2008 AFC Champions League

2008 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates March 2008 - November 2008
Teams 29
Final positions
Champions Gamba Osaka
Runners-up Adelaide United
Tournament statistics
Matches played 98
Goals scored 275 (2.81 per match)
Top scorer(s) Nantawat Thansopa
(9 goals)
Best player Yasuhito Endo
(Gamba Osaka)
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 AFC Champions League was the 27th AFC Champions League, the top-level Asian club football tournament, and the 6th under the current AFC Champions League title. It was the last AFC Champions League before the competition expanded to 32 teams.

Contents

Participating clubs

Along with the defending champion, Urawa Red Diamonds, 28 other clubs from fourteen countries qualified based on performance in domestic league and cup competitions. Urawa Red Diamonds entered the competition at the quarter-finals. The draw for group stage took place on 12 December 2007.

Defending Champions (1)
Japan (1) Urawa Red Diamonds (2007 AFC Champions League winners)
East Asia & ASEAN (12)
Australia (2) Melbourne Victory (2006–07 A-League champions and premiers)
Adelaide United (2006–07 A-League championship runners-up)
China (2) Changchun Yatai (2007 Chinese Super League champions)
Beijing Guoan (2007 Chinese Super League runners-up)
Indonesia (0)†
Japan (2) Kashima Antlers (2007 J. League Division 1 champions and 2007–08 Emperor's Cup winners)
Gamba Osaka (2007 J. League Division 1 third place)
Korea Republic (2) Pohang Steelers (2007 K-League champions)
Chunnam Dragons (2007 Korean FA Cup winners)
Thailand (2)† Chonburi FC (2007 Thailand Premier League champions)
Krung Thai Bank FC (2007 Thailand Premier League runners-up)
Vietnam (2)† Bình Dương F.C. (2007 V-League champions)
Nam Dinh F.C. (2007 Vietnamese Cup winners)
Central & South Asia and West Asia (16)
Iran (2) Saipa (2006–07 Persian Gulf Cup champions)
Sepahan (2006–07 Hazfi Cup winners)
Iraq (2) Arbil FC (2006–07 Iraqi Premier League champions)
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (2006–07 Iraqi Premier League runners-up)
Kuwait (2) Al Kuwait Kaifan (2006–07 Kuwaiti Premier League champions)
Al Qadisiya Kuwait (2007 Kuwait Emir Cup winners)
Qatar (2) Al-Sadd (2006–07 Qatar Stars League champions and 2007 Emir of Qatar Cup winners)
Al-Gharafa (2006–07 Qatar Stars League runners-up)
Saudi Arabia (2) Al-Itthihad Jeddah (2006–07 Saudi Premier League champions)
Al-Ahli Jeddah (2006–07 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners)
Syria (2) Al-Karamah (2006–07 Syrian League champions and 2006–07 Syrian Cup winners)
Al-Ittihad Aleppo (2006–07 Syrian League runners-up)
UAE (2) Al Wasl FC (2006–07 UAE Football League champions and 2006–07 UAE Emir Cup winners)
Al-Wahda (2006–07 UAE Football League runners-up)
Uzbekistan (2) FC Pakhtakor (2007 Uzbek League champions and 2007 Uzbekistani Cup winners)
FC Bunyodkor (2007 Uzbek League runners-up)

† In the 2008 edition, Indonesia were allocated two slots just like the older editions. However, on 12 December 2007, AFC awarded one Indonesian slots to Thailand and the other one to Vietnam, due to delay in Indonesian domestic league and cup tournament[1], allowing both Thai and Vietnamese slots to be total of two.

Format

Group stage

A total of 28 clubs were divided into seven groups of four, based on region, i.e. East Asian and Southeast Asian clubs are drawn in Group E to G, while rest are grouped in Group A to D. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against the other three teams in their group, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers are in following order:

The seven group winners and the defending champions qualified for the quarter-finals.

Knockout stage

All eight clubs were randomly paired together, with the restriction that clubs from same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were played over two legs, home and away, the team with the higher aggregate goal total being declared the match winner. If the aggregate goals could not produce a winner, away goals rule was used. If the two teams were still tied, extra time was played, at the end of which the away goals rule was again applied if the scores were tied. If still tied, the game would go to penalties.

Schedule

Group stage draw - 12 December 2007
Knockout stage draw - 24 May 2008

Group stage

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Bunyodkor 6 4 1 1 8 2 +6 13
Al-Ittihad Jeddah 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 9
Sepahan 6 2 1 3 5 8 −3 7
Al-Ittihad Aleppo 6 2 0 4 4 8 −4 6
2008-03-12
 Sepahan 0 – 2 Al-Ittihad Aleppo Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)
Report Jésus Gomez  21'
Al Agha  87'
2008-03-12
 Al-Ittihad Jeddah 1 – 0 Bunyodkor Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Magno Alves  80' Report
2008-03-19
 Al-Ittihad Aleppo 0 – 1 Al-Ittihad Jeddah Aleppo International Stadium, Aleppo
Attendance: 41,000
Referee: Abdullah Balideh (Qatar)
Report Magno Alves  78'
2008-03-19
 Bunyodkor 2 – 0 Sepahan MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Fareed Al Marzouqi (UAE)
Bakayev  61'
Kapadze  80'		 Report
2008-04-09
 Al-Ittihad Aleppo 0 – 2 Bunyodkor Aleppo International Stadium, Aleppo
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Kim Dong-Jin (Korea Republic)
Report Hasanov  50'
Kapadze  65'
2008-04-09
 Sepahan 2 – 1 Al-Ittihad Jeddah Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China PR)
Seyed Salehi  59'
Aghily  71'		 Report Al-Meshal  89'
2008-04-23
 Bunyodkor 1 – 0 Al-Ittihad Aleppo MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Malik Abdul Bashir (Singapore)
Kapadze  29' Report
2008-04-23
 Al-Ittihad Jeddah 0 – 1 Sepahan Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Saad Kameel Al Fadhli (Kuwait)
Report Mohammed  70'
2008-05-07
 Al-Ittihad Aleppo 2 – 1 Sepahan Aleppo International Stadium, Aleppo
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Naser Al Ghafary (Jordan)
Laurens  61'
Jésus Gomez  64'		 Report Aghily  48'
2008-05-07
 Bunyodkor 2 – 0 Al-Ittihad Jeddah MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)
Soliev  10'
Djeparov  38'		 Report
2008-05-21
 Sepahan 1 – 1 Bunyodkor Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Attendance: 150
Referee: Abdullah Mohamed Al Hilali (Oman)
Ali Mohammadi  2' Report Gochguliev  72'
2008-05-21
 Al-Ittihad Jeddah 3 – 0 Al-Ittihad Aleppo Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Attendance: 600
Referee: Shamsuzzaman Tayeb Hasan (Bangladesh)
Al-Nemri  30', 50'
Hazazi  42'		 Report

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Saipa 6 3 3 0 7 3 4 12
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 6 2 2 2 5 5 0 8
Al Wasl 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 7
Al Kuwait Kaifan 6 1 2 3 4 6 −2 5
2008-03-12
 Al Wasl 0 – 1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Zabeel Stadium, Dubai
Attendance: 7,500
Referee: Khalil Ibrahim Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
Report Alwan  32'
2008-03-12
 Al Kuwait Kaifan 1 – 1 Saipa Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)
Ajab  44' Report Zaynadpour  66'
2008-03-19
 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 0 – 0 Al Kuwait Kaifan Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Report
2008-03-19
 Saipa 2 – 0 Al Wasl Enghelab Stadium, Karaj
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Masaaki Iemoto (Japan)
Traoré  45'
Ansarifard  57'		 Report
2008-04-09
 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 0 – 1 Saipa Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Salem Mahmoud Mujghef (Jordan)
Report Vaziri  45+1'
2008-04-09
 Al Wasl 1 – 0 Al Kuwait Kaifan Zabeel Stadium, Dubai
Attendance: 4,622
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Hassan  75' Report
2008-04-23
 Saipa 1 – 1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Enghelab Stadium, Karaj
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Rahmati  63' (pen.) Report Ayad  71'
2008-04-23
 Al Kuwait Kaifan 2 – 1 Al Wasl Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Mahmood Al Ghatrifi (Oman)
Ajab  10'
Al Awadhi  42'		 Report Ali  4' (pen.)
2008-05-07
 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1 – 2 Al Wasl Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 100
Referee: Hai Tan (China PR)
Kamel  69' Report Al-Enazi  49'
Oliveira  64'
2008-05-07
 Saipa 1 – 0 Al Kuwait Kaifan Enghelab Stadium, Karaj
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China PR)
Rahmati  24' Report
2008-05-21
 Al Wasl 1 – 1 Saipa Zabeel Stadium, Dubai
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Mark Shield (Australia)
André Dias  90+2' Report Traoré  21'
2008-05-21
 Al Kuwait Kaifan 1 – 2 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 250
Referee: Masaaki Iemoto (Japan)
Ajab  22' Report Kadhim  17'
Abdul-Mohsen  48'

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Al-Karamah 6 3 2 1 8 3 5 11
Al-Wahda 6 2 3 1 6 7 −1 9
Al-Sadd 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6
Al-Ahli Jeddah 6 0 4 2 5 7 −2 4
2008-03-12
 Al-Sadd 2 – 1 Al-Ahli Jeddah Al Sadd Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Emerson  6'
Felipe  26'		 Report Val Baiano  73'
2008-03-12
 Al-Karamah 4 – 1 Al-Wahda Khaled bin Walid Stadium, Homs
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Abdullah Mohamed Al Hilali (Oman)
Esmaeel  3'
Chaabo  27', 48'
Al Hamwi  80'		 Report Al Shehhi  83'
2008-03-19
 Al-Ahli Jeddah 1 – 1 Al-Karamah Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China PR)
Al Thagafi  15' Report Al Hamwi  44'
2008-03-19
 Al-Wahda 2 – 2 Al-Sadd Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 5,500
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)
Pinga  17'
Al Shehhi  85		 Report Tenorio  44'
Emerson  71'
2008-04-09
 Al-Ahli Jeddah 0 – 0 Al-Wahda Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Saad Kameel Al-Fadhli (Kuwait)
Report
2008-04-09
 Al-Sadd 0 – 2 Al-Karamah Al Sadd Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Malik Abdul Bashir (Singapore)
Report Al Hamwi  69'
Jenyat  73'
2008-04-23
 Al-Wahda 2 – 1 Al-Ahli Jeddah Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Mark Shield (Australia)
Josiel  35', 84' Report Al Gizani  81'
2008-04-23
 Al-Karamah 1 – 0 Al-Sadd Khaled bin Walid Stadium, Homs
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Matthew Breeze (Australia)
Jenyat  78' Report
2008-05-07
 Al-Ahli Jeddah 2 – 2 Al-Sadd Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Taher Zakaria  28' (o.g.)
Sulimani  42' (pen.)		 Report Gholam  32' (pen.)
Ahmed  50'
2008-05-07
 Al-Wahda 1 – 0 Al-Karamah Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Kazuhiko Matsumura (Japan)
Al Shehhi  90' Report
2008-05-21
 Al-Sadd 0 – 0 Al-Wahda Al Sadd Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 800
Referee: Lee Gi Young (Korea Republic)
Report
2008-05-21
 Al-Karamah 0 – 0 Al-Ahli Jeddah Khaled bin Walid Stadium, Homs
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Report

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Al Qadisiya Kuwait 6 3 2 1 8 7 1 11
Pakhtakor 6 3 2 1 13 6 7 11
Arbil 6 2 2 2 8 11 −3 8
Al-Gharafa 6 0 2 4 3 8 −5 2
2008-03-12
 Pakhtakor 0 – 1 Al Qadisiya Kuwait MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)
Report Ajab  90+1'
2008-03-12
 Arbil 1 – 1 Al-Gharafa Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
Attendance: 250
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)
Muslim Mubarak  61' Report Araújo  13'
2008-03-19
 Al Qadisiya Kuwait 1 – 1 Arbil Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City
Referee: Khalil Ibrahim Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
Al Salama  81' Alwan  28' (pen.)
2008-03-19
 Al-Gharafa 2 – 2 Pakhtakor Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Lee Gi Young (Korea Republic)
Mahmoud  57'
Araújo  65'		 Report Aliqulov  68'
F. Tadjiyev  78'
2008-04-09
 Al Qadisiya Kuwait 1 – 0 Al-Gharafa Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Mahmood Al Ghatrifi (Oman)
Ajab  62' Report
2008-04-09
 Pakhtakor 2 – 0 Arbil MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)
Holmatov  47'
Geynrikh  52' (pen.)		 Report
2008-04-23
 Al-Gharafa 0 – 1 Al Qadisiya Kuwait Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Hiroyoshi Takayama (Japan)
Report Al-Mutwa  89'
2008-04-23
 Arbil 1 – 5 Pakhtakor Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
Attendance: 180
Referee: Mohamed Al Marzouqi (UAE)
Sabah  19' Report Siamand  38' (o.g.)
Kuziboyev  69'
Marković  73'
Geynrikh  81'
Holmatov  90+3'
2008-05-07
 Al Qadisiya Kuwait 2 – 2 Pakhtakor Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 18000
Referee: Salem Mahmoud Mujghef (Jordan)
Ajab  20'
Al Salama  45' (pen.)		 Report Ahmedov  36'
Z. Tadjiyev  81'
2008-05-07
 Al-Gharafa 0 – 1 Arbil Al-Gharafa Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 200
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Report Alwan  29'
2008-05-21
 Pakhtakor 2 – 0 Al-Gharafa MHSK Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Z. Tadjiyev  19'
Ahmedov  88' (pen.)		 Report
2008-05-21
 Arbil 4 – 2 Al Qadisiya Kuwait Prince Mohammed Stadium, Zarqa
Attendance: 120
Referee: Hedayat Mombini (Iran)
Salah  52', 70', 79'
Alwan  89'		 Report Al Shammari  23'
Al-Kandri  34'

Group E

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Adelaide United 6 4 2 0 9 2 7 14
Changchun Yatai 6 3 3 0 10 3 7 12
Pohang Steelers 6 1 2 3 6 7 −1 5
Bình Dương 6 0 1 5 4 17 −13 1
2008-03-12
 Changchun Yatai 2 – 1 Bình Dương Changchun City Stadium, Changchun
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Ali Al Badwawi (UAE)
Du Zhenyu  4'
Cui Wei  70'		 Report Nguyễn Anh Đức  53'
2008-03-12
 Pohang Steelers 0 – 2 Adelaide United Steelyard Stadium, Pohang
Attendance: 8,436
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Report Cornthwaite  3'
Djite  59'
2008-03-19
 Bình Dương 1 – 4 Pohang Steelers Go Dau Stadium, Thu Dau Mot
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Salem Mahmoud Mujghef (Jordan)
Robson De Lima  11' (pen.) Report Denilson  49' (pen.), 58' (pen.)
Kim Jae-Sung  56'
Choi Hyo-Jin  64'
2008-03-19
 Adelaide United 0 – 0 Changchun Yatai Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Attendance: 10,510
Referee: Hiroyoshi Takayama (Japan)
Report
2008-04-09
 Bình Dương 1 – 2 Adelaide United Go Dau Stadium, Thu Dau Mot
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Atallah Jatli Al Enezi (Kuwait)
Philani  85' Report Diego  10'
Alagich  78'
2008-04-09
 Changchun Yatai 1 – 0 Pohang Steelers Changchun City Stadium, Changchun
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)
Dah Zadi  86' Report
2008-04-23
 Adelaide United 4 – 1 Bình Dương Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Attendance: 13,802
Referee: Mohamed Al Hilali (Oman)
Pantelis  56'
Dodd  58', 62'
Diego  77'		 Report Phạm Minh Đức  65'
2008-04-23
 Pohang Steelers 2 – 2 Changchun Yatai Steelyard Stadium, Pohang
Attendance: 5,468
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Hwang Jae-Won  64'
Hwang Jin-Sung  90'		 Report Wang Dong  35'
Du Zhenyu  70'
2008-05-07
 Bình Dương 0 – 5 Changchun Yatai Go Dau Stadium, Thu Dau Mot
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Khalil Ibrahim Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
Report Wang Bo  2', 37'
Dah Zadi  13'
Yan Feng  78'
Caballero  90' (pen.)
2008-05-07
 Adelaide United 1 – 0 Pohang Steelers Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Attendance: 11,805
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Diego  63' Report
2008-05-21
 Pohang Steelers 0 – 0 Bình Dương Steelyard Stadium, Pohang
Attendance: 4,571
Referee: Abdulrahman Recho (Syria)
Report
2008-05-22
 Changchun Yatai 0 – 0 Adelaide United Changchun City Stadium, Changchun
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)
Report

Group F

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Kashima Antlers 6 5 0 1 28 3 25 15
Beijing Guoan 6 4 0 2 14 9 5 12
Krung Thai Bank 6 2 1 3 20 27 −7 7
Nam Định 6 0 1 5 4 27 −23 1
2008-03-12
 Krung Thai Bank 1 – 9 Kashima Antlers Chulalongkorn University Sports Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Kone  64' Report Tashiro  15', 50'
Iwamasa  21'
Nozawa  34', 90+2'
Marquinhos  47', 69', 71'
Sasaki  73'
2008-03-12
 Nam Dinh 1 – 3 Beijing Guoan My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi2
Attendance: 600
Referee: Kim Dong-Jin (Korea Republic)
Lê Văn Duyệt  14' Report Yan Xiangchuang  57'
Du Wenhui  60'
Zhang Shuai  90+1'
2008-03-19
 Kashima Antlers 6 – 0 Nam Dinh Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
Attendance: 7,087
Referee: Mohamad Mansour (Lebanon)
Motoyama  25', 48'
Marquinhos  58', 67'
Tashiro  73'
Danilo  90+2'		 Report
2008-03-19
 Beijing Guoan 4 – 2 Krung Thai Bank Beijing Fengtai Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Atallah Jatli (Kuwait)
Du Wenhui  39', 73'
Martínez  51', 75'		 Report Thansopa  58'
Pichitchotirat  63'
2008-04-09
 Kashima Antlers 1 – 0 Beijing Guoan Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
Attendance: 6,487
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Danilo  52' Report
2008-04-09
 Krung Thai Bank 9 – 1 Nam Dinh Chulalongkorn University Sports Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 500
Referee: Hedayat Mombeni (Iran)
Kone  4', 44', 90+1', 90+2'
Nantawat  8', 46', 59'
Choeichiu  64'
Wongsuparuk  70'		 Report Trần Đức Dương  64'
2008-04-23
 Beijing Guoan 1 – 0 Kashima Antlers Beijing Fengtai Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)
Tiago  41' Report
2008-04-23
 Nam Dinh 2 – 2 Krung Thai Bank My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi2
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Mohammad Dharman (Qatar)
Hoàng Ngọc Linh  2', 47' Report Thansopa  21'
Choeichiu  90'
2008-05-07
 Kashima Antlers 8 – 1 Krung Thai Bank Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
Attendance: 5,540
Referee: Matthew Breeze (Australia)
Iwamasa  19'
Koroki  21'
Tashiro  45'
Nozawa  46', 66'
Ogasawara  50'
Danilo  74', 83'		 Report Pichitchotirat  90'
2008-05-07
 Beijing Guoan 3 – 0 Nam Dinh Beijing Fengtai Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Kadhum Auda (Iraq)
Guo Hui  14' (pen.)
Yang Hao  32', 78'		 Report
2008-05-21
 Krung Thai Bank 5 – 3 Beijing Guoan Chulalongkorn University Sports Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 400
Referee: Fareed Ali Mohamed Al Marzouqi (UAE)
Thansopa  10', 44', 49', 69' (pen.)
Pichitchotirat  27'		 Report Tiago  67' (pen.), 70', 77' (pen.)
2008-05-21
 Nam Dinh 0 – 4 Kashima Antlers My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi2
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Mohamed Omar Al Saeedi (UAE)
Report Tashiro  27'
Koroki  47'
Motoyama  75'
Danilo  87'
Notes

Group G

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Gamba Osaka 6 4 2 0 14 8 6 14
Melbourne Victory 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7
Chunnam Dragons 6 1 3 2 8 10 −2 6
Chonburi 6 1 2 3 7 10 −3 5
2008-03-12
 Melbourne Victory 2 – 0 Chunnam Dragons Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 23,656
Referee: Malik Abdul Bashir (Singapore)
Muscat  28' (pen.)
Vargas  66'		 Report
2008-03-12
 Gamba Osaka 1 – 1 Chonburi Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Suita
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Hedayat Mombeni (Iran)
Lucas  90+4' Report Sunthornpit  59'
2008-03-19
 Chunnam Dragons 3 – 4 Gamba Osaka Gwang-Yang Stadium, Gwangyang
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Shamsuzzaman Tayeb Hasan (Bangladesh)
Simões  4'
Kim Tae-Su  27', 60' (pen.)		 Report Futagawa  30'
Bando  53', 75'
Yasuda  58'
2008-03-19
 Chonburi 3 – 1 Melbourne Victory Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kadhum Auda (Iraq)
Ney Fabiano  45'
Baga  79', 90+5'		 Report Allsopp  57'
2008-04-09
 Chunnam Dragons 1 – 0 Chonburi Gwang-Yang Stadium, Gwangyang
Attendance: 500
Referee: Abdullah Mohamed Al Hilali (Oman)
Simões  90' Report
2008-04-09
 Melbourne Victory 3 – 4 Gamba Osaka Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 23,857
Referee: Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh (Malaysia)
Allsopp  4', 65'
Vargas  41'		 Report Futagawa  31'
Baré  38'
Yamaguchi  68'
Lucas  89'
2008-04-23
 Chonburi 2 – 2 Chunnam Dragons Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Hai Tan (China PR)
On-Mo  56'
Jinta  88'		 Report Chung Joon-Yeon  5'
Kim Myung-Woon  48'
2008-04-23
 Gamba Osaka 2 – 0 Melbourne Victory Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Suita
Attendance: 8,132
Referee: Ali Al Badwawi (UAE)
Yamazaki  31', 57' Report
2008-05-07
 Chunnam Dragons 1 – 1 Melbourne Victory Gwang-Yang Stadium, Gwangyang
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Abdullah Balideh (Qatar)
Ko Ki-Gu  37' Report Pondeljak  4'
2008-05-07
 Chonburi 0 – 2 Gamba Osaka Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)
Report Yamazaki  64'
Lucas  76'
2008-05-21
 Melbourne Victory 3 – 1 Chonburi Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 9,558
Referee: Salem Mahmoud Mujghef (Jordan)
Muscat  56'
Thompson  65'
Hernández  77'		 Report Ney Fabiano  55'
2008-05-21
 Gamba Osaka 1 – 1 Chunnam Dragons Osaka Expo '70 Stadium, Suita
Attendance: 7,160
Referee: Sun Baojie (China PR)
Futagawa  75' Report Yoo Hong-Youl  86' (pen.)

Knockout stage

Main article: 2008 AFC Champions League knockout stage

Bracket

  Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                                       
    Al-Karamah 1 0 1  
  Gamba Osaka 2 2 4  
    Gamba Osaka 1 3 4  
    Urawa Red Diamonds 1 1 2  
  Al Qadisiya Kuwait 3 0 3
    Urawa Red Diamonds 2 2 4  
      Gamba Osaka 3 2 5
    Adelaide United 0 0 0
    Kashima Antlers 1 0 1  
  Adelaide United 1 1 2  
    Adelaide United 3 0 3
    Bunyodkor 0 1 1  
  Saipa 2 1 3
    Bunyodkor 2 5 7  

Quarter-finals

The first leg matches were played on 17 September, and the second leg matches were played on 24 September 2008.

Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Saipa 3–7 Bunyodkor 2–2 1–5
Kashima Antlers 1–2 Adelaide United 1–1 0–1
Al Qadisiya Kuwait 3–4 Urawa Red Diamonds 3–2 0–2
Al-Karamah 1–4 Gamba Osaka 1–2 0–2

Semi-finals

The first leg matches were played on 8 October, and the second leg matches were played on 22 October 2008.

Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Gamba Osaka 4–2 Urawa Red Diamonds 1–1 3–1
Adelaide United 3–1 Bunyodkor 3–0 0–1

Final

Main article: 2008 AFC Champions League Final

The first and second legs of the final were played on 5 November and 12 November 2008, respectively.

Team 1   Agg.   Team 2   1st leg     2nd leg  
Gamba Osaka 5–0 Adelaide United 3–0 2–0
AFC Champions League
2008 Winners

Gamba Osaka
1st Title

Gamba Osaka is the fifth Japanese club to win the Asian championship.

Top scorers

The top scorers from the 2008 AFC Champions League are as follows:

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Nantawat Thansopa Krung Thai Bank 9
2 Lucas Gamba Osaka 6
3 Marquinhos Kashima Antlers 5
Masato Yamazaki Gamba Osaka
Kone Kassim Krung Thai Bank
Yuzo Tashiro Kashima Antlers
Danilo Kashima Antlers
8 Takuya Nozawa Kashima Antlers 4
Tiago Beijing Guoan
Villanueva Bunyodkor
Diego Walsh Adelaide United

Fair Play Award

Gamba Osaka

See also

References

  1. ^ article missing

External links

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