2007 AFC Champions League

2007 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates 07 Mar 2007 - 14 Nov 2007
Teams 28
Final positions
Champions Japan Urawa Red Diamonds (1st title)
Runners-up Iran Sepahan
Third place South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Tournament statistics
Matches played 92
Goals scored 230 (2.5 per match)
Top scorer(s) Brazil Mota (7 goals)
Best player Japan Yuichiro Nagai
(Urawa Red Diamonds)

The 2007 AFC Champions League was the 26th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 5th edition under the current AFC Champions League title.

Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds became champions for the first time, beating Sepahan of Iran and becoming the fourth Japanese club to win the Asian championship, and qualifed for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup.

Participating clubs

Along with the defending champion, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, 28 other clubs from fourteen countries qualified based on performance in domestic league and cup competitions. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors entered the competition at the quarter-finals.

The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur on December 22, allocating teams into seven groups. In February, the AFC disqualified Esteghlal Tehran from Group B for failing to register their players in time.[1] This reduced the number of competing teams to 28.

Defending Champions (1)
South Korea Korea Republic (1) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2006 AFC Champions League winners)
East Asia & ASEAN (12)
Australia Australia (2) Adelaide United (2005–06 A-League premiers)
Sydney FC (2006 A-League Grand Final winners)
China China (2) Shandong Luneng Taishan (2006 Chinese Super League champions and 2006 Chinese FA Cup winners)
Shanghai Shenhua (2006 Chinese Super League runners-up)
Indonesia Indonesia (2) Persik Kediri (2006 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions)
Arema Malang (2006 Copa Indonesia winners)
Japan Japan (2) Urawa Red Diamonds (2006 J. League Division 1 champions and 2006–07 Emperor's Cup winners)
Kawasaki Frontale (2006 J. League Division 1 runners-up)
South Korea Korea Republic (2) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (2006 K-League champions)
Chunnam Dragons (2006 Korean FA Cup winners)
Thailand Thailand (1) Bangkok University FC (2006 Thailand Premier League champions)
Vietnam Vietnam (1) Gach Dong Tam Long An (2006 V-League champions)
Central & South Asia and West Asia (16) (15)
Iran Iran (2) (1) Esteghlal (2005–06 Iran Pro League champions)
Sepahan (2005–06 Hazfi Cup winners)
Iraq Iraq (2) Al-Zawraa (2005–06 Iraqi Premier League champions)
Najaf FC (2005–06 Iraqi Premier League runners-up)
Kuwait Kuwait (2) Al Kuwait (2005–06 Kuwaiti Premier League champions)
Al-Arabi (2006 Kuwait Emir Cup winners)
Qatar Qatar (2) Al Sadd (2005–06 Qatar Stars League champions)
Al-Rayyan (2006 Emir of Qatar Cup winners)
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (2) Al-Shabab (2005–06 Saudi Premier League champions)
Al-Hilal (2005–06 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners)
Syria Syria (2) Al-Karamah (2005–06 Syrian League champions)
Al-Ittihad (2005–06 Syrian Cup winners)
United Arab Emirates UAE (2) Al-Wahda (2005–06 UAE Football League runners-up)
Al Ain (2005–06 UAE Emir Cup winners)
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (2) Pakhtakor (2006 Uzbek League champions and 2006 Uzbekistani Cup winners)
Neftchi (2006 Uzbek League runners-up)

Format

Group Stage

A total of 28 clubs were divided into 7 groups of four, based on region i.e. East Asian and Southeast Asian clubs were drawn in groups E to G, while the rest were grouped in groups A to D. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order:

The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.

Knockout Round

All eight clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were conducted in 2 legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the match winner. If the aggregate score couldn't produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where "away goals rule" still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.

Group stage

Group matches were scheduled to be played over match days on March 7, March 21, April 11, April 25, May 9 and May 23, 2007.

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 6411136+713
Iraq Al-Zawraa 632196+311
Kuwait Al-Arabi 62131012–27
Qatar Al-Rayyan 6024311–82

March 7, 2007
Al-Rayyan Qatar 0–1 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
(Report) Mohamed al-Shehhi  81'
Al Rayyan Sports Club, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Yang Zhiqiang (China)

March 21, 2007
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates 4–1 Kuwait Al-Arabi
Mamadou Bagayoko  40'  56' (pen.)
Saleh Al Menhali  63'
Bashir Saeed  68'
(Report) Mohamed Jarragh  35'

April 11, 2007
Al-Arabi Kuwait 1–1 Qatar Al-Rayyan
Jarrah Al Zuhair  60' (Report) Adel Lamy  52'
Sabah Al Salem Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Attendance: 7,300
Referee: Naser Al-Ghafary (Jordan)

April 25, 2007
Al-Rayyan Qatar 1–3 Kuwait Al-Arabi
Thiago Ribeiro  44' (report) Khaled Khalaf  25'
Firas Al Khatib  63', 69'
Al Rayyan Sports Club, Doha, Qatar
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Ali Al Mutlaq (Saudi Arabia)

May 9, 2007
Al-Zawraa Iraq 3–2 Kuwait Al-Arabi
Wissam Kadhim  21'
Ahmad Ibrahim  70'
Nawaf Falah  78'
(Report) Firas Al Khatib  50', 84'

May 23, 2007
Al-Arabi Kuwait 3–2 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Khaled Abd Al Kudos  6'
Khaled Khalaf  55'
Jarrah Al Zuhair  87'
(Report) Saeed Salem  23'
Yaser Matar  90'

May 23, 2007
Al-Rayyan Qatar 1–3 Iraq Al-Zawraa
Saoud Khames  75' (Report) Salman Mesbeh  13' (o.g.)
Abdul-Salam Abood  26'
Haidar Sabah  34'

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 422051+48
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 420235–26
Kuwait Al Kuwait 402224–22
Iran Esteghlal (*) 00000000

(*) Esteghlal was disqualified for failing to submit their players list in time.



April 11, 2007
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan 0–2 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
(Report) Omar Al-Ghamdi  54'
Rodrigão  59'
Army Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Junjie Huang (China)

April 25, 2007
Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia 2–0 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Rodrigão  30'  90' (pen.) (report)


Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Syria Al-Karamah 6321117+411
Uzbekistan Neftchi 631267–110
Iraq Najaf FC 622298+18
Qatar Al Sadd 6114610–44

March 7, 2007
Al-Karamah Syria 2–1 Qatar Al Sadd
Senghor Koupouleni  70'
Abdalrahman Akkari  85'
(Report) Magid Mohamed  22'
Khaled bin Walid Stadium, Homs, Syria
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Madhad Saif Al Badwawi (United Arab Emirates)

March 7, 2007
Najaf FC Iraq 0–1 Uzbekistan Neftchi
(Report) Kholmatov  71'
Sabah Al Salem Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Hedayat Mombini (Iran)

March 21, 2007
Al Sadd Qatar 1–4 Iraq Najaf FC
Talal Al Bloushi  45' (Report) Aqeel Mohammed  47'
Saeed Mohsen  55'  86' (pen.)
Karrar Jassim  70'
Al Sadd Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)

April 11, 2007
Al Sadd Qatar 2–0 Uzbekistan Neftchi
Khalfan Ibrahim  65'
Emerson  75'
(Report)
Al Sadd Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Tan Hai (China)

April 11, 2007
Al Karamah Syria 1–1 Iraq Najaf FC
Fahd Awde  90' (pen.) (Report) Falah Hasan Kadhim  71'
Khaled bin Walid Stadium, Homs, Syria
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Jasim Karim (Bahrain)

April 25, 2007
Najaf FC Iraq 2–4 Syria Al-Karamah
Saeed Mohsen  7' (pen.)
Qassim Faraj  86' (pen.)
(Report) Jehad Al Hussein  46', 52'
Fahd Awde  50'
Senghor Koupouleni  65'

April 25, 2007
Neftchi Uzbekistan 2–1 Qatar Al Sadd
Iqboljon Akramov  1'
Nasim Shoimov  41'
(Report) Emerson  17'
Fargona Stadium, Fergana, Uzbekistan
Attendance: 14,600
Referee: Kazuhiko Matsumura (Japan)

May 9, 2007
Al Sadd Qatar 1–1 Syria Al-Karamah
Ali Nasser  16' (Report) Iyad Mando  44'
Al Sadd Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Chaiwat Kunsuta (Thailand)

May 9, 2007
Neftchi Uzbekistan 1–1 Iraq Najaf FC
Kholmatov  43' (Report) Ali Mohammed  60'
Fargona Stadium, Fergana, Uzbekistan
Attendance: 16,000

May 23, 2007
Al-Karamah Syria 2–0 Uzbekistan Neftchi
Iyad Mando  12', 50' (Report)
Khaled bin Walid Stadium, Homs, Syria
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Ali Al Mutlaq (Saudi Arabia)

May 23, 2007
Najaf FC Iraq 1–0 Qatar Al Sadd
Saeed Mohsen  78' (Report)
Sabah Al Salem Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Referee: Salem Mahmoud Mugjhef (Jordan)

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Iran Sepahan 6411125+713
Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 631293+610
United Arab Emirates Al Ain 613258–36
Syria Al-Ittihad 6033313103

March 7, 2007
Sepahan Iran 2–1 Syria Al-Ittihad
Mehdi Seyed Salehi  19', 29' (Report) Anas Sari  12'

March 21, 2007
Al-Ittihad Syria 0–0 United Arab Emirates Al Ain
(Report)
Al-Hamadaniah Stadium, Aleppo, Syria
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Alaa Abdul-Kadir Nema (Iraq)

April 11, 2007
Al-Shabab Saudi Arabia 4–0 Syria Al-Ittihad
Abdullah Al Dosari  35', 48'
Naji Majrashi  60' (pen.)
Waleed Al-Gizanii  79'
(Report)

April 11, 2007
Al Ain United Arab Emirates 3–2 Iran Sepahan
Ali Al-Wehaibi  6'
Msalam Faiez  44'
Frank Ongfiang  84'
(Report) Mehdi Seyed Salehi  8'
Emad Mohammed  65'
Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain, UAE
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Chaiwat Kunsuta (Thailand)

April 25, 2007
Sepahan Iran 1–1 United Arab Emirates Al Ain
Hossein Papi  49' (Report) Hawar Mulla Mohammed  86'
Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan, Iran
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Mark Shield (Australia)

May 9, 2007
Al-Shabab Saudi Arabia 2–0 United Arab Emirates Al Ain
Abdullah Al Astaa  59'
Waleed Al-Gizani  88'
(Report)

May 23, 2007
Al Ain United Arab Emirates 1–1 Syria Al-Ittihad
Ghareeb Hareb  53' (Report) Anas Sari  90'
Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain, UAE
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Huang Junjie (China)

Group E

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 624095+410
Australia Sydney FC 623185+39
Indonesia Persik Kediri 6213616107
China Shanghai Shenhua 612374+35

March 21, 2007
Persik Kediri Indonesia 1–0 China Shanghai Shenhua
Bertha Yuana Putra  71' (Report)
Manahan Stadium, Surakarta, Indonesia
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Abdulhameed Ebrahim (Bahrain)

April 12, 2007
Persik Kediri Indonesia 2–1 Australia Sydney FC
Aris Budi Prasetyo  25'
Budi Sudarsono  70'
(Report) Steve Corica  8'

April 25, 2007
Shanghai Shenhua China 0–0 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
(Report)
Yuanshen Stadium, Shanghai, China
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Mahmood Al Ghatrifi (Oman)

April 25, 2007
Sydney FC Australia 3–0 Indonesia Persik Kediri
Steve Corica  54', 90'
Alex Brosque  73'
(Report)
Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 10,075
Referee: Minh Tri Vo (Vietnam)

May 9, 2007
Sydney FC Australia 0–0 China Shanghai Shenhua
(Report 1 2)
Aussie Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Attendance: 14,786
Referee: Abdul Bashir (Singapore)

May 23, 2007
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan 0–0 Australia Sydney FC
(Report)
Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan
Attendance: 44,793
Referee: Fareed Al-Marzouqi (United Arab Emirates)

Group F

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 6510154+1116
South Korea Chunnam Dragons 631278–110
Indonesia Arema Malang 611429–74
Thailand Bangkok University 603347–33

March 7, 2007
Arema Malang Indonesia 1–3 Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Elie Aiboy  12' (Report) Magnum  1', 73'
Kengo Nakamura  82'
Gajayana Stadium, Malang, Indonesia
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Naser Al-Ghafary (Jordan)

March 21, 2007
Chunnam Dragons South Korea 2–0 Indonesia Arema Malang
Kim Tae-Su  48'
Sandro Cardoso  82'
(Report)
Gwang-Yang Stadium, Gwangyang, South Korea
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Huang Junjie (China)

April 11, 2007
Bangkok University Thailand 0–0 Indonesia Arema Malang
(Report)
Royal Thai Army Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Kadyrbek Chynybekov (Kyrgyzstan)


May 9, 2007
Chunnam Dragons South Korea 3–2 Thailand Bangkok University
Kim Seung-Hyun  28'
Song Tae-Lim  79', 90'
(Report) Kittisak Siriwaen  11'
Kraisorn Pancharoen  39'
Gwang-Yang Stadium, Gwangyang, South Korea
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Abdul Neman

May 23, 2007
Arema Malang Indonesia 0–1 South Korea Chunnam Dragons
(Report) Ju Kwang-Youn  47'
Gajayana Stadium, Malang, Indonesia
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Mahmood Al Ghatrifi (Oman)

Group G

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 6411136+713
China Shandong Luneng Taishan 6411128+413
Australia Adelaide United 622296+38
Vietnam Gach Dong Tam Long An 6006418140

March 7, 2007
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma South Korea 4–1 Vietnam Gach Dong Tam Long An
Mota  9'  69' (pen.)
Kim Dong Hyun  70'
Adrian Neaga  81'
(Report) Kabanga Tshamala  87'
Seongnam 2 Stadium, Seongnam, South Korea
Attendance: 300
Referee: Dilovarshokh Orzuev (Tajikistan)



April 25, 2007
Gach Dong Tam Long An Vietnam 2–3 China Shandong Luneng Taishan
Kabanga Tshamala  14'
Nguyễn Việt Thắng  36'
(Report) Wang Yongpo  29'
Li Jinyu  49', 90'
Long An Stadium, Tân An, Vietnam
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Mohamed Al Saeedi (United Arab Emirates)


May 23, 2007
Adelaide United Australia 3–0 Vietnam Gach Dong Tam Long An
Travis Dodd  7', 22', 49' (Report)
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia
Attendance: 6,917
Referee: Abdul Bashir (Singapore)

Knock-out stage

Bracket

  Quarter finals Semi-finals Final
                                 
 Iran Sepahan (p) 0 0 0 (5)  
 Japan Kawasaki Frontale 0 0 0 (4)  
   Iran Sepahan 3 0 3  
   United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 1 0 1  
 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda (a) 0 1 1
   Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0 1 1  
     Iran Sepahan 1 0 1
   Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 1 2 3
   South Korea Seognam Ilhwa Chunma 2 2 4  
 Syria Al-Karamah 1 0 1  
 South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 2 2 4 (3)
   Japan Urawa Red Diamonds (p) 2 2 4 (5)  
 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2 2 4
   South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(2006 Champion)
1 0 1  

Quarter-finals

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Sepahan Iran 0–0 (5–4p) Japan Kawasaki Frontale 0–0 0–0 (a.e.t.)
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates 1–1 (a) Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–0 1–1
Seognam Ilhwa Chunma South Korea 4–1 Syria Al-Karamah 2–1 2–0
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan 4–1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(2006 Champion)
2–1 2–0

First leg


19 September 2007
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates 0–0 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Report
Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Abdullah Balideh (Qatar)

19 September 2007
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma South Korea 2–1 Syria Al-Karamah
Kim Min-Ho  72'
Cho Byung-Kuk  74'
Report Senghor Koupouleni  9'
Seongnam 2 Stadium, Seongnam, South Korea
Attendance: 1,300
Referee: Hedayat Mombini (Iran)

19 September 2007
Urawa Red Diamonds Japan 2–1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Makoto Hasebe  4'
Tatsuya Tanaka  59'
Report Choi Jin-cheul  90'
Saitama Stadium, Saitama, Japan
Attendance: 33,103
Referee: Salem Mahmoud Mujghef (Jordan)

Second leg





Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Sepahan Iran 3–1 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 3–1 0–0
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma South Korea 4–4 (3–5p) Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 2–2 2–2 (a.e.t.)

First leg


3 October 2007
Sepahan Iran 3–1 United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Mahmoud Karimi  11', 58'
Moharram Navidkia  85' (pen.)
Report Mohamed Al Shehhi  48'
Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan, Iran
Referee: Abdul Bashir (Singapore)

Second leg


24 October 2007
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates 0–0 Iran Sepahan
Report
Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)


Final

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Sepahan Iran 1–3 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 1–1 0–2

First leg

Second leg


Winners

AFC Champions League
2007 Winners

Urawa Red Diamonds
1st Title

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Brazil Mota South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 7
2 South Korea Kim Dong Hyun South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 5
Iran Mehdi Seyed Salehi Iran Sepahan
4 Brazil Rodrigão Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 4
Syria Firas Al Khatib Kuwait Al-Arabi
Iraq Saeed Mohsen Iraq Najaf FC
Australia Steve Corica Australia Sydney FC
Australia Travis Dodd Australia Adelaide United
Brazil Robson Ponte Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
10 Brazil Magnum Japan Kawasaki Frontale 3
Brazil Juninho Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Japan Kengo Nakamura Japan Kawasaki Frontale
China Wang Yongpo China Shandong Luneng Taishan
China Li Jinyu China Shandong Luneng Taishan
Iraq Emad Mohammed Iran Sepahan
Iran Mahmoud Karimi Iran Sepahan
Mali Mamadou Bagayoko United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Saudi Arabia Waleed Al-Gizani Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
Uruguay Diego Alonso China Shanghai Shenhua
Brazil Fernando Australia Adelaide United
Syria Iyad Mando Syria Al-Karamah
Senegal Senghor Koupouleni Syria Al-Karamah
Japan Tatsuya Tanaka Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Japan Yuichiro Nagai Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
Japan Yuki Abe Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
South Korea Choi Sung-Kuk South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma

See also

External links

References

  1. "Esteghlal disqualified from AFC League". PressTV. 26 February 2007.
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