2011 AFC Champions League

2011 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates 12 Feb 2011 – 05 Nov 2011
Teams 36 (from 13 associations)
Final positions
Champions Qatar Al-Sadd (2nd title)
Runners-up South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Third place South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad Jeddah
Tournament statistics
Matches played 120
Goals scored 336 (2.8 per match)
Attendance 1,294,388 (10,787 per match)
Top scorer(s) South Korea Lee Dong-Gook
(9 goals)
Best player South Korea Lee Dong-Gook

The 2011 AFC Champions League was the 30th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 9th under the current AFC Champions League title. The winner, Al-Sadd qualified for the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Allocation of entries per association

The AFC has approved criteria for participation in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.[1] The final decision date was set after the Executive Committee meeting in November 2010.[2]

On 30 November 2009, the AFC announced 12 more MA's that were keen to join the ACL, in addition to ten participating national associations. Singapore later withdrew. The full list of candidate associations were as follows:

East Asia
West Asia

Note: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and India have clubs taking part in play-offs to qualify for the group stages of ACL in 2010.

Entrants per association

The allocation for entry to the 2011 ACL stayed the same as the previous two seasons with the exception of Vietnam who were disqualifed and their previous playoff slot was awarded to Qatar.[4]

West Asia
Member
Association
Clubs Spots
Group stage Play-off AFC Cup
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia14400
Iran Iran18400
United Arab Emirates UAE12310
Qatar Qatar12210
Uzbekistan Uzbekistan14202
India India14011
Iraq Iraq36003
Jordan Jordan12002
Oman Oman12002
Yemen Yemen14002
Pakistan Pakistan16000
State of Palestine Palestine22000
Tajikistan Tajikistan10000
Meet the criteria
Do not meet the criteria

East Asia
Member
Association
Clubs Spots
Group stage Play-off AFC Cup
Japan Japan18400
South Korea Korea Republic15*400
China China PR16400
Australia Australia9+1**200
Indonesia Indonesia18111
Thailand Thailand18011
Vietnam Vietnam14002
Singapore Singapore12001
Malaysia Malaysia14000
Myanmar Myanmar12000

* One of the K-League clubs, Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, is unable to qualify for the ACL because the team is not a commercial entity and their players are not professionally contracted.[4]

** One of the A-League clubs, Wellington Phoenix, is based in New Zealand, an OFC member country. They are unable to qualify for the ACL.[5]

The finalists of the 2010 AFC Cup also participated in the play-off, provided that they meet the Champions League criteria.

Qualifying teams

The following is the list of direct entrants for the group stage confirmed by the AFC.[6]

Group stage direct entrants: West Asia (Groups A–D)
Team Qualifying method App* Last App
Iran Sepahan 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup champions 7th 2010
Iran Persepolis 2009–10 Hazfi Cup winners 3rd 2009
Iran Zob Ahan 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup runners-up 3rd 2010
Iran Esteghlal 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup 3rd place 4th 2010
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 2009–10 Saudi Professional League champions 7th 2010
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad Jeddah 2009–10 Saudi Professional League runners-up
2010 King Cup of Champions winners
7th 2010
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 2009–10 Saudi Professional League 3rd place 1st none
Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 2009–10 Saudi Professional League 4th place 6th 2010
United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 2009–10 UAE Premier League champions 6th 2010
United Arab Emirates Emirates 2009–10 UAE President's Cup winners 1st none
United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 2009–10 UAE Premier League runners-up 3rd 2010
Qatar Al-Gharafa 2009–10 Qatar Stars League champions 6th 2010
Qatar Al-Rayyan 2010 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 3rd 2007
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 2010 Uzbek League champions
2010 Uzbekistan Cup winners
4th 2010
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 2010 Uzbek League runners-up 9th 2010

Group stage direct entrants: East Asia (Groups E–H)
Team Qualifying method App* Last App
Japan Nagoya Grampus 2010 J. League Division 1 champions 2nd 2009
Japan Kashima Antlers 2010 Emperor's Cup winners 5th 2010
Japan Gamba Osaka 2010 J. League Division 1 runners-up 5th 2010
Japan Cerezo Osaka 2010 J. League Division 1 3rd place 1st none
China Shandong Luneng Taishan 2010 Chinese Super League champions 5th 2010
China Tianjin Teda 2010 Chinese Super League runners-up 2nd 2009
China Shanghai Shenhua 2010 Chinese Super League 3rd place 6th 2009
China Hangzhou Greentown 2010 Chinese Super League 4th place 1st none
South Korea FC Seoul 2010 K-League champions 2nd 2009
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2010 Korean FA Cup winners 4th 2010
South Korea Jeju United 2010 K-League runners-up 1st none
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2010 K-League 3rd place 5th 2010
Australia Sydney FC 2009–10 A-League premiers
2010 A-League Grand Final winners
2nd 2007
Australia Melbourne Victory 2009–10 A-League regular season runners-up 3rd 2010
Indonesia Arema 2009–10 Indonesia Super League champions 2nd 2007

* Number of appearances (including qualifying rounds) since the 2002/03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League

The following is the list of participants for the playoff stage confirmed by the AFC.[7] The committee further proposed that one team be shifted by the means of a draw from the West to the East for sake of balance.

Qualifying play-off participants: West Asia
Team Qualifying method App* Last App
India Dempo 2009–10 I-League champions 2nd 2009
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 2009–10 UAE Premier League 3rd place 7th 2010
Syria Al-Ittihad 2010 AFC Cup winners 5th 2008
Qatar Al-Sadd 2009–10 Qatar Stars League runners-up 8th 2010

Qualifying play-off participants: East Asia
Team Qualifying method App* Last App
Indonesia Sriwijaya 2010 Piala Indonesia winners 3rd 2010
Thailand Muangthong United 2010 Thai Premier League champions 2nd 2010

Schedule

Schedule of dates for 2011 competition.[8]

Phase Round Draw date First leg Second leg
Qualifying play-offs Semi-finals 7 December 2010
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)[9]
12–13 February 2011
Finals 19 February 2011
Group stage Matchday 1 1–2 March 2011
Matchday 2 15–16 March 2011
Matchday 3 5–6 April 2011
Matchday 4 19–20 April 2011
Matchday 5 3–4 May 2011
Matchday 6 10–11 May 2011
Knockout phase Round of 16 24–25 May 2011
Quarter-finals 7 June 2011
(Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)[10]
14 September 2011 27–28 September 2011
Semi-finals 19 October 2011 26 October 2011
Final 4 or 5 November 2011 at home of one of the finalists

Qualifying play-off

The draw for the qualifying play-off was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.[11] In order to create balance another draw was held, moving one of the teams (Al-Ain) from the West into the East side of the play-offs.[12]

The two winners from the qualifying play-off (one from West Asia and one from East Asia) advanced to the group stage. All losers from the qualifying play-off entered the 2011 AFC Cup group stage.[13]

West Asia

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Semi-final
Al-Sadd Qatar 5–1 Syria Al-Ittihad
Final
Al-Sadd Qatar 2–0 India Dempo

East Asia

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Semi-final
Sriwijaya Indonesia 2–2
(aet)(7–6p)
Thailand Muangthong United
Final
Sriwijaya Indonesia 0–4 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.[11][14] Clubs from the same country may not be drawn into the same group.[12] The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the knockout stage.[13]

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Iran Sepahan 6411145+913
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 6411116+513
Qatar Al-Gharafa 62136717
United Arab Emirates Al-Jazira 6015720131
  GHA HIL JAZ SEP
Al-Gharafa 0–1 5–2 1–0
Al-Hilal 2–0 3–1 1–2
Al-Jazira 0–0 2–3 1–4
Sepahan 2–0 1–1 5–1
Tiebreakers[13]

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Qatar Al-Sadd 624086+210
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 6222107+38
Iran Esteghlal 62221110+18
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 612381465
  NAS SAD EST PAK
Al-Nassr 1–1 2–1 4–0
Al-Sadd 1–0 2–2 2–1
Esteghlal 2–1 1–1 4–2
Pakhtakor 2–2 1–1 2–1
Tiebreakers[13]

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad Jeddah 6321105+511
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 623186+29
United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 61326826
Iran Persepolis 612361155
  ITT WAH BUN PER
Al-Ittihad 0–0 1–1 3–1
Al-Wahda 0–3 1–1 2–0
Bunyodkor 0–1 3–2 0–0
Persepolis 3–2 1–1 1–3

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Iran Zob Ahan 641173+413
Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 632184+411
United Arab Emirates Emirates 620461046
Qatar Al-Rayyan 61144844
  RAY SHA EMI ZOB
Al-Rayyan 1–1 2–0 1–3
Al-Shabab 1–0 4–1 0–0
Emirates 2–0 2–1 0–1
Zob Ahan 1–0 0–1 2–1

Group E

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Japan Gamba Osaka 6312137+610
China Tianjin Teda 631286+210
South Korea Jeju United 621361047
Australia Melbourne Victory 613271146
  GAM JEJ MEL TIA
Gamba Osaka 3–1 5–1 2–0
Jeju United 2–1 1–1 0–1
Melbourne Victory 1–1 1–2 2–1
Tianjin Teda 2–1 3–0 1–1
Tiebreakers[13]

Group F

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
South Korea FC Seoul 632194+511
Japan Nagoya Grampus 631296+310
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 62134957
China Hangzhou Greentown 61233635
  AIN HAN NAG SEO
Al-Ain 1–0 3–1 0–1
Hangzhou Greentown 0–0 2–0 1–1
Nagoya Grampus 4–0 1–0 1–1
FC Seoul 3–0 3–0 0–2

Group G

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6501142+1215
Japan Cerezo Osaka 6402114+712
China Shandong Luneng 621398+17
Indonesia Arema 6015222201
  ARE CER JEO SHL
Arema 0–4 0–4 1–1
Cerezo Osaka 2–1 1–0 4–0
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6–0 1–0 1–0
Shandong Luneng 5–0 2–0 1–2

Group H

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 6330123+912
Japan Kashima Antlers 633093+612
Australia Sydney FC 612361155
China Shanghai Shenhua 6024313102
  KSH SHS SUW SYD
Kashima Antlers 2–0 1–1 2–1
Shanghai Shenhua 0–0 0–3 2–3
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–1 4–0 3–1
Sydney FC 0–3 1–1 0–0
Tiebreakers[13]

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Based on the results from the group stage, the matchups of the round of 16 were decided as below.[15] Each tie was played as one match, hosted by the winners of each group (Team 1) against the runners-up of another group (Team 2).[12]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
Sepahan Iran 3–1 Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Al-Ittihad Jeddah Saudi Arabia 3–1 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Al-Sadd Qatar 1–0 Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab
Zob Ahan Iran 4–1 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Gamba Osaka Japan 0–1 Japan Cerezo Osaka
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea 3–0 China Tianjin Teda
FC Seoul South Korea 3–0 Japan Kashima Antlers
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea 2–0 Japan Nagoya Grampus

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 June 2011.[16] In this draw, the "country protection" rule was applied: if there are exactly two clubs from the same country, they may not face each other in the quarter-finals; however, if there are more than two clubs from the same country, they may face each other in the quarter-finals.

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Cerezo Osaka Japan 5–9 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4–3 1–6
Al-Ittihad Jeddah Saudi Arabia 3–2 South Korea FC Seoul 3–1 0–1
Sepahan Iran 2–4 Qatar Al-Sadd 0–31 2–1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea 3–2 Iran Zob Ahan 1–1 2–1 (aet)
Notes

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea 1–2 Qatar Al-Sadd 0–2 1–0
Al-Ittihad Jeddah Saudi Arabia 3–5 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–3 1–2

Final

The final of the 2011 AFC Champions League was hosted by one of the finalists, decided by draw.[13] This format was a change from the 2009 and 2010 editions, where the final was played at a neutral venue.[18]

Winners

AFC Champions League
2011 Winners
Qatar
Al-Sadd
Second Title

Awards

The following awards were given for the 2011 AFC Champions League:[19]

Top scorers

Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.

Rank Player Club MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 R16 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F Total
1 South Korea Lee Dong-Gook South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 2 2 4 9
2 Brazil Eninho South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 1 1 2 1 7
3 South Korea Ha Tae-Gyun South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3 1 2 6
4 Kuwait Bader Al-Mutawa Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr 1 2 1 1 5
Iran Farhad Majidi Iran Esteghlal 1 1 2 1 5
Montenegro Dejan Damjanović South Korea FC Seoul 1 1 2 1 5
Senegal Ibrahima Touré Iran Sepahan 1 1 2 1 5
8 Saudi Arabia Yasser Al-Qahtani Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1 2 1 4
Algeria Abdelmalek Ziaya Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2 1 1 4
Japan Hiroshi Kiyotake Japan Cerezo Osaka 1 1 2 4
Japan Takashi Inui Japan Cerezo Osaka 1 2 1 4
Brazil Rodrigo Pimpão Japan Cerezo Osaka 2 1 1 4
South Korea Yeom Ki-Hun South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1 1 1 1 4
Brazil Igor Castro Iran Zob Ahan 1 1 2 4
Iran Mohammad Ghazi Iran Zob Ahan 1 1 1 1 4

See also

References

External links

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