushgeer (right)completed the scoring in the second leg of the final.


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Al Ain received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions

Final

24/11/0401/12/04

Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 5Al Ittihad win 6-3 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-2

Semi-finals

20/10/0427/10/04

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 2-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

20/10/0427/10/04

Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2Al Ittihad win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

Quarter-finals

14/09/0421/09/04

Al Ain (UAE) 0 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4 Al Ain (UAE) 1Chonbuk Hyundai Motors win 5-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

14/09/0421/09/04

Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Dalian Shide (CHN) 0Al Ittihad win 2-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

15/09/0422/09/04

Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 0Pakhtakor win 5-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 2-0

15/09/0422/09/04

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 6 Sharjah (UAE) 0 Sharjah (UAE) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 5Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 11-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 1-3

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Group Stage results

Group A

P W D L F A Pts

Pakhtakor 4 2 1 1 3 1 7

Zob Ahan 4 1 2 1 4 5 5

Qatar SC 4 0 3 1 3 4 3

11/02/04 Zob Ahan (IRN) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 HT: 0-0

25/02/04 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Qatar SC (QAT) 0 HT: 0-0

06/04/04 Zob Ahan (IRN) 3 Qatar SC (QAT) 3 HT: 1-0

21/04/04 Qatar SC (QAT) 0 Zob Ahan (IRN) 0 HT: 0-0

05/05/04 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Zob Ahan (IRN) 0 HT: 1-0

19/05/04 Qatar SC (QAT) 0 Al Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 HT: 0-0

Riffa (BHR) withdrew from competition. All results for matches involving Riffa declared null and void.

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Sharjah 4 3 1 0 10 4 10

Al Hilal 4 2 1 1 6 6 7

Al Shorta 4 0 0 4 3 9 0

10/02/04 Sharjah (UAE) 2 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 HT: 0-0

25/02/04 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Sharjah (UAE) 0 HT: 0-0

06/04/04 Al Shorta (IRQ) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 HT: 0-1

21/04/04 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 HT: 1-0

04/05/04 Al Shorta (IRQ) 2 Sharjah (UAE) 3 HT: 2-2

18/05/04 Sharjah (UAE) 5 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 HT: 1-1

Al Ahli (BHR) withdrew from the competition without playing a game.

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Al Wahda 4 1 3 0 3 0 6

Al Sadd 4 1 2 1 1 1 5


11/02/04 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 HT: 0-0

25/02/04 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 HT: 0-0

06/04/04 Al Wahda 3 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 HT: 2-0

20/04/04 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Wahda 0 HT: 0-0

05/05/04 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Wahda 0 HT: 0-0

18/05/04 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 HT: 0-0

Al Qadisiya (KUW) expelled from competition. All results for matches involving Al Qadisiya declared null and void.

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ittihad 6 4 1 1 14 4 13

Sepahan 6 4 1 1 15 10 13

Al Arabi 6 2 2 2 8 10 8

Neftchi 6 0 0 6 5 18 0

10/02/04 Sepahan (IRN) 4 Neftchi (UZB) 0 HT: 1-0

11/02/04 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 HT: 1-0

24/02/04 Neftchi (UZB)1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3Al Arabi (KUW) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 2

HT: 0-2HT: 0-1

07/04/04 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 HT: 1-0

20/04/04 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Sepahan (IRN) 0 HT: 3-0

21/04/04 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 2 HT: 1-0

04/05/04 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0

HT: 1-2HT: 0-0

18/05/04 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 1Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

26/05/04 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Arabi (KUW) 2 HT: 0-0

Al Ittihad finished ahead of Sepahan due to better record in head-to-head meetings between the two teams


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Group E

P W D L F A Pts

Chonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 4 0 2 14 5 12

Jubilo Iwata 6 4 0 2 14 11 12



11/02/04 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 4 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

25/02/04 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 3 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

06/04/04 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 HT: 1-1

07/04/04 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 4 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 HT: 1-0

20/04/04 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 4 HT: 0-1

22/04/04 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 3 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 HT: 2-2

05/05/04 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0

HT: 0-0

12/05/04 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 4 HT: 0-1

19/05/04 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 2 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 3

HT: 0-0HT: 1-2

Chonbuk Hyundai Motors finished ahead of Jubilo Iwata due to better record in head-to-head meetings between the two teams

Group F

P W D L F A Pts

Dalian Shide 6 5 0 1 11 5 15


Hoang Anh Gia Lai 6 2 1 3 10 10 7

PSM Makassar 6 2 0 4 9 12 6

10/02/04 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 HT: 0-1

11/02/04 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 5 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1 HT: 3-0

24/02/04 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 HT: 2-0

25/02/04 PSM Makassar (IDN) 2 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 3 HT: 1-3

06/04/04 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 HT: 0-0

07/04/04 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 HT: 0-1

21/04/04 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 2 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1

HT: 2-1HT: 1-1

04/05/04 Dalian Shide (CHN) 3 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 HT: 1-1

05/05/04 PSM Makassar (IDN) 3 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 HT: 1-0

18/05/04 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 PSM Makassar (IDN) 2 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 3 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 1-0

Group G

P W D L F A Pts


Yokohama F.Marinos 6 5 0 1 19 3 15

Persik Kediri 6 1 1 4 5 27 4

Binh Dinh 6 0 1 5 3 17 1

10/02/04 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 3 HT: 0-2

11/02/04 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 2 HT: 0-2

24/02/04 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 4 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0 HT: 2-0

25/02/04 Seongnam (KOR) 2 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 HT: 1-0

07/04/04 Binh Dinh (VIE) 2 Persik Kediri (IDN) 2Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 2

HT: 2-1HT: 1-1

21/04/04 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Seongnam (KOR) 0 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 1

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

05/05/04 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 6 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 HT: 2-0

11/05/04 Seongnam (KOR) 15 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0 HT: 7-0

19/05/04 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 4 Binh Dinh (VIE) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 3

HT: 0-4HT: 1-2

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma finished ahead of Yokohama F.Marinos on goal difference

Al Ittihad midfielder Redha Tukar (right) celebrates afterscoring during his side’s run to the final.

www.the-afc.com176Redha Tukar won the MVP title in 2004 after playing a key role in Al Ittihad’s victorious campaign.

ACL 2002-03


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Al Ain were crowned winners of the inaugural AFC Champions League after a nail-biting 2-1 aggregate victory over Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana in the final.

Having won the first leg at home 2-0, thanks to goals by Salem Jawhar and Mohammed Omar, Al Ain hung on despite losing the second leg in Bangkok by a single goal to become the first side from the United Arab Emirates to win an Asian club title.

BEC Tero gave their all in the second leg at the Rajamangala Stadium, but a penalty converted by Therdsak Chaiman was not enough to wrench the trophy from Al Ain’s grasp.

Al Ain’s historic triumph capped a marathon tournament that had stretched to over a year after the SARS epidemic caused their semi-

final against Chinese side Dalian Shide to be postponed for four months.

Having entered the competition at the group stage in March 2003, the UAE club had advanced to the last four with a perfect record after victories over Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Al Sadd of Qatar and Esteghlal of Iran at the Tahnon Bin Mohammed Stadium.

They met Dalian in the first leg of the semi-finals the following month and despite falling behind early, they rallied to score four goals after the break for a 4-2 victory.

The return match in China, which did not take place until August, proved to be a cracker. Al Ain had seemed on course for the final when second-half goals by Rodrigo Fabiano and Omar gave them a 6-3 aggregate advantage but Dalian scored three times in seven

Al Ain claim historic first

Al Ain were crowned the inaugural AFC Champions League winners in 2003 after downing Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana 2-1 on aggregate in the final.

www.the-afc.com180

minutes to level the tie at 6-6. However, Farhad Majidi struck three minutes from time to send the Emirati side through.

Al Ain dominated the first leg of the final on their home ground but nearly fell behind against BEC Tero when Worrawoot Srimaka’s header thumped against the crossbar in the first half.

They would take the lead though when team skipper Jawhar fired home a fierce rising shot from 25 metres seven minutes before the break.

BEC Tero’s hopes suffered a blow when Witthaya Nubthong was sent off for a second bookable offence and the hosts took full advantage of the extra man as an unmarked Omar turned in their decisive second goal with 16 minutes remaining.

Al Ain could have put the tie away early in the second leg when Kadjo Afanou headed a flicked-on corner against the BEC Tero upright after just five minutes.

The Thai side dominated for large periods, with midfielder Therdsak, the MVP of the final, at the heart of his side’s best moves. But they failed to breach the Al Ain defence until the hour mark when Datsakorn Thonglao was felled in the box by Humaid Fakher and Therdsak sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

The goal lifted BEC Tero and the home supporters, who raised the roof on 66 minutes when Pherartat Phoruandee rose to meet Therdsak’s deep corner to angle a header across the line. BEC Tero joy was short-lived, however, as the referee immediately blew for an infringement, presumably on Al Ain keeper Waleed Salem.

In the last 10 minutes, BEC Tero opted for hopeful long balls. But, try as they did, it was not enough and Al Ain held on to claim an historic win.

AFC Champions League 2002-03 – Final

First Leg 03/10/03

Al Ain …………………………......…...........2 (Salam Jawhar 40, Mohammed Omar 75)

BEC Tero Sasana …………...................…0

Tahnon bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain

Second Leg 11/10/03

BEC Tero Sasana ……………................…1(Therdsak Chaiman 60-pen)

Al Ain ………………………….................….0

Rajamangala Stadium, BangkokAl Ain win 2-1 on aggregate

Al Ain laid the foundation for their victory in the final with a 2-0 win in the first leg.


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Final

03/10/0311/10/03

Al Ain (UAE) 2 BEC Tero Sesana (THA) 0BEC Tero Sesana (THA) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Ain win 2-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

Semi-finals

09/04/0330/08/03

Al Ain (UAE) 4 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 Dalian Shide (CHN) 4 Al Ain (UAE) 3Al Ain win 7-6 on aggregate

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

09/04/0322/04/03

BEC Tero Sesana (THA) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 BEC Tero Sesana (THA) 0BEC Tero Sasana win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

Joyous Al Ain fans cheering on their team during the 2003 AFC Champions League final.

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Group A

P W D L F A Pts


Taejon Citizen 3 2 0 1 3 3 6



10/03/03 Shanghai (CHN) 1 Taejon (KOR) 2Kashima (JPN) 2 BEC Tero (THA) 2

HT: 0-2HT: 1-0

12/03/03 Kashima (JPN) 3 Shanghai (CHN) 4Taejon (KOR) 0 BEC Tero (THA) 2

HT: 1-3HT: 0-1

14/03/03 BEC Tero (THA) 2 Shanghai (CHN) 1Taejon (KOR) 1 Kashima (JPN) 0

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

All games played in Bangkok, THA

Group C

P W D L F A Pts

Al Ain 3 3 0 0 6 1 9

Al Sadd 3 1 0 2 4 5 3

Esteghlal 3 1 0 2 5 7 3

Al Hilal 3 1 0 2 4 6 3

09/03/03 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 2Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 0

HT: 0-1HT: 1-0

12/03/03 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 0Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 3

HT: 1-0HT: 2-1

15/03/03 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 3Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 3

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

All games played in Al Ain, UAE

Group B

P W D L F A Pts

Dalian Shide 3 2 1 0 10 2 7


Shimizu S-Pulse 3 1 1 1 8 2 4

Osotspa 3 0 0 3 1 20 0

09/03/03 Seongnam (KOR) 6 Osotspa (THA) 0Shimizu (JPN) 0 Dalian (CHN) 0

HT: 3-0HT: 0-0

12/03/03 Shimizu (JPN) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 2Osotspa (THA) 1 Dalian (CHN) 7

HT: 0-0HT: 1-2

15/03/03 Dalian (CHN) 3 Seongnam (KOR) 1Osotspa (THA) 0 Shimizu (JPN) 7

HT: 0-0HT: 0-2

All games played in Dalian, CHN

Group D

P W D L F A Pts

Pakhtakor 3 3 0 0 7 0 9

Pirouzi 3 2 0 1 5 2 6

Al Talaba 3 1 0 2 3 4 3

Nisa 3 0 0 3 1 10 0

09/03/03 Nisa (TKM) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3Al Talaba (IRQ) 0 Pirouzi (IRN) 1

HT: 0-1HT: 0-0

12/03/03 Al Talaba (IRQ) 3 Nisa (TKM) 0Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pirouzi (IRN) 0

HT: 2-0HT: 1-0

15/03/03 Nisa (TKM) 1 Pirouzi (IRN) 4Al Talaba (IRQ) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3

HT: 0-1HT: 0-2

All games played in Tashkent, UZB

Group Stage results


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Preliminary Round Results – West Asia

Fourth Qualifying Round

12/11/0227/11/02

Al Jaish (SYR) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 1Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Jaish (SYR) 1 aet FT: 1-1Aggregate score 2-2. Al Sadd win 4-1 on penalties

HT: 0-1HT: 1-1

13/11/0227/11/02

Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Ahli (UAE) 2Al Ahli (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1Pakthakor win 4-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

13/11/0226/11/02

Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 0Neftchi (UZB) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1Aggregate score 2-2. Esteghlal win on away goals

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

--/--/----/--/--

Al Arabi (KUW) v Nisa (TKM)Nisa (TKM) v Al Arabi (KUW) Al Arabi withdrew. Nisa advance

Third Qualifying Round

08/10/0223/10/02

Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 Al Arabi 1 (KUW)Al Arabi (KUW) 4 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Arabi win 5-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 2-0

09/10/0223/10/02

Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Al Ahli (KSA) 2Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 2Al Ahli (UAE) win 5-4 on aggregate

HT: 2-1HT: 2-0

09/10/0223/10/02

Al Ahli Sana’a (YEM) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 2 Neftchi (UZB) 6 Al AhliSana’a (YEM) 0 Neftchi win 8-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-2HT: 2-0

09/10/0224/10/02

Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Faisaly (JOR) 0Al Faisaly (JOR) 0 Esteghlal (IRN) 1Esteghlal win 3-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-1

09/10/0225/10/02

Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 aet FT: 1-1Al Sadd win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 1-1

10/10/0225/10/02

Al Etehad (QAT) 4 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Etehad (QAT) 0Pakthakor win 6-4 on aggregate

HT: 2-1HT: 0-0

--/--/----/--/--

Al Jaish (SYR) v Regar-Tadaz (TJK)Regar-Tadaz (TJK) v Al Jaish (SYR)Regar-Tadaz suspended by AFC. Al Jaish advance

Nisa (TKM) received a bye into Fourth Qualifying Round

Second Qualifying Round

10/09/0225/09/02

Al Ansar (LIB) 1 Al Faisaly (JOR) 0 Al Faisaly (JOR) 3 Al Ansar (LIB) 0Al Faisaly win 3-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 3-0

11/09/0224/09/02

Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0Al Kuwait (KUW) 3 Al Ahli (UAE) 1Aggregate score 3-3. Al Ahli (UAE) win on away goals

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

11/09/0225/09/02

Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) 0 Al Ahli Sana’a (YEM) 2 Al Ahli Sana’a (YEM) 2 Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) 0Al Ahli Sana’a win 4-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-1HT: 2-0

11/09/0227/09/02

Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Wihdat (JOR) 0Al Wihdat (JOR) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1Pakthakor win 4-3 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

--/--/----/--/--

Al Sadd (QAT) v Kopetdag (TKMKopetdag (TKM) v Al Sadd (QAT)Kopetdag withdrew.. Al Sadd advance

--/--/----/--/--

Al Ittihad (SYR) v Khudjand (TJK)Khudjand (TJK) v Al Ittihad (SYR)Khudjand suspended by AFC. Al Ittihad advance

Al Jaish (SYR) advance after withdrawal of Bahrain representative. Al Quds (PAL) withdrew

First Qualifying Round

13/08/0228/08/02

Al Wihdat (JOR) 3 Al Nejmeh (LIB) 2Al Nejmeh (LIB) 0 Al Wihdat (JOR) 0Al Nejmeh win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-1HT: 0-0

--/--/----/--/--

Al Nasr (OMA) v Al Ansar (LEB)Al Ansar (LEB) v Al Nasr (OMA)Al Nasr withdrew. Al Ansar advance

--/--/----/--/--

Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) v Al Aqsa (PAL)Al Aqsa (PAL) v Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) Al Aqsa withdrew. Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn advance

Al Ittihad (SYR), Al Kuwait (KUW) and Kopetdag (TKM) received byes into Second Qualifying Round.

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Preliminary Round Results – East Asia

Third Qualifying Round

12/11/0226/11/02

Churchill Brothers (IND) 1 Osotspa (THA) 1 Osotspa (THA) 6 Churchill Brothers (IND) 3Osotspa win 7-4 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 2-1

12/11/0227/11/02

South China (HKG) 0 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 5 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 3 South China (HKG) 1Shimizu S-Pulse win 8-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-2HT: 0-0

13/11/0226/11/02

Taejon Citizen (KOR) 6 Mohun Bagan (IND) 0 Mohun Bagan(IND) 1 Taejon Citizen (KOR) 2 Taejon Citizen win 8-1 on aggregate

HT: 4-0HT: 0-1

13/11/0227/11/02

Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 3 Geylang United (SIN) 0 Geylang United (SIN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 2Shanghai Shenhua win 5-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-2

Second Qualifying Round

06/10/0223/10/02

Geylang United (SIN) 3 DPMM 0 (BRU) 0 DPMM (KUW) 0 Geylang United (SIN) 4Geylang United win 7-0 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-1

08/10/0223/10/02

South China (HKG) 2 Home United (SIN) 1 Home United (SIN) 1 South China (HKG) 1South China win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 2-0HT: 1-0

08/10/0223/10/02

Petrokimia Putra (IDN) 3 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 5 Petrokimia Putra (IDN) 1Shanghai Shenhua win 6-4 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 3-1

09/10/0222/10/02

Persita Tangerang (IDN) 0 Osotspa (THA) 1 Osotspa (THA) 0 Persita Tangerang (IDN) 0Osotspa win 1-0 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

09/10/0222/10/02

Mohun Bagan (IND) 2 Valencia (MDV) 2 Valencia (MDV) 0 Mohun Bagan (IND) 3Mohun Bagan win 5-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 2-2

09/10/0223/10/02

Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 7 New Radiant (MDV) 0 New Radiant (MDV) 0 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 0Shimizu S-Pulse win 7-0 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

09/10/0223/10/02

Monte Carlo (MAC) 1Taejon Citizen (KOR) 5 Taejon Citizen (KOR)3 Monte Carlo (MAC) 0Taejon Citizen win 8-1 on aggregate

HT: 1-4HT: 1-0

11/10/0225/10/02

Churchill Brothers (IND) 2 Saigon Port (MDV) 0Saigon Port (MDV) 1 Churchill Brothers (IND) 0Churchill Brothers win 2-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-0HT: 0-0

First Qualifying Round

10/09/0222/09/02

Air Force (SRI) 1 New Radiant (MDV) 1 New Radiant (MDV) 2 Air Force (SRI) 1 aet FT: 1-1New Radiant win 3-2 on aggregate

HT: 1-0HT: 0-0

11/09/0222/09/02

Saunders SC (SRI) 0 Mohun Bagan (IND) 2 Mohun Bagan (IND) 5 Saunders SC (SRI) 1Mohun Bagan win 7-1 on aggregate

HT: 0-1HT: 4-1

Monte Carlo (MAC), DPMM (BRU), Petrokimia Putra (IDN), Home United (SIN), Persita Tangerang (IDN) and Churchil Brothers (IND) received byes into Second Qualifying Round.

There were only three Qualifying Rounds in the East Asia zone

Al Ain celebrating after their 2-0 win over BEC Tero Sasana in the first leg of the final.

ROLL OF HONOUR


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Roll of Honour

AFC Champions League

Year Winners Runners-Up

2011 Al Sadd (QAT) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

2010 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) Zobahan (IRN)

2009 Pohang Steelers (KOR) Al Ittihad (KSA)

2008 Gamba Osaka (JPN) Adelaide United (AUS)

2007 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) Sepahan (IRN)

2006 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) Al Karamah (SYR)

2005 Al Ittihad (KSA) Al Ain (UAE)

2004 Al Ittihad (KSA) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)

2002-03 Al Ain (UAE) BEC Tero Sasana (THA)

AFC Cup


2011 Nasaf (UZB) Al Kuwait (KUW)

2010 Al Ittihad (SYR) Al Qadisiya (KUW)

2009 Al Kuwait (KUW) Al Karamah (SYR)

2008 Muharraq (BHR) Safa (LIB)

2007 Shabab Al Ordun (JOR) Al Faisaly (JOR)

2006 Al Faisaly (JOR) Muharraq (BHR)

2005 Al Faisaly (JOR) Al Nejmeh (LIB)

2004 Al Jaish (SYR) Al Wahda (SYR)

Asian Super Cup


2002 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) Al Hilal (KSA)

2001 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) Al Shabab (KSA)

2000 Al Hilal (KSA) Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN)

1999 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) Al Ittihad (KSA)

1998 Al Nassr (KSA) Pohang Steelers (KOR)

1997 Al Hilal (KSA) Pohang Steelers (KOR)

1996 Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) Bellmare Hiratsuka (JPN)

1995 Yokohama Flugels (JPN) Thai Farmers Bank (THA)

www.the-afc.com188

Asian Club Championship


2001-02 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) Anyang LG Cheetahs (KOR)

2000-01 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) Jubilo Iwata (JPN)

1999-00 Al Hilal (KSA) Jubilo Iwata (JPN)

1998-99 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) Esteghlal (IRN)

1997-98 Pohang Steelers (KOR) Dalian Wanda (CHN)

1996-97 Pohang Steelers (KOR) Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)

1995 Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) Al Nassr (KSA)

1994 Thai Farmers Bank (THA) Al Arabi (QAT)

1993 Thai Farmers Bank (THA) Oman Club (OMN)

1992 Pas (IRN) Al Shabab (KSA)

1991 Al Hilal (KSA) Esteghlal (IRN)

1990 Esteghlal (IRN) Liaoning (CHN)

1989 Liaoning (CHN) Nissan (JPN)

1988 Al Sadd (QAT) Al Rasheed (IRQ)

1987 Yomiuri (JPN) Al Hilal (KSA)

1986 Furukawa (JPN) Al Hilal (KSA)

1985 Daewoo Royals (KOR) Al Ahli (KSA)

1972-84 NO COMPETITION

1971 Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) Al Shorta (IRQ)

1970 Taj Club (IRN) Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR)

1969 Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) Yangzee (KOR)

1968 NO COMPETITION

1967 Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR) Selangor (MAS)

Asian Cup Winners’ Cup


2001-02 Al Hilal (KSA) Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

2000-01 Al Shabab (KSA) Dalian Shide (CHN)

1999-00 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) Al Zawra'a (IRQ)

1998-99 Al Ittihad (KSA) Chunnam Dragons (KOR)

1997-98 Al Nassr (KSA) Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR)

1996 Al Hilal (KSA) Nagoya Grampus Eight (JPN)

1995 Bellmare Hiratsuka (JPN) Al Talaba (IRQ)

1994 Yokohama Flugels (JPN) Al Shaab (UAE)

1993 Al Qadisiya (KSA) South China (HKG)

1992 Yokohama Marinos (JPN) Pirouzi (IRN)

1991 Nissan (JPN) Al Nassr (KSA)

1990 Pirouzi (IRN) Al Muharraq (BHR)

MEDIA INFORMATION


www.the-afc.com 191

Local Media

International Media

Media information

ACCREDITATION

Home Match Away Match

Accreditation card

1. Please visit the AFC Media Channel to download the accreditation card application form


2. Once you fill out the form, please submit to the club (attention to team media officer)

* contact information is available on the AFC Media Channel

2. Once you fill out the form, please submit to your home club media officer

3. You shall be able to pick up your AD card at media reception desk on match day

3. You shall be able to pick up your AD card at media reception desk of the hosting club’s venue on match day

* If you need to pick up your AD card before match day, please consult to your home club team media officer.

Accreditation card


2. Once you fill out the form, please submit the form to the host club team media officer.

* contact information is available on the AFC Media Channel

3. You shall be able to pick up your AD card at media reception desk on match day

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1. Reception Desk Media Representatives may pick up their accreditations, bibs, and acquire other necessary

information.

2 Media Tribune (Written Press Positions) The Hosting Club reserve covered seats in the central area of the main stands with an

unobstructed view of the entire pitch for the written press. Media Tribune shall provide a working condition for written press and TV/Radio Commentators if necessary. The Media Tribune is equipped with chairs, desk, lighting power supply, internet lines (or Wi-Fi) and if requested, necessary number of telephone lines at the expense of the media.

3. Press Conference Room The Press Conference Room shall be utilized for both Pre-Match Press Conference and

Post- Match Press Conference. (*please note that pre-match press conference can be held at a team hotel or other designated venue based on a mutual agreement of the two clubs)

The Press Conference Room should be equipped with required number of seats, a proper

sound system, lighting and raised platform (especially for TV cameras). If you have a specific request for a media facility at Press Conference Room, please contact the team media officer of hosting club.

4. Media Working Area A Media Working Area, where the media may work before and after the Official Training

Sessions held the day before the match, and also before and after the match, shall be provided within the access control area in the stadium, or in an adjacent area with controlled access. The Media Working Area is equipped with required number of desks&chairs, lighting, air conditioner, power supply, internet lines, dedicated telephone lines based on media’s request (at the media’s own cost), fax machine, copy machine, printer, pigeon holes, TV monitors and rest rooms (for men and women).

5. Mixed Zone The Mixed Zone is set up in an easily accessible area unaffected by weather or surrounding

noise, between the Team dressing rooms and the Team bus area.

At the Mixed Zone, there would be partitions which will separate the flows between teams and media. The entire Mixed Zone shall be brightly lit and power supply will be provided in the TV interview area

6. Television and Radio Commentary Positions The Hosting Club shall provide the number of TV and radio commentary positions

requested by WSG. In principle, it must be located on the same side as the main camera and each commentary position shall have 3 seats, with ample power capacity and supply, telephone line, internet access (either Ethernet 10/100, RJ45, minimum of 512 kbps, DHCP, non-blocked, all ports open or WLAN), TV monitor and etc. Details can be communicated through WSG.

MEDIA FACILITIES


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7. Television Studio Television Studios are set up within the stadium premises for television broadcasting. Television Studio is usually set up in the upper area of the stands with a view of the pitch,

in accordance with AFC/WSG’s requirements.

8. OB Van Area The Hosting Club provides a large parking space to be used as the OB (Outside Broadcast)

van area by the Host Broadcaster. The OB Van area will be able to accommodate OB vans, tender trucks, generators, satellite uplink vehicles, graphic vans, and other vehicles in this area. This area shall be clean, and shall have a hard enough surface to park large vehicles. Also this area shall be fenced off so that spectators will not be allowed access, and shall be security controlled 24 hours a day. Lighting of 100lx shall be provided in order to allow the media in this area to work at night if necessary. Back up power source must also be provided. Details are to be communicated by WSG.

• World Sport Group (WSG) is the sole owner of all television rights relating to AFCChampions League. All television crews must be accredited before being allowed entry to any AFC Champions League matches.

• PleasefollowtheinstructionsoftheeventorganizerandAFC/WSGofficialspresentatthestadium.

ENG GUIDELINES

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• Onlyonecameraperorganizationwillbeallowedintothestadium.Newscoverageofaparticular day’s events may be no longer than two minutes. Sports Anthology series and magazine shows must clear rights directly with WSG/ World Sport Television (WSTV).

• ENGcrewsarelimitedtoamaximumofonecameraman,oneproducerandoneassistant.Any other member of the ENG crew (presenters. Etc.), should watch the match from the press box when they are not actively involved in the shoot.

• AccreditedcrewsmustpickupMediaIdentityBibsatthemediacenterorstadiumentrancewell in advance. Crews will be asked to exchange their journalist ID cards or accreditation cards for bibs. Cards will be returned to crews when they return the bib.

• MediaIdentityBibswillallowENGcrewspitch-sideaccess,buttheymustbeworn.Failureto do so will result in expulsion from the stadium.

• Teamlistswillbemadeavailable45minutesbeforekick-offinthemediacenter.

• Priortokick-offENGcrewsmayshoottheline-upsoftheteamsfromtheneartouchline,but please stay off the field of play. Crews will not be allowed to shoot from behind the far touchline’s advertising boards.

• Oncethegamestartsyoumustshootfrombehindeithergoal.Crewsarerequiredtostandbehind advertising boards and will not be allowed to change sides until half-time, the end of regulation time, or the start of extra time. When changing ends, crews should pass along the far side of the pitch, behind the advertising boards. Under no circumstances will crews be allowed to shoot from either touchline during the match.

• Only televisioncameras tied into the live feedwillbeallowed toshoot thematch fromthe spectator stands at a specifically assigned location. No other television cameras are allowed in the spectator stands.

• ENGcrewsmaynotgoontothefieldofplaytointerviewplayersafterthematch.Onlythehost broadcaster and broadcasters using the flash interview facility (by arrangement with WSTV Broadcasting Service Manager) may interview a selected player(s) at a flash interview zone after the end of the match. ENG crews may interview players in the designated Mixed Zone only.

• The coaches of the two teams will attend the post match press conference that willcommence immediately after the match. Crews are invited to attend. At the post-match press conference all cameras must stand near the back of the room and allow journalists to sit in the front.

Anyone who does not follow these rules will be escorted out from the stadium and may have their accreditation taken away for further matches of this competition in the future. If you are not sure of where you should not shoot, please contact Local Media Officer or WSTV Broadcasting Services Manager on site. Thank you for your co-operation.


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• AllphotographersmustbeaccreditedbeforebeingallowedentrytoanyAFCChampionsLeague matches and entry to the Stadium and/or facility is subject to compliance with the Photographers’ guidelines. Please follow the instructions of the event organizer and AFC official present at the stadium.

• Allphotographersrequiringaccesstotheeventmustcompletethenecessaryapplicationprocedures to clear your request. The application form can be downloaded from the AFC Media Channel after log-in.

• Admissiontothepitchsidewillcommenceat120minutesbeforekickoff.

• AccreditedphotographersmustpickupMediaIdentityBibsatthemediacenter/receptionor stadium entrance. Photographers may be asked to exchange their journalist ID cards or accreditation cards for bibs. Cards will be returned when they return the bib.

• Photographersmayonlyworkinthezonesreservedforthem(andnotinthezonesreservedfor television cameras), unless expressly permitted by officials.

• Accessontothefieldofplayisnotpermittedatanytime,includingbeforeandafterthematch. Neither may they enter the team dressing rooms at any time, even if invited to do

PHOTOGRAPHERS’ GUIDELINES

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so by player or team officials. Failure to respect this rule may lead to withdrawal of the Photographer’s accreditation for the remainder of the competition.

• Approximately 15 minutes before each match and as instructed by an official,photographers come to the centre of the touch line where the teams will line-up for the team group photographing; however, you must not enter the field of play. Immediately after the coin toss, photographers shall disperse to their respective working positions and not stop to take pictures of the team officials or players on the bench.

• Oncethegamestartsyoumustshootfrombehindeithergoal.Photographersarerequiredto stand behind advertising boards and will not be allowed to change sides until half-time, the end of regulation time, or the start of extra time as instructed by Local Media Officer. In addition, when it is possible to change the side, photographers should pass along the far side of the pitch, behind the advertising boards. Under no circumstances will photographers be allowed to shoot from either touchline during the match.

• Nootheraccreditedphotographersareallowedinthespectatorstands.

• Attheendofeachhalf,Photographersshall remainbehindtheir respectivegoal linetillplayers have exited from the field.

• Afterthematch,youmayreturntothetouchlinetocoverawardspresentation(ifnecessary,but you must not enter the field of play.

• The coaches of the two teams will attend a press conference that will commenceimmediately after the match. Official Photographers are invited to attend only unless Local Media Officer allows accredited photographers into the press conference room. At the press conference room, photographers must stand near the back of the room not to interrupt TV camera angles and journalists’ view to head table.

• TheOfficialPhotographermayworkatapositiondesignatedbyLocalMediaOfficer,butshould not move during the game

Anyone who does not follow these rules will be escorted out from the stadium and may have their accreditation taken away for further matches at AFC Champions League matches. If you are not sure of where you should shoot please contact Local Media Officer on site. Thank you for your co-operation.

USEFUL CONTACTS


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Useful Contacts

ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION

AFC House, Jalan 1/155B, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 8994 3388 (Hunting Line) Fax - +603-8994-4970 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.the-afc.com

Member Associations

AUSTRALIAFootball Federation Australia (FFA)Locked bag A4071,Sydney South, NSW 1235,Australia Tel: +61 2 8020 4000 Fax: +61 2 8020 4100 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.footballaustralia.com.au

CHINAChinese Football Association (CFA) Building A, Dongjiudasha, Xizhaosi Road, Chongwen District, Beijing 100061, China PR Tel: +86 10 5929 1031 Fax: +86 10 5929 0309 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.fa.org.cn (Chinese only)

IRANIR Iran Football Federation (IRIFF)No. 4, Third St, Seoul Ave,Tehran 19958-73591, Iran Tel: +98 21 8821 3308 Fax: +98 21 8821 3302 E-mail: [email protected]: www.ffiri.ir

JAPANJapan Football Association (JFA)JFA House, Football Ave, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo 113-8311, Japan Tel: +81 3 3830 2004 Fax: +81 3 3830 2005 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.jfa.or.jp

KOREA REPUBLICKorea Football Association (KFA)1-131 Sinmunno, 2-ga, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-062, Korea Republic Tel: +82 2 737 7538 Fax: +82 2 739 4093 / +82 2 735 2755E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kfa.or.kr

QATARQatar Football Association (QFA)7th Floor, QNOC Tower,PO Box 5333, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 494 4411 Fax: +974 494 4414 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.qfa.com.qa

SAUDI ARABIASaudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)Al Mather Quarter, Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Street, PO Box 5844, Riyadh 11432, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaTel: +966 1 482 2240 Fax: +966 1 482 1215 E-mail: [email protected]: www.thesaff.com.sa

THAILANDFootball Association of Thailand (FAT)Supachalasai National Stadium, Gate 3, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Tel: +66 2 216 4691 Fax: +66 2 215 4494 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.fat.or.th

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Member Associations

UAEUnited Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) P.O. Box 916, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 2 444 5600 Fax: +971 2 444 8558 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.uaefa.ae

UZBEKISTANUzbekistan Football Federation (UFF)Massiv Almazar, Furkat Street 15/1, Tashkent 700 003, Uzbekistan Tel: +998 71 244 1684 Fax: +998 71 244 1683 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.the-uff.com

For more information relating to the commercial and broadcast rights of the AFC Champions League, please contact any of the offices below.

Marketing enquiries: Simon Thompson [email protected] Tel: +852 23308292

Broadcast enquiries: Mayank Atreya [email protected] Tel: +65 68262688

SINGAPORE 8 Shenton Way, #30-01 Temasek Tower, Singapore 068811Tel: +65 6826 2688Fax: +65 6826 2680

HONG KONG Suite 2505, 25F, Great Eagle Centre, 23 Harbour Road,Wanchai, Hong Kong SAR, China Tel: +852 2330 8292Fax: +852 2572 9187

BEIRUT President Elias Sarkis Avenue, Parktower Suites Bifurcation, Bloc B, 2nd Floor, Ashrafieh, Lebanon Tel: +961 1 210 100Fax: +961 1 210 200

AFC Club Competitions Dept: Shahin Rahmani

Editor:Colin Pereira

Design & Page Layouts:Yuvanesh

Henry Khor Kok Hean

Photos: World Sport GroupFIFA/Getty Images

Galvin Tan

Contributors: Alisher Nikimbaev, Avazbek Berdikulov,

Lee Seunghun, Masahiro Sugiyama.

AFC Marketing Dept:Yong Chul Yun

Documents

Acl 2012