2011 AFC Champions League

2011 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates 12 February – 5 November 2011
Teams 36 (from 13 associations)
Final positions
Champions Al-Sadd (2nd title)
Runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai
Tournament statistics
Matches played 121
Goals scored 339 (2.8 per match)
Top scorer(s) Lee Dong-Gook
(9 goals)
Best player Lee Dong-Gook
← 2010
2012 →

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 SC qualified for the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

Contents

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 14 4 0 0
Iran 18 4 0 0
UAE 12 3 1 0
Qatar 12 2 1 0
Uzbekistan 14 2 0 2
India 14 0 1 1
Iraq 36 0 0 3
Jordan 12 0 0 2
Oman 12 0 0 2
Yemen 14 0 0 2
Pakistan 16 0 0 0
Palestine 22 0 0 0
Tajikistan 10 0 0 0
Meet the criteria
Do not meet the criteria
East Asia
Member
Association		 Clubs Spots
Group stage Play-off AFC Cup
Japan 18 4 0 0
Korea Republic 15* 4 0 0
China PR 16 4 0 0
Australia 9+1** 2 0 0
Indonesia 18 1 1 1
Thailand 18 0 1 1
Vietnam 14 0 0 2
Singapore 12 0 0 1
Malaysia 14 0 0 0
Myanmar 12 0 0 0

* 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
Sepahan 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup champions 7th 2010
Persepolis 2009–10 Hazfi Cup winners 3rd 2009
Zob Ahan 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup runners-up 3rd 2010
Esteghlal 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup 3rd place 4th 2010
Al-Hilal 2009–10 Saudi Professional League champions 7th 2010
Al-Ittihad 2009–10 Saudi Professional League runners-up
2010 King Cup of Champions winners		 7th 2010
Al-Nassr 2009–10 Saudi Professional League 3rd place 1st none
Al-Shabab 2009–10 Saudi Professional League 4th place 6th 2010
Al-Wahda 2009–10 UAE Premier League champions 6th 2010
Emirates 2009–10 UAE President's Cup winners 1st none
Al-Jazira 2009–10 UAE Premier League runners-up 3rd 2010
Al-Gharafa 2009–10 Qatar Stars League champions 6th 2010
Al-Rayyan 2010 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 3rd 2007
Bunyodkor 2010 Uzbek League champions
2010 Uzbekistan Cup winners		 4th 2010
Pakhtakor 2010 Uzbek League runners-up 9th 2010
Group stage direct entrants: East Asia (Groups E–H)
Team Qualifying method App* Last App
Nagoya Grampus 2010 J1 League champions 2nd 2009
Kashima Antlers 2010 Emperor's Cup winners 5th 2010
Gamba Osaka 2010 J1 League runners-up 5th 2010
Cerezo Osaka 2010 J1 League 3rd place 1st none
Shandong Luneng Taishan 2010 Chinese Super League champions 5th 2010
Tianjin Teda 2010 Chinese Super League runners-up 2nd 2009
Shanghai Shenhua 2010 Chinese Super League 3rd place 6th 2009
Hangzhou Greentown 2010 Chinese Super League 4th place 1st none
FC Seoul 2010 K-League champions 2nd 2009
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2010 Korean FA Cup winners 4th 2010
Jeju United 2010 K-League runners-up 1st none
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2010 K-League 3rd place 5th 2010
Sydney FC 2009–10 A-League champions
2009–10 A-League premiers		 2nd 2007
Melbourne Victory 2009–10 A-League runners-up 3rd 2010
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
Dempo 2009–10 I-League champions 2nd 2009
Al-Ain 2009–10 UAE Premier League 3rd place 7th 2010
Al-Ittihad 2010 AFC Cup winners 5th 2008
Al-Sadd 2009–10 Qatar Stars League runners-up 8th 2010
Qualifying play-off participants: East Asia
Team Qualifying method App* Last App
Sriwijaya 2010 Piala Indonesia winners 3rd 2011
Muangthong United 2010 Thai Premier League champions 2nd 2011

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

Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League 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 5–1 Al-Ittihad
Final
Al-Sadd 2–0 Dempo

East Asia

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

Group stage

Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League 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
Sepahan 6 4 1 1 14 5 +9 13
Al-Hilal 6 4 1 1 11 6 +5 13
Al-Gharafa 6 2 1 3 6 7 −1 7
Al-Jazira 6 0 1 5 7 20 −13 1
  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
Al-Sadd 6 2 4 0 8 6 +2 10
Al-Nassr 6 2 2 2 10 7 +3 8
Esteghlal 6 2 2 2 11 10 +1 8
Pakhtakor 6 1 2 3 8 14 −6 5
  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
Al-Ittihad 6 3 2 1 10 5 +5 11
Bunyodkor 6 2 3 1 8 6 +2 9
Al-Wahda 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6
Persepolis 6 1 2 3 6 11 −5 5
  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
Zob Ahan 6 4 1 1 7 3 +4 13
Al-Shabab 6 3 2 1 8 4 +4 11
Emirates 6 2 0 4 6 10 −4 6
Al-Rayyan 6 1 1 4 4 8 −4 4
  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
Gamba Osaka 6 3 1 2 13 7 +6 10
Tianjin Teda 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 10
Jeju United 6 2 1 3 6 10 −4 7
Melbourne Victory 6 1 3 2 7 11 −4 6
  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
FC Seoul 6 3 2 1 9 4 +5 11
Nagoya Grampus 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 10
Al-Ain 6 2 1 3 4 9 −5 7
Hangzhou Greentown 6 1 2 3 3 6 −3 5
  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
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 5 0 1 14 2 +12 15
Cerezo Osaka 6 4 0 2 11 4 +7 12
Shandong Luneng 6 2 1 3 9 8 +1 7
Arema 6 0 1 5 2 22 −20 1
  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
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 6 3 3 0 12 3 +9 12
Kashima Antlers 6 3 3 0 9 3 +6 12
Sydney FC 6 1 2 3 6 11 −5 5
Shanghai Shenhua 6 0 2 4 3 13 −10 2
  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

Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League 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 3–1 Bunyodkor
Al-Ittihad 3–1 Al-Hilal
Al-Sadd 1–0 Al-Shabab
Zob Ahan 4–1 Al-Nassr
Gamba Osaka 0–1 Cerezo Osaka
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3–0 Tianjin Teda
FC Seoul 3–0 Kashima Antlers
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2–0 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 5–9 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4–3 1–6
Al-Ittihad 3–2 FC Seoul 3–1 0–1
Sepahan 2–4 Al-Sadd 0–31 2–1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3–2 Zob Ahan 1–1 2–1 (aet)
Notes

Semi-finals

Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–2 Al-Sadd 0–2 1–0
Al-Ittihad 3–5 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–3 1–2

Final

Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League 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]

5 November 2011
19:00 UTC+09:00
 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 – 2 (a.e.t.) Al-Sadd Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Attendance: 41,805
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Eninho  17'
Lee Seung-Hyun  90+2'		 Report Sim Woo-Yeon  30' (o.g.)
Keïta  61'
  Penalties  
Eninho
Kim Dong-Chan
Park Won-Jae
Kim Sang-Sik		 2 – 4 Niang
Al Haidos
Lee Jung-Soo
Majid
Belhadj
2011 AFC Champions League
Winners
Al-Sadd
2nd Title

Awards

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

Top scorers

Rank Player Club MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 R16 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 0F0 Total
1 Lee Dong-Gook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1 2 2 4 9
2 Eninho Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 1 1 2 1 7
3 Ha Tae-Gyun Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3 1 2 6
4 Bader Al-Mutwa Al-Nassr 1 2 1 1 5
Farhad Majidi Esteghlal 1 1 2 1 5
Dejan Damjanović FC Seoul 1 1 2 1 5
Ibrahima Touré Sepahan 1 1 2 1 5
8 Yasser Al-Qahtani Al-Hilal 1 2 1 4
Abdelmalek Ziaya Al-Ittihad 2 1 1 4
Hiroshi Kiyotake Cerezo Osaka 1 1 2 4
Takashi Inui Cerezo Osaka 1 2 1 4
Rodrigo Pimpão Cerezo Osaka 2 1 1 4
Yeom Ki-Hun Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1 1 1 1 4
Igor Castro Zob Ahan 1 1 2 4
Mohammad Ghazi Zob Ahan 1 1 1 1 4

See also

References

  1. ^ "Criteria for Participation in AFC Club Competitions for 2011–2012 seasons" (PDF). AFC. http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf. 
  2. ^ "12 MAs keen to join ACL". AFC. 2009-11-30. http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/26192-12-mas-keen-to-join-acl. 
  3. ^ "Singapore seek to pull out of ACL". AFC. 2010-10-04. http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/30653-singapore-seek-to-pull-out-of-acl. 
  4. ^ a b c "ACL slots maintained". AFC. 2010-11-21. http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31468-acl-slots-maintained. 
  5. ^ "Ad-hoc Committee for Professional Clubs". AFC. 2010-07-27. http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/29884-afc-ad-hoc-committee-for-professional-clubs. 
  6. ^ "ACL, AFCC 2010 teams". AFC. 2010-11-29. http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/news/31593-acl-afcc-2010-teams. 
  7. ^ "AFC Competitions Committee". AFC. 2010-11-23. http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31494-afc-competitions-committee-meeting. 
  8. ^ "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2011" (PDF). AFC. http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/2010/compcalendar2011.pdf. 
  9. ^ "ACL, AFCC 2011 draws". AFC. 2010-10-11. http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/30845-acl-afcc-2011-draws. Retrieved 2010-10-11. 
  10. ^ "ACL, AFC Cup draws on June 7". AFC. 2011-05-13. http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/inside-afc/676-afc-news/34881-acl-afc-cup-draws-on-june-7. 
  11. ^ a b "Stage set for ACL, AFC Cup draws". AFC. 2010-12-06. http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/31689-stage-set-for-acl-afc-cup-draws. 
  12. ^ a b c "AFC Champions League 2011 Draw Mechanism for Play-off Stage & Preliminary Stage (Group & Round of 16)" (PDF). AFC. http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/2011/acl2011_draw_mechanics.pdf. 
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "AFC Champions League 2011 Competitions Regulations" (PDF). AFC. http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/regs/ACL_2011_Competitions_Regulations.pdf. 
  14. ^ "Mouth-watering matches on the ACL agenda". AFC. 2010-12-07. http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/31705-mouth-watering-matches-on-the-acl-agenda. 
  15. ^ "ACL: Juicy encounters in offing". AFC. 2011-05-12. http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/34878-acl-juicy-encounters-in-offing. 
  16. ^ "Korea challenge for former champions". AFC. 2011-06-07. http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/afc-champions-league-2011/35200-acl-draw-story. 
  17. ^ "AFC Disciplinary Committee sanctions Sepahan". AFC. 2011-09-26. http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/36537-afc-disciplinary-committee-sanctions-sepahan. 
  18. ^ "AFC Competitions Committee decisions". AFC. 2010-07-31. http://www.the-afc.com/en/news/29922-afc-competitions-committee-decisions. 
  19. ^ "Double delight for Lee". The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 2011-11-05. http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/37034-acl-final-awards. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 

External links

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