2008 AFC Champions League

Background
Originally known as the Asian Club Championship. Started in 1967 with just eight clubs. In 1972, with only two entrants able to take part, the tournament was canceled.

The tournament came back in 1986 as the Asian Champions Cup. Entry was restricted to domestic champions only, with Cup winners playing in the Asian Cup Winners Cup tournament. The winners of the two major tournaments then played off for the Asian Super Cup.

From 2002-03 the Asian Champions Cup and Asian Cup Winners Cup were merged into one competition which is now known as the AFC Champions League. Winner of the AFC Champions League gets a place in the Fifa Club World Cup which is held in Japan.

Qualification & Tournament Format
Domestic Champions of the top 14 Asian Football Federations qualify automatically for the tournament, along with the respective cup winners of the same federations. The tournament holders receive a bye into the quarter-finals.

The qualifying teams are split on a regional basis into seven groups of four teams. The teams play each other home and away, and the top team from each group qualifies for the quarter-finals, where they join the reigning holders. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are played on a home-and-away basis in the format of a knockout competition.

Match Days
Group Round: 12 March, 19 March, 9 April, 23 April, 7 May and 21 May
Quarter finals: 17 September, 24 September
Semi finals: 8 October, 22 October
Finals: 5 November, 12 November


AFC Champions League Official website (Not sure why the site hasn't been updated yet.)

Group Draw

West Asia
Group A: Sepahan (Iran), Kuruvchi (Uzbekistan), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Al Ittihad (Syria)
Group B: Al Wasl (UAE), Saipa (Iran), Kuwait FC (Kuwait), Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq)
Group C: Al Sadd (Qatar), Al Wahda (UAE), Al Karama (Syria), Al Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
Group D: Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan), Al Gharafa (Qatar), Arbil (Iraq), Al Qadsiya (Kuwait)

East Asia
Group E: Changchun Yatai (China), Adelaide United (Australia), Pohang Steelers (Korea Republic), Binh Duong (Vietnam)
Group F: Krung Thai Bank (Thailand), Beijing Guoan (China), Nam Dinh (Vietnam), Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Group G: Melbourne Victory (Australia), Chonburi FC (Thailand), Gamba Osaka (Japan), Chunnam Dragons (Korea Republic)

Group Stage Schedule

Group A

12 March
Sepahan F.C. – Al-Ittihad Aleppo
Al-Ittihad Jeddah – PFC Kuruvchi

19 March
Al-Ittihad Aleppo – Al-Ittihad Jeddah
PFC Kuruvchi – Sepahan F.C.

9 April
Al-Ittihad Aleppo – PFC Kuruvchi
Sepahan F.C. – Al-Ittihad Jeddah

23 April
PFC Kuruvchi – Al-Ittihad Aleppo
Al-Ittihad Jeddah – Sepahan F.C.

7 May
Al-Ittihad Aleppo – Sepahan F.C.
PFC Kuruvchi – Al-Ittihad Jeddah

21 May
Sepahan F.C. – PFC Kuruvchi
Al-Ittihad Jeddah – Al-Ittihad Aleppo

Group B

12 March
Al-Wasl FC – Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Kuwait Kaifan – Saipa F.C.

19 March
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya – Al-Kuwait Kaifan
Saipa F.C. – Al-Wasl FC

9 April
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya – Saipa F.C.
Al-Wasl FC – Al-Kuwait Kaifan

23 April
Saipa F.C. – Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Kuwait Kaifan – Al-Wasl FC

7 May
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya – Al-Wasl FC
Saipa F.C. – Al-Kuwait Kaifan

21 May
Al-Wasl FC – Saipa F.C.
Al-Kuwait Kaifan – Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

Group C

12 March
Al-Sadd – Al-Ahli Jeddah
Al-Karama – Al-Wahda

19 March
Al-Ahli Jeddah – Al-Karama
Al-Wahda – Al-Sadd

9 April
Al-Ahli Jeddah – Al-Wahda
Al-Sadd – Al-Karama

23 April
Al-Wahda – Al-Ahli Jeddah
Al-Karama – Al-Sadd

7 May
Al-Ahli Jeddah – Al-Sadd
Al-Wahda – Al-Karama

21 May
Al-Sadd – Al-Wahda
Al-Karama – Al-Ahli Jeddah

Group D

12 March
FC Pakhatakor – Al Qadisiya Kuwait
Arbil FC – Al-Gharafa

19 March
Al Qadisiya Kuwait – Arbil FC
Al-Gharafa – FC Pakhatakor

9 April
Al Qadisiya Kuwait – Al-Gharafa
FC Pakhatakor – Arbil FC

23 April
Al-Gharafa – Al Qadisiya Kuwait
Arbil FC – FC Pakhatakor

7 May
Al Qadisiya Kuwait – FC Pakhatakor
Al-Gharafa – Arbil FC

21 May
FC Pakhatakor – Al-Gharafa
Arbil FC – Al Qadisiya Kuwait

Group E

12 March
Changchun Yatai – Binh Duong
Pohang Steelers – Adelaide United

19 March
Binh Duong – Pohang Steelers
Adelaide United – Changchun Yatai

9 April
Binh Duong – Adelaide United
Changchun Yatai – Pohang Steelers

23 April
Adelaide United – Binh Duong
Pohang Steelers – Changchun Yatai

7 May
Binh Duong – Changchun Yatai
Adelaide United – Pohang Steelers

21 May
Changchun Yatai – Adelaide United
Pohang Steelers – Binh Duong

Group F

12 March
Krung Thai Bank FC – Kashima Antlers
Nam Dinh F.C. – Beijing Guoan

19 March
Kashima Antlers – Nam Dinh F.C.
Beijing Guoan – Krung Thai Bank FC

9 April
Kashima Antlers – Beijing Guoan
Krung Thai Bank FC – Nam Dinh F.C.

23 April
Beijing Guoan – Kashima Antlers
Nam Dinh F.C. – Krung Thai Bank FC

7 May
Kashima Antlers – Krung Thai Bank FC
Beijing Guoan – Nam Dinh F.C.

21 May
Krung Thai Bank FC – Beijing Guoan
Nam Dinh F.C. – Kashima Antlers

Group G

12 March
Melbourne Victory – Chunnam Dragons
Gamba Osaka – Chonburi FC

19 March
Chunnam Dragons – Gamba Osaka
Chonburi FC – Melbourne Victory

9 April
Chunnam Dragons – Chonburi FC
Melbourne Victory – Gamba Osaka

23 April
Chonburi FC – Chunnam Dragons
Gamba Osaka – Melbourne Victory

7 May
Chunnam Dragons – Melbourne Victory
Chonburi FC – Gamba Osaka

21 May
Melbourne Victory – Chonburi FC
Gamba Osaka – Chunnam Dragons

12 March

Group A
Sepahan F.C. 0 – 2 Al-Ittihad Aleppo
Al-Ittihad Jeddah 1 – 0 PFC Kuruvchi

Group B
Al-Wasl FC 0 – 1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Kuwait Kaifan 1 – 1 Saipa F.C.

Group C
Al-Sadd 2 – 1 Al-Ahli Jeddah
Al-Karama 0 – 0 Al-Wahda

Group D
FC Pakhatakor 0 – 1 Al Qadisiya Kuwait
Arbil FC 1 – 1 Al-Gharafa

Group E
Changchun Yatai 2 – 1 Binh Duong
Pohang Steelers 0 – 2 Adelaide United

Group F
Krung Thai Bank FC 1 – 9 Kashima Antlers
Nam Dinh F.C. 1 – 3 Beijing Guoan

Group G
Melbourne Victory 2 – 0 Chunnam Dragons
Gamba Osaka 1 – 1 Chonburi FC

19 March

Group A
Al-Ittihad Aleppo 0 – 1 Al-Ittihad Jeddah
PFC Kuruvchi 2 – 0 Sepahan F.C.

Group B
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 0 – 0 Al Kuwait Kaifan
Saipa F.C. 2 – 0 Al Wasl FC

Group C
Al-Ahli Jeddah 1 – 1 Al-Karamah
Al-Wahda 2 – 2 Al-Sadd

Group D
Al Qadisiya Kuwait 1 – 1 Arbil FC
Al-Gharafa 2 – 2 FC Pakhatakor

Group E
Binh Duong 1 – 4 Pohang Steelers
Adelaide United FC 0 – 0 Changchun Yatai

Group F
Kashima Antlers 6 – 0 Nam Dinh F.C.
Beijing Guoan 4 – 2 Krung Thai Bank FC

Group G
Chunnam Dragons 3 – 4 Gamba Osaka
Chonburi FC 3 – 1 Melbourne Victory FC

9 April

Group A
Sepahan 2 - 1 Al-Ittihad
Al Ittihad Aleppo 0 - 2 Kuruvchi Tashkent

Group B
Al Quwa Al Jawiya 0 - 1 Saipa
Al-Wasl 1 - 0 Al-Kuwait SC

Group C
Al Sadd 0 - 2 Al Karama
Al-Ahly 0 - 0 Al-Wahda

Group D
Pakhtakor Tashkent 2 - 0 Arbil
Al Qadisiya 1 - 0 Al Gharafa

Group E
Changchun Yatai 1 - 0 Pohang Steelers
Binh Duong 1 - 2 Adelaide United

Group F
Krung Thai Bank 9 - 1 Mikado Nam Dinh
Kashima Antlers 1 - 0 Beijing Guo'an

Group G
Melbourne Victory 3 - 4 Gamba Osaka
Chunnam Dragons 1 - 0 Chonburi

23 April

Group A
PFC Kuruvchi 1 – 0 Al-Ittihad Aleppo
Al-Ittihad Jeddah 0 – 1 Sepahan F.C.

Group B
Saipa F.C. 1 – 1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Al-Kuwait Kaifan 2 – 1 Al-Wasl FC

Group C
Al-Wahda 2 – 1 Al-Ahli Jeddah
Al-Karama 1 – 0 Al-Sadd

Group D
Al-Gharafa 0 – 1 Al Qadisiya Kuwait
Arbil FC 1 – 5 FC Pakhatakor

Group E
Adelaide United 4 – 1 Binh Duong
Pohang Steelers 2 – 2 Changchun Yatai

Group F
Beijing Guoan 1 – 0 Kashima Antlers
Nam Dinh F.C. 2 – 2 Krung Thai Bank FC

Group G
Chonburi FC 2 – 2 Chunnam Dragons
Gamba Osaka 2 – 0 Melbourne Victory

7 May

Group A
Al-Ittihad Aleppo 2 – 1 Sepahan F.C.
PFC Kuruvchi 2 – 0 Al-Ittihad Jeddah

Group B
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1 – 2 Al Wasl FC
Saipa F.C. 1 – 0 Al Kuwait Kaifan

Group C
Al-Ahli Jeddah 2 – 2 Al-Sadd
Al-Wahda 1 – 0 Al-Karamah

Group D
Al Qadisiya Kuwait 2 – 2 FC Pakhatakor
Al-Gharafa 0 – 1 Arbil FC

Group E
Binh Duong 0 – 5 Changchun Yatai
Adelaide United FC 1 – 0 Pohang Steelers

Group F
Kashima Antlers 8 – 1 Krung Thai Bank FC
Beijing Guoan 3 – 0 Nam Dinh F.C.

Group G
Chunnam Dragons 1 – 1 Melbourne Victory FC
Chonburi FC 0 – 2 Gamba Osaka

Cheers for the results mate, easier than trawling through pages of pish to get every one.

Who do you think will win the whole thing?

Hope you don't mind if I update this with the final round of results.

21 May

Group A
PFC Kuruvchi 1 – 1 PFC Kuruvchi.
Al-Ittihad Jeddah 3 – 0 Al-Ittihad Aleppo

Group B
Al-Wasl FC 1 -1 Saipa F.C.
Al-Kuwait Kaifan 1 – 2 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya

Group C
Al-Sadd 0 – 0 Al-Wahda
Al-Karama 0 – 0 Al-Ahli Jeddah

Group D
FC Pakhatakor 2 – 0 Al-Gharafa
Arbil FC 4 – 2 Al Qadisiya Kuwait

Group E
Changchun Yatai 0 – 0 Adelaide United
Pohang Steelers 0 – 0 Binh Duong

Group F
Krung Thai Bank FC 5 - 3 Beijing Guoan
Nam Dinh F.C. 0 – 4 Kashima Antlers

Group G
Melbourne Victory 3 – 1 Chonburi FC
Gamba Osaka 1 – 1 Chunnam Dragons

Final Group tables

Group A
1 Kuruvchi (Uzb) 13
2 Al Ittihad (Sau) 9
3 Sepahan (Iran) 7
4 Al Ittihad (Syr) 6

Group B
1 Saipa (Iran) 12
2 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (Iraq) 8
3 Al Wasl Sports (UAE) 7
4 Kuwait SC (Kuw) 5

Group C
1 Al Karama (Syr) 11
2 Al Wahda (UAE) 9
3 Al Sadd Sport (Qat) 6
4 Al Ahli (Sau) 4

Group D
1 Al Qadsia (Kuw) 11
2 Pakhtakor (Uzb) 11
3 Arbil (Iraq) 8
4 Al Gharafa (Qat) 2

Group E
1 Adelaide United (Aus) 14
2 Changchun Yatai (Chn) 12
3 Pohang Steelers (SKor) 5
4 Binh Duong (Viet) 1

Group F
1 Kashima Antlers (Jap) 15
2 Beijing Guoan (Chn) 12
3 Krung Thai Bank (Thai) 7
4 Namh Dinh (Viet) 1

Group G
1 Gamba Osaka (Jap) 14
2 Melbourne Victory (Aus) 7
3 Chunnam Dragons (SKor) 6
4 Chonburi (Thai) 5

The top team in each group are into the quarter finals where they are joined by Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan who won it last year.

So the quarterfinalists are:
Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
Kuruvchi FC (Uzbekistan)
Saipa (Iran)
Al Karama (Syria)
Al Qadsia (Kuwait)
Adelaide United (Australia)
Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Gamba Osaka (Japan)


As for favourites, I don't think you can go past the Japanese teams, especially Urawa.


Quarterfinal draw
Saipa (Iran) vs Kuruvchi (Uzbekistan)
Kashima Antlers (Japan) vs Adelaide United (Australia)
Al Qadsia (Kuwait) vs Urawa Reds (Japan)
Al Karama (Syria) vs Gamba Osaka (Japan)

Thanks for putting up the results from the 21st disillusionist as I was out of town on holiday.

Anytime mate. Hope you had a good hol.

Quarter-finals

A - Saipa - Kuruvchi
B - Kashima Antlers - Adelaide United
C - Al Qadsia - Urawa Reds
D - Al Karama - Gamba Osaka

Matchdays
1st Leg - 17 Sept
2nd Leg - 24 Sept

Semi-finals

Winner of A - Winner of B
Winner of C - Winner of D

Matchdays
1st Leg - 8 Oct
2nd Leg - 22 Oct