OFFICIAL GUIDE
2011
Esteghlal (IRN) TAK KHFC
Sepahan (IRN)
Al Wahda (UAE)
Piroozi (IRN)
Al Ittihad (KSA)
Bunyodkor (UZB)
Jeju United (KOR)
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
Group D
Group C
1956
EN
T
IS
K
E
K
Al Jazira (UAE)
Al Nassr (KSA)
OR
PA
Al Gharafa (QAT)
Group B
Al Hilal (KSA)
UZB
Group A
Participating Clubs
TAN TAS
H
Pakhtakor (UZB)
Al Sadd (QAT)
Al Rayyan (QAT)
Emirates (UAE)
Group F Group H
Group G
Group E
ESFAHAN ZOBAHAN CULTURAL & SPORT CLUB
Zobahan (IRN)
Al Shabab (KSA)
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
FC Seoul (KOR)
Al Ain (UAE)
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
Sydney FC (AUS)
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
OFFICIAL GUIDE
2011
Contents Introduction AFC message Format Group stage schedule Group A
Group G
83
5
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
86
7
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
88
9
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
90
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
92
11
Group H
Al Hilal (KSA)
14
Al Gharafa (QAT)
16
Sydney FC (AUS)
Al Jazira (UAE)
18
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
100
Sepahan (IRN)
20
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
102
23
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
104
Group B Esteghlal (IRN)
26
Al Nassr (KSA)
28
Pakhtakor (UZB)
30
Al Sadd (QAT)
32
Group C
35
Al Wahda (UAE)
38
Piroozi (IRN)
40
Al Ittihad (KSA)
42
Bunyodkor (UZB)
44
Group D
47
Al Rayyan (QAT)
50
Emirates (UAE)
52
Zobahan (IRN)
54
Al Shabab (KSA)
56
Group E
59
Jeju United (KOR)
62
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
64
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
66
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
68
Group F
2
3
Knockout stage Schedule ACL 2010 History & Results ACL 2009 History & Results ACL 2008 History & Results ACL 2007 History & Results ACL 2006 History & Results ACL 2005 History & Results ACL 2004 History & Results ACL 2002/03 History & Results Roll of honour
95 98
107 109 111 113 119 121 127 129 135 137 143 145 151 153 159 161 167 169 175
71
ACL/AFC Cup / S Cup winners
177
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
74
ACC/ACWC winners
178
FC Seoul (KOR)
76
Al Ain (UAE)
78
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
80
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Useful contacts
179
INTRODUCTION
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
AFC Message Dear friends in the media, The AFC Champions League has taken a giant leap over the years and its rising popularity has reinforced AFC’s pledge to invest in club football. This year’s edition again promises unlimited action, spurred by the lure of a spectacular trophy, the highest prize money in Asian football, besides the opportunity to represent Asia in the FIFA Club World Cup. Only the best Asian clubs take part in this competition and this Media Guide provides insightful and useful information on each of these clubs. The Media Guide addresses in a holistic manner the difficult task of compiling accurate information about the clubs and presenting them in an easyto-grasp style. AFC is fully aware of the key role the media plays in spreading the good word around and this informative Media Guide is one more tool to service the fans and media in a professional manner. On a final note, I hope you will find this edition as useful, informative and helpful as the previous ones.
Mohamed Bin Hammam President, Asian Football Confederation
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5
FORMAT
6
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Group Stage Schedule Matchday One 01/03/11
02/03/11
A
Al Hilal (KSA)
vs
Sepahan (IRN)
C
Al Wahda (UAE)
vs
Bunyodkor (UZB)
A
Al Jazira (UAE)
vs
Al Gharafa (QAT)
C
Al Ittihad (KSA)
vs
Piroozi (IRN)
B
Esteghlal (IRN)
vs
Al Sadd (QAT)
D
Al Rayyan (QAT)
vs
Al Shabab (KSA)
B
Pakhtakor (KSA)
vs
Al Nassr (KSA)
D
Zobahan (IRN)
vs
Emirates (UAE)
E
Jeju United (KOR)
vs
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
F
Al Ain (UAE)
vs
FC Seoul (KOR)
E
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
vs
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
G
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
vs
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
F
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
vs
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
G
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
vs
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
H
Sydney FC (AUS)
vs
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
H
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
vs
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
Matchday Two 15/03/11
16/03/11
A
Sepahan (IRN)
vs
Al Jazira (UAE)
B
Al Sadd (QAT)
vs
Pakhtakor (UZB)
A
Al Gharafa (QAT)
vs
Al Hilal (KSA)
C
Bunyodkor (UZB)
vs
Al Ittihad (KSA)
B
Al Nassr (KSA)
vs
Esteghlal (IRN)
C
Piroozi (IRN)
vs
Al Wahda (UAE)
E
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
vs
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
D
Al Shabab (KSA)
vs
Zobahan (IRN)
E
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
vs
Jeju United (KOR)
D
Emirates (UAE)
vs
Al Rayyan (QAT)
F
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
vs
Al Ain (UAE)
G
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
vs
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
F
FC Seoul (KOR)
vs
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
G
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
vs
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
H
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
vs
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
H
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
vs
Sydney FC (AUS)
Matchday Three 05/04/11
06/04/11
A
Sepahan (IRN)
vs
Al Gharafa (QAT)
B
Esteghlal (IRN)
vs
Pakhtakor (UZB)
A
Al Hilal (KSA)
vs
Al Jazira (UAE)
D
Al Shabab (KSA)
vs
Emirates (UAE)
B
Al Sadd (QAT)
vs
Al Nassr (KSA)
D
Al Rayyan (QAT)
vs
Zobahan (IRN)
C
Bunyodkor (UZB)
vs
Piroozi (IRN)
F
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
vs
FC Seoul (KOR)
C
Al Wahda (UAE)
vs
Al Ittihad (KSA)
F
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
vs
Al Ain (UAE)
E
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
vs
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
H
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
vs
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
E
Jeju United (KOR)
vs
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
H
Sydney FC (AUS)
vs
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
G
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
vs
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
G
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
vs
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
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Matchday Four 19/04/11 B
Al Nassr (KSA)
20/04/11 vs
Al Sadd (QAT)
A
Al Gharafa (QAT)
vs
Sepahan (IRN)
B
Pakhtakor (UZB)
vs
Esteghlal (IRN)
A
Al Jazira (UAE)
vs
Al Hilal (KSA)
D
Emirates (UAE)
vs
Al Shabab (KSA)
C
Piroozi (IRN)
vs
Bunyodkor (UZB)
D
Zobahan (IRN)
vs
Al Rayyan (QAT)
C
Al Ittihad (KSA)
vs
Al Wahda (UAE)
F
FC Seoul (KOR)
vs
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
E
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
vs
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
F
Al Ain (UAE)
vs
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
E
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
vs
Jeju United (KOR)
H
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
vs
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
G
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
vs
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
H
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
vs
Sydney FC (AUS)
G
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
vs
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
Matchday Five 03/05/11
04/05/11
B
Al Sadd (QAT)
vs
Esteghlal (IRN)
A
Sepahan (IRN)
vs
Al Hilal (KSA)
C
Bunyodkor (UZB)
vs
Al Wahda (UAE)
A
Al Gharafa (QAT)
vs
Al Jazira (UAE)
C
Piroozi (IRN)
vs
Al Ittihad (KSA)
B
Al Nassr (KSA)
vs
Pakhtakor (UZB)
D
Al Shabab (KSA)
vs
Al Rayyan (QAT)
E
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
vs
Jeju United (KOR)
D
Emirates (UAE)
vs
Zobahan (IRN)
E
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
vs
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
G
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
vs
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
F
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
vs
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
G
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
vs
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
F
FC Seoul (KOR)
vs
Al Ain (UAE)
H
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
vs
Sydney FC (AUS)
H
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
vs
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
GROUP A
Matchday Six 10/05/11
10
11/05/11
C
Al Wahda (UAE)
vs
Piroozi (IRN)
A
Al Hilal (KSA)
vs
Al Gharafa (QAT)
C
Al Ittihad (KSA)
vs
Bunyodkor (UZB)
A
Al Jazira (UAE)
vs
Sepahan (IRN)
D
Al Rayyan (QAT)
vs
Emirates (UAE)
B
Esteghlal (IRN)
vs
Al Nassr (KSA)
D
Zobahan (IRN)
vs
Al Shabab (KSA)
B
Pakhtakor (UZB)
vs
Al Sadd (QAT)
G
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
vs
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
E
Jeju United (KOR)
vs
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
G
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
vs
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
E
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
vs
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
H
Sydney FC (AUS)
vs
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
F
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
vs
FC Seoul (KOR)
H
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
vs
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
F
Al Ain (UAE)
vs
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
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Group A Al Hilal (KSA)
Al Gharafa (QAT)
Al Jazira (UAE)
Sepahan (IRN)
12
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Hilal (KSA)
Group A
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1957
Address:
PO Box 22544, Riyadh 11416, KSA
Tel:
(+966) 1 431 2222
Fax:
(+966) 1 430 3595
E-mail:
info@alhilal.com
Website:
www.alhilal.com
Stadium:
King Fahd International Stadium
Capacity:
62,685
After failing to advance from the group stage in their first three appearances in 2003, 2004 and 2006, Al Hilal finally progressed to the quarter-finals in 2007 but lost on away goals to Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates. Two years later, they were knocked out by Qatar’s Umm Salal in the round of 16 after going down in a penalty shootout. Their best performance in the competition came last year when they went all the way to the semi-finals before losing 2-0 on aggregate to Iranian side Zobahan.
Media Contact Name:
Abdulkarim Ali Al Jaser
Tel:
(+966) 5986 09339
Fax:
(+966) 1 430 3595
Email:
aaljasser@yahoo.com
MD1 – March 01, 20:30 Al Hilal (KSA) – Sepahan (IRN) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD 4 – April 20, 19:50 Al Jazira (UAE) – Al Hilal (KSA) Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD2 – March 15, 18:30 Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Hilal (KSA) Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha
MD 5 – May 04, 20:30 Sepahan (IRN) – Al Hilal (KSA) Naghsh-E-Jahan Stadium, Esfahan
MD3 – April 5, 20:45 Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Jazira (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD6 – May 11, 21:05 Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Gharafa (QAT) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Domestic Honours: League: 12 - 2010, 08, 05, 02, 1998, 96, 90, 88, 86, 85, 79, 75 Cup: 9 - 2010, 09, 08, 06, 05, 03, 00, 1995, 64
2007/08 League – Champions P W 22 14
Regular season – 1st P W D L F A Pts 22 17 2 3 38 15 53
D 6
L 2
F A Pts 36 13 48
Continental Record: ACL: 2010 – Semi-finals 2009 – Round of 16 2007 – Quarter-finals ACC: 2001 – Quarter-finals 2000 – Champions 1999 – Quarter-finals ACWC: 2002 – Champions 1997 – Champions ASC: 2002 – Runners-up 2000 – Champions
Cup – Winners Beat Ettifaq 2-0 in final
2008/09 League – Runners-up P W 22 15
D 5
L 2
F 41
The 28-year-old striker, who is dubbed ‘The Sniper’ for his goalscoring abilities, has appeared for Al Hilal in three AFC Champions League campaigns but only really displayed his prolific form in the tournament last year when he scored five goals during his side’s run to the semi-finals.
1998 – Semi-finals 1991 – Champions 1986 – Runners-up 1990 – Semi-finals
Mohamad Al Shalhoub
1997 – Champions
Mohamed Al Shalhoub has been an influential figure at Al Hilal since joining the club 11 years ago. The 30-year-old is well known for his creativity and has always proved his worth in the midfield whether with the club or the national team. Al Shalhoub was nominated for the AFC Player of the Year award in 2006 when he finished third. While Al Shalhoub – known as ‘Baby Maradona’ at Al Hilal - usually bosses the game from midfield, he is also a good finisher as he showed by being the top scorer in the league last season.
2009/10 League – Champions A Pts 9 50
Cup – Winners Beat Al Shabab 1-0 aet in final
P W 22 18
D 2
L 2
Christian Wilhelmsson
F A Pts 56 18 56
After spending several years in Italy, England and Spain, Wilhelmsson joined Al Hilal in 2008 on a three-year contract. The Swedish midfielder has so far impressed at the Riyadh club, leading them to victory in the 2009/10 Saudi League and also helping them to win back-to-back Saudi Crown Prince Cup titles.
Cup – Winners Beat Al Ahli 2-1 in final
He played for Al Hilal in nine matches during their run to the semi-finals in the AFC Champions League last year and scored three goals in the competition.
ACL Record Al Wahda Al Kuwait Pakhtakor
14
0-0 (A) 1-1 (H) H A 1-1 0-0 2-0 2-0
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QF GS GS
After leading the Jeddah giants to the Saudi League title and the AFC Champions League final in 2009, Calderon failed to replicate that success last year as Al Ittihad went out in the group stage. He was appointed Al Hilal coach in November 2010.
Regarded as one of Saudi Arabia’s best ever players, Al Qahtani won the AFC Player of the Year award in 2007 after leading his country to the AFC Asian Cup final, scoring four goals along the way.
2006 – Group stage 2004 – Group stage 2003 – Group stage
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Ahli 3-1 on aggregate
2007 – Quarter-finals
The 50-year-old former Argentina international midfielder is now in his third spell as a coach in Saudi Arabia, having previously led the Saudi national team to the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals before taking charge of Al Hilal’s league rivals Al Ittihad for two years.
Yasser Al Qahtani
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – Runners-up Lost 2-1 to Al Ittihad in championship play-off final
Gabriel Calderon
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Al Hilal are one of Asia’s most successful club sides with two Asian Club Championship titles in 1991 and 2000, plus a pair of Asian Cup Winners’ Cups and two Asian Super Cup triumphs. However, the Riyadh side, who have also claimed a record 12 Saudi League titles, have failed to achieve success in the AFC Champions League thus far despite qualifying for six of the first eight editions of the competition.
2008
2009 – Round of 16
Did not qualify
Umm Salal Saba Battery Pakhtakor Al Ahli (UAE)
0-0 (H) 3-4 pens H A 1-1 1-0 2-0 1-1 2-1 3-1
Young star
2010 – Semi-finals
Sultan Al Beshi
R16 GS GS GS
Zobahan Al Gharafa Bunyodkor Al Sadd Mes Kerman Al Ahli (UAE)
0-1 (A) 0-1 (H) 3-0 (H) 2-4 (A) 3-0 (H) H A 0-0 3-0 3-1 1-3 1-1 3-2
SF QF R16 GS GS GS
Equally adept at playing as either a right back or a centre back, the tall Sultan Al Beshi has been an impressive performer in Al Hilal’s back four since he began his professional career with the Riyadh club in 2008. The 20-year-old played in four matches for his country during the AFC U-19 Championship in 2008, which was hosted by his country. However he later suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery in the same year.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Gharafa (KSA)
Group A
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1979
Address:
PO Box 4767, Azigawa, Doha, Qatar
Tel:
(+974) 4489 1555
Fax:
(+974) 4486 8656
Email:
gharafasportsclub@hotmail.com
Website:
www.algharafa.com
Stadium:
Al Gharafa Stadium
Capacity:
25,000
Their performance last year matched what they did in the 1997/98 Asian Cup Winners’ Cup when the club was still called Al Etehad. They also reached the quarter-finals that year but lost 3-2 on aggregate to eventual champions Al Nasr of Saudi Arabia. Al Gharafa have won five Qatar League championships since the turn of the millennium including three consecutive titles. They also achieved a domestic treble two years ago when they won the league, the Emir’s Cup and the Qatar Stars Cup.
Media Contact Name:
Abdulla Thani Al Naimi
Tel:
(+974) 5512 7444
Fax:
(+974) 4486 8656
Email:
nbn88@hotmail.com
Domestic Honours League: 7 - 2010, 09, 08, 05, 02, 1998, 92 Cup: 6 - 2009, 02, 1998, 97, 96, 95
MD1 – March 01, 19:25 Al Jazira (UAE) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD 4 – April 20, 18:50 Al Gharafa (QAT) – Sepahan (IRN) Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha
MD2 – March 15, 18:30 Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Hilal (KSA) Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha
MD 5 – May 04, 19:00 Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Jazira (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD3 – April 5, 20:00 Sepahan (IRN) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Naghsh-E-Jahan Stadium, Esfahan
MD6 – May 11, 21:05 Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Gharafa (QAT) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The 36-year-old attacking midfielder, who was the French League’s Player of the Year in 2006, is a renowned dead-ball specialist and he has scored many of his goals from free-kicks. He also has the experience of playing in numerous UEFA Champions League campaigns during his time at Lyon.
1991 – Preliminary round
Younis Mahmoud Iraq’s international captain has played an important role at Al Gharafa since joining the Qatari club in August 2006 from Al Khor.
Did not participate
He was the top scorer in the league with 19 goals in his first season there and won the Qatar League Player of the Year in the following campaign when he helped the club to retain the title.
Domestic Record 2007 League – Runners-up P W D 27 11 10
L 6
F A Pts 52 41 43
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Sadd 5-4 on penalties after 0-0 draw
2008 League – Champions P W 27 20
D 2
L 5
2009 League – Runners-up
F A Pts 72 35 62
P W 27 17
D 5
L 5
At international level, Mahmoud led his country to victory in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, netting the winner in the final against Saudi Arabia to finish as the tournament’s joint top scorer. He also bagged the tournament’s MVP award.
2010 League – Champions
F A Pts 56 33 56
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Umm Salal 4-1 on penalties after 2-2 draw in final
Cup – Winners Beat Al Rayyan 2-1 in final
2007
2008 – Group stage
2009 – Group stage
Did not qualify
Arbil Pakhtakor Al Qadisiya
P W 22 16
D 5
L 1
16
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A 1-1 0-2 0-1
GS GS GS
Lawrence Quaye
F A Pts 55 16 53
The Ghana-born midfielder recently represented Qatar in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals, having been naturalised after spending four years with Al Gharafa.
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Rayyan 2-1
Quaye started his career with Liberty Professionals in 2001 before joining French outfit Saint Etienne a year later. The 26-yearold midfielder returned to his home club in 2004 and spent a year in Syria with Al Ittihad before joining his current club in July 2007. He has played in four editions of the AFC Champions League and started in 16 matches in the competition.
ACL Record H 0-1 2-2 0-1
The 45-year-old, who led the team to a third consecutive league title last year, has previously been in charge of several big clubs in Brazil including Juventude, Goias, Flamengo and Palmeiras. He was runner-up for the Brazilian league’s coach of the year award in 2007 while he was in charge of Palmeiras.
A former Brazil international midfielder, Juninho joined Al Gharafa in June 2009 after making a name for himself during a highly successful eight-year spell at French giants Lyon where he won seven consecutive league titles and scored 100 goals in 344 appearances.
ACWC: 1998 – Quarter-finals 1997 – 2nd round 1996 – 1st round ASC:
Caio Junior took charge of Al Gharafa in June 2009 after arriving from J.League outfit Vissel Kobe to replace Brazilian compatriot Marcos Paqueta, who successfully led the team to back-to-back Qatar League titles before deciding to step down.
Juninho Pernambucano
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Quarter-finals 2009 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage 2006 – Group stage 2003 – Qualifying round ACC:
Caio Junior
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Despite dominating the domestic football scene in Qatar in recent years, Al Gharafa had to wait until last year to advance past the group stage of the AFC Champions League as they finished top of Group A before they defeated Pakhtakor in the round of 16. However, they went out in the quarter-finals to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal after a remarkable tie that saw the Qatari side come from three goals down to take a 4-3 aggregate lead before conceding two late goals.
Al Shabab Piroozi
Young star
2010 – Quarter-finals
H
A
1-3 5-1
0-1 1-3
GS GS
Al Hilal Pakhtakor Al Jazira Al Ahli (KSA) Esteghlal
0-3 (A) 4-2 (H) 1-0 (H)
H
A
4-2 3-2 1-1
2-1 1-0 0-3
QF R16 GS GS GS
Mohamad Harees The young star broke into the first team of Al Gharafa three years ago and his impressive performances saw him taking part in the 2008 AFC Champions League although he only featured in one match as a substitute. The 19-year-old striker was a key member of the team last year and started in the AFC Champions League for the first time in Al Gharafa’s final group stage match against Al Ahli. He was also part of the Qatar team that took part in the qualifiers for the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Jazira (UAE)
Group A
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1974
Address:
PO Box 7750, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel:
(+971) 2 445 4455
Fax:
(+971) 2 445 4122
E-mail:
info@jc.ae
Website:
www.jc.ae
Stadium:
Mohammed Bin Zayid Stadium
Capacity:
41,951
Despite being established in 1974, Al Jazira had to wait 33 years before claiming their first and, so far, only honours in 2007 when they captured the United Arab Emirates Federation Cup as well as the GCC Club Champions Cup. Al Jazira have yet to win the UAE League title although they are in a good position to end their wait this year after leading the table at the halfway point of the season. They have been strong contenders in recent years, finishing runners-up in the league for the last three seasons and no lower than third since 2005.
Media Contact Name:
Faisal Al Naqbi
Tel:
(+971) 50 520 8040
Fax:
(+971) 2 445 5122
E-mail:
falnaqbi@jc.ae
MD1 – March 01, 19:25 Al Jazira (UAE) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD 4 – April 20, 19:50 Al Jazira (UAE) – Al Hilal (KSA) Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD2 – March 15, 19:00 Sepahan (IRN) – Al Jazira (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD 5 – May 04, 19:00 Al Gharafa (QAT) – Al Jazira (UAE) Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha
Domestic Honours League: Nil Cup: Nil
Veteran coach Abel Braga made his reputation in 2006 when he led Brazilian side Internacional to victory in the Copa Libertadores before landing the FIFA Club World Cup later that year with a 1-0 triumph over Barcelona. The 58-year-old has 26 years of coaching experience, having previously taken charge of a number of big clubs in Brazil including Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Internacional as well as French giants Olympique Marseille in 2000. The former Brazil international defender joined Al Jazira in 2008 and led the team to runner-up finishes in the league in the past three years.
Jader Bare Brazilian striker Bare began his career in 1998 with Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting before joining Brazilian outfits Guarani and Germio. After short spells in Japan and Denmark, he returned to Brazil to play for Botafogo.
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage ACC:
Abel Braga
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Al Jazira are taking part in the AFC Champions League for the third consecutive time but will be looking to make a better impression after failing to advance past the group stage in their previous two appearances. The Abu Dhabi side endured a disappointing campaign last season as they lost four of their six matches and finished last in their group.
He returned to Japan in 2003 and enjoyed successful spells at Omiya Ardija and Ventforet Kofu before leading Gamba Osaka to the J.League Cup in 2007. After helping Gamba through the AFC Champions League group stage during their title-winning run the following year, he moved to the United Arab Emirates to join Al Ahli before moving to league rivals Al Jazira last year.
Did not participate
ACWC: Did not participate MD3 – April 5, 20:45 Al Hilal (KSA) – Al Jazira (UAE) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
ASC:
MD6 – May 11, 20:00 Al Jazira (UAE) – Sepahan (IRN) Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Did not participate
Subait Khater A United Arab Emirates international midfielder, Subait Khater tasted AFC Champions League glory when he played in the Al Ain side that beat BEC Tero Sasana to win the inaugural tournament in 2003.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
After spending over a decade at Al Ain, the midfield veteran moved to league rivals Al Jazira in 2008. Khater is one of his team’s major attacking threats, who is superb with his delivery in dead-ball situations and is also a driving force in midfield with his creative play.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 3rd P W 22 13
D 2
2007/08 League – Runners-up L 7
F A Pts 40 24 41
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Ahli 2-1
P W 22 11
D 6
L 5
Cup – 1st round Lost to Bani Yas 3-1
2008/09 League – Runners-up
F A Pts 46 31 39
P W 22 17
D 3
L 2
2009/10 League – Runners-up
F A Pts 57 17 54
P W 22 15
D 6
L 1
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Wahda 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Shabab 3-0 on penalties after 0-0 draw
2009 – Group stage
2010 – Group stage
ACL Record 2007
2008
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
H
A
Umm Salal Esteghlal Al Ittihad (KSA)
0-1 2-2 0-0
2-2 1-1 1-1
GS GS GS
Al Gharafa Esteghlal Al Ahli (KSA)
Ricardo Oliveira
F A Pts 48 26 51
Brazil international Ricardo Oliveira joined Al Jazira from Spanish Primera Liga side Real Betis last July in a US$14 million deal and the 30-year-old striker has proven to be a good buy so far as he is currently the club’s leading scorer this season. Oliveira brings plenty of experience to the Abu Dhabi side, having played at several top clubs in Brazil and Europe including Valencia and AC Milan. He was also a member of the Brazil national side that won the 2004 Copa America and the FIFA Confederations Cup a year later.
Young star
H
A
1-2 2-1 0-2
2-4 0-0 1-5
Ali Mabkhout GS GS GS
The 20-year-old midfielder is considered as one of Al Jazira’s most promising players, having performed well for the club in the last two years before recently being called up by the United Arab Emirates national youth team. Mabkhout’s impressive performances in the Al Jazira attack earned him a place in the first team during the 2009 AFC Champions League, when he started in two matches and was on target in a 2-2 draw with Esteghlal. He also featured in all of Al Jazira’s matches in last year’s competition.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Sepahan (IRN)
Group A
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1944
Address:
Kavah St., 10th kilometre, Esfahan
Tel:
(+98) 311 667 3018
Fax:
(+98) 311 667 3018
Email:
info@fooladsepahansport.com
Website:
www.fooladsepahansport.com
Stadium:
Foolad Shahr Stadium
Capacity:
12,000
They also reached the 2007 AFC Champions League final, which they lost 3-1 on aggregate to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, and became the first Iranian club to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup. A period of managerial instability followed, before Amir Ghalenoei was brought in and led them to a second title last year. The club’s industrial wealth has enabled them to splash out on big names within the Iranian game. National goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati and his Iran teammates, defenders Jalal Hoseini and Khosro Heidari, are amongst those to have joined the Esfahan side.
Media Contact Name:
Seyed Hamed Asfa
Tel:
(+98) 913 1197764
Fax:
(+98) 913 6289 025
Email:
info@fooladsepahansport.com
Domestic Honours League: 2 – 2010, 03 Cup: 3 – 2007, 06, 04
MD1 – March 01, 20:30 Al Hilal (KSA) – Sepahan (IRN) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD 4 – April 20, 18:50 Al Gharafa (QAT) – Sepahan (IRN) Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha
MD2 – March 15, 19:00 Sepahan (IRN) – Al Jazira (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD 5 – May 04, 20:30 Sepahan (IRN) – Al Hilal (KSA) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD3 – April 5, 20:00 Sepahan (IRN) – Al Gharafa (QAT) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD6 – May 11, 20:00 Al Jazira (UAE) – Sepahan (IRN) Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium, Abu Dhabi
He has won two league titles and a Hazfi Cup and finally made his AFC Asian Cup debut this year after sitting on the bench in 2004 and 2007
Did not participate
ACWC: Did not participate
Khosro Heidari
ASC:
An attacking right-back who has often been used by club and national coaches on the right of midfield. Heidari likes to make overlapping runs but is sometimes unconvincing in a defensive capacity.
Did not participate
After impressing at Abomoslem and Pas, he won the 2008-09 title with Esteghlal and was taken to Sepahan by his coach at ‘The Blues’, Amir Ghalenoei. He regularly lines up in a back five of Iran regulars, including goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati.
Domestic Record
P W 30 14
D 7
2007/08 League – Runners-up L 9
F A Pts 41 28 49
Cup – Winners Beat Saba Battery 4-2 on aggregate in final
However, he has often been found wanting at international level, where he has never qualified a team for the knock-out stages of the AFC Champions League. He was also in charge of Iran at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, where they went out on penalties to Korea Republic in the quarter finals.
Iran’s undisputed No.1 has developed into the country’s best keeper since the legendary Ahmadreza Abedzadeh. An excellent shot stopper, Rahmat kept Iran in with a shout of reaching the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a string of fine saves throughout the qualifying campaign, Rahmati is in his second spell at ‘The Yellows’ after rejoining the club from Mes in 2009.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
2006/07 League – 5th
One of the great characters of Iranian football, Amir Ghalenoei, nicknamed ‘The General’ has a superb record in Iranian domestic football. A legend as a player at Esteghlal, Ghalenoei led ‘The Blues’ to a Hazfi Cup and league titles in 2006 and 2009, and followed that up by winning the 2010 league championship with Sepahan.
Mehdi Rahmati
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage 2007 – Runners-up 2005 – Group stage 2004 – Group stage ACC:
Amir Ghalenoei
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Sepahan were something of a sleeping giant until the early 1990s when they were bought by the cement factory of Esfahan. The club’s ownership later changed hands from cement to steel but within a decade of the original injection of cash, Sepahan had won their first Iranian title, signalling a period of consistent success, which has seen them win three Hazfi Cups and qualify for the AFC Champions League on seven occasions.
P W D 34 17 10
L 7
2008/09 League – 4th
F A Pts 53 38 58
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost 4-2 to Pegah
P W D 34 14 14
2009/10 League – Champions L 6
F A Pts 46 34 56
Cup – 2nd round Lost 1-0 to Piroozi
P W D 34 19 10
L 5
F A Pts 67 30 67
Hadi Aghily
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost 1-0 to Saba Battery
A veteran of Sepahan’s run to the 2007 AFC Champions League final, the Cyprus-born central defender is one of the leaders for club and country, forming a regular partnership with Jalal Hoseini at both levels. Aghily’s confidence from the penalty spot and danger in the opposition’s area has made him one of Iran’s all-time leading defensive scorers. Since being rejected by the Pirouzi youth system, he has won back-to-back Hazfi Cups with Sepahan, as well as last year’s championship.
ACL Record 2007 – Runners-up Urawa Reds 1-1 (H) 0-2 (A) F Al Wahda 3-1 (H) 0-0 (A) SF Kawasaki Frontale 0-0 (H) 0-0 (A) 5-4 pens QF H A Al Shabab 1-0 1-0 GS Al Ain 1-1 2-3 GS Al Ittihad (SYR) 2-1 5-0 GS
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2008 – Group stage
2009 – Group stage
H
A
Kuruvchi Al Ittihad (KSA) Al Ittihad (SYR)
1-1 2-1 0-2
0-2 1-0 1-2
GS GS GS
Young star
2010 – Group stage
H
A
Ettifaq Bunyodkor Al Shabab Al Arabi
3-0 0-1 2-0
1-2 2-2 1-2
GS GS GS
Al Shabab Al Ain Pakhtakor
H
A
1-0 0-0 2-0
1-1 0-2 1-2
Ehsan Hajsafi GS GS GS
Hajsafi burst on to the scene three years ago during Sepahan’s run to the AFC Champions League final. Then, he played as a speedy left winger but is more often used at left-back at both domestic and international levels. His lack of defensive knowhow is sometimes exposed but his long throws are increasingly being seen as a potent weapon. He is yet to realize his early potential but the 21-year-old has already played in the FIFA Club World Cup, won two Hazfi Cups and a league title.
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Group A Fixtures
Matchday 1
01/03/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 2
15/03/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 3
05/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 4
20/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 5
04/05/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 6
Date
11/05/2011 (Wednesday)
Kick-off
Match
Score
20:30
Al Hilal (KSA
vs
Sepahan (IRN)
19:25
Al Jazira (UAE)
vs
Al Gharafa (QAT)
19:00
Sepahan (IRN)
vs
Al Jazira (UAE)
18:30
Al Gharafa (QAT)
vs
Al Hilal (KSA)
20:00
Sepahan (IRN)
vs
Al Gharafa (QAT)
20:45
Al Hilal (KSA)
vs
Al Jazira (UAE)
18:50
Al Gharafa (QAT)
vs
Sepahan (IRN)
19:50
Al Jazira (UAE)
vs
Al Hilal (KSA)
20:30
Sepahan (IRN)
vs
Al Hilal (KSA)
19:00
Al Gharafa (QAT)
vs
Al Jazira (UAE)
21:05
Al Hilal (KSA)
vs
Al Gharafa (QAT)
20:00
Al Jazira (UAE)
vs
Sepahan (IRN)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP B
Group B Esteghlal (IRN)
TAK KHFC
E
IS
1956
TAN TA
EN
K
Pakhtakor (UZB)
K
UZB
T
OR
PA
Al Nassr (KSA)
SH
Al Sadd (QAT)
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Esteghal (IRN)
Group B
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1963
Address:
#68 Western 38 St, Saadat Abad, Tehran
Tel:
(+98) 21 886 92157
Fax:
(+98) 21 886 90152
Email:
info@fcesteghlal.ir
Website:
www.fcesteghlal.ir
Stadium:
Azadi Stadium
Capacity:
100,000
Their haul of trophies includes seven league titles and four domestic cups, and although they are yet to make a mark in the era of the AFC Champions League, they have twice won Asia’s most prestigious club competition in its previous guises. While they were in the shadow of Piroozi in the 1990s, professionalism across the board in Iranian football has meant that Esteghlal now face competition from a variety of clubs whose private funding has given them the ability to compete at the highest level.
Media Contact Name:
Mohammad Hayrani
Tel:
(+98) 912 1168 997
Fax:
(+98) 21 8869 0152
Email:
mhnike@yahoo.com
Their greatest recent success was the 2009 league title but a club the size of Esteghlal will be looking to make their presence felt again on the continental stage.
MD1 – March 01, 17:30 Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Sadd (QAT) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Domestic Honours League: 7 – 2009, 06, 01, 1998, 90, 75, 71 Cup: 5 – 2008, 02, 00, 1996, 77
MD 4 – April 19, 18:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) – Esteghlal (IRN) Pakhtakor Stadium,Tashkent
MD2 – March 15, 20:30 Al Nassr (KSA) – Esteghlal (IRN) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD5 – May 03, 18:25 Al Sadd (QAT) – Esteghlal (IRN) Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
MD3 – April 06, 17:30 Esteghlal (IRN) – Pakhtakor (UZB) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD6 – May 11, 18:00 Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Nassr (KSA) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
2009 – Group stage
ACC:
1991 – Champions 1971 – Semi-finals 1970 – Champions
2002 – 3rd 1999 – Runners-up 1992 – Runners-up
With Foolad, he won the 2004/05 Iranian title and tasted AFC Champions League action in 2006, but then suffered relegation before moving to Esteghlal, where he won the 2009 championship. His first experience of international football came at the 2006 Asian Games but he was one of the unlucky players to be cut from Iran’s provisional squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
ACWC: 2001 – 4th 2000 – 2nd round 1997 – 4th
Iman Mobali A hugely talented, two-footed creative midfielder who is amongst many talented players who hail from the south-western province of Khouzestan, Mobali has represented the Iranian national team at all age levels, including at the 2001 World Youth Cup. However, he has never fulfilled his early promise, failing to hold down a regular place in his nine-year international career.
Did not participate
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
P W D 30 14 10
After spearheading Foolad to the Iranian title in 2004/05, he left for the United Arab Emirates, where he played for Al Shabab, Al Wasl and Al Nasr, before signing for Esteghlal in the summer of 2010. 2007/08 League – 13th
L 6
F A Pts 39 30 52
Cup – 1st round
He showed promise as a coach when he kept Aboomoslem in the top flight after taking over the strugglers midway through the 2007/08 season. But things took off for Mazloumi in 2009 when he led Mes Kerman to third place in the Iran Pro League and a debut berth in the 2010 AFC Champions League, just 10 years after their founding. That in turn led to his appointment in the summer of 2010 as Esteghlal coach.
A right-sided centre-back who can also be used at right-back, Montazeri has been with Esteghlal since 2007, when he signed from Foolad. Good in the air and quick, but suffers from inconsistent form.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 4th
Like his older brother Gholamhosein, Mazloumi was an Esteghlal player for a decade throughout the 1980s. Both brothers represented the national team, although Reza’s contribution was less pronounced.
Pejman Montazeri
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2003 – Group stage
ASC:
Parviz Mazloumi
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Founded in the mid-1940s by a group of cyclists from the army, Esteghlal are one of Iran’s oldest clubs. They share the cavernous Azadi Stadium with bitter rivals Piroozi and were the biggest team in the country before the arrival of The Reds.
P W D L F A Pts 34 11 10 13 44 44 43 Cup – Winners Beat Pegah 3-1 on aggregate in final
2008/09 League – Champions P W 34 19
D 9
L 6
2009/10 League – 3rd
F A Pts 70 34 66
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Mes 5-4 on penalties after 2-2 draw
P W D 34 16 11
L 7
Farhad Majidi
F A Pts 49 32 59
The 33-year-old’s love affair with Esteghlal is in its fourth spell. A talented second striker who links the midfield with the main front man, Majidi is revered by Iranian fans for his touch and aerial ability. He is one of Iranian football’s most decorated players, having won the 2008/09 domestic league, the United Arab Emirates title with Al Ahli and the inaugural AFC Champions League crown with Al Ain in 2003.
Cup – 2nd round Lost 5-4 to Steel Azin
But Majidi’s international career has never taken off since his debut in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup with questions persisting about his ability to deal with the pressure of playing at the highest level.
ACL Record
26
2007
2008
2009 - Group stage
Disqualified for failing to comply with player registration rules
Did not qualify
Al Ittihad (KSA) Umm Salal Al Jazira
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Young star
2010 - Round of 16
H
A
1-1 1-1 1-1
1-2 0-1 2-2
GS GS GS
Al Shabab Al Gharafa Al Ahli (KSA) Al Jazira
2-3 (A)
R16
3-0 2-1 0-0
1-1 2-1 1-2
H
Omid Ravankhah
A
GS GS GS
The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has already won the Hazfi Cup and Iranian league with Esteghlal in the three years he’s been a Blues player. He also tasted life in the AFC Champions League when he faced Al Ittihad in the 2009 group stage. Diminutive and skilful, Ravankhah likes to be at the heart of the action and regularly involves himself in Esteghlal’s attacks. He has already etched his name into the club’s recent history, after scoring twice against their bitter enemy Piroozi in the Tehran derby – a feat that earned him the nickname of ‘Home-And-Away-Omid’.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Nassr (KSA)
Group B
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1955
Address:
P.O. Box 60506, Riyadh 11555, KSA
Tel:
(+966) 262 4464
Fax:
(+966) 262 4494
Email:
nsc.professionals@yahoo.com
Website:
www.nassr.com
Stadium:
King Fahd International Stadium
Capacity:
62,685
The Riyadh-based side were among the leading quartet of clubs in the Saudi league alongside Al Ittihad and city rivals Al Hilal and Al Shabab and won five domestic league titles from 1980 to 1995. They reached their pinnacle of success in 1998 when they won both the Asian Cup Winners Cup and Asian Super Cup. That earned them a place in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup two years later, which led to their fans dubbing the club “The Global”. However, they have endured tough times since the turn of the millennium and were nearly relegated in 2007. They bounced back to win the Federation Cup a year later before finishing third in 2010, their best league position in eight years, which secured them a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time.
Media Contact Name
Talal Bader Al Najjar
Tel
(+966) 5552 50003
Fax
(+966) 1262 4494
talal0003@hotmail.com
MD1 – March 01, 17:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Nassr (KSA) Pakhtakor Stadium,Tashkent
MD 4 – April 19, 20:40 Al Nassr (KSA) – Al Sadd (QAT) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD2 – March 15, 20:30 Al Nassr (KSA) – Esteghlal (IRN) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD 5 – May 04, 20:45 Al Nassr (KSA) – Pakhtakor (UZB) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD3 – April 06, 18:15 Al Sadd (QAT) – Al Nassr (KSA) Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Domestic Honours League: 6 - 1995, 94, 89, 81, 80, 76 Cup: 2 - 1974, 73
Victor Figueroa began his career in his native Argentina in 2002 with Chacarita Juniors and spent four years there before moving to Belgium to play for top flight side Germinal. After a short spell in Europe, he returned home to play for Atletico Sarmiento before rejoining Chacarita Juniors in 2007.
ACC:
The quick 27-year-old forward joined Argentinian rivals Godoy Cruz on loan in 2008 and scored nine goals in 36 matches before moving to Saudi Arabia to join Al Nassr a year later.
1997 – Quarter-finals 1995 – Runners-up
ASC:
Hussein Sulaimani
1998 – Champions
One of the most experienced international players in Saudi Arabia, Hussein Sulaimani is considered to be one of the country’s best ever left-backs. Having started his career with Al Ahli in 1997, Sulaimani played for the Jeddah giants for 11 years before moving to Switzerland where he had a short spell at Neuchatel Xamax.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
P W 22 5
D 6
The 34-year-old, who started in all of Saudi Arabia’s matches at three World Cup finals from 1998 to 2006, returned to Saudi Arabia in 2009 to join Al Nassr. 2007/08 League – 5th
L F A Pts 11 24 37 21
Cup – 1st round Lost to Al Faisaly 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw
After hanging up his boots, Skocic turned to coaching at his home club Rijeka in 2005 before moving a year later to Slovenia to take charge of Interblock Ljubljana. He joined Kuwaiti side Al Arabi in 2009 and then crossed the border to Saudi Arabia at the beginning of the year to take charge of Al Nassr, where he replaced Italian coach Walter Zenga.
Continental Record ACL: Did not participate
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 9th
The 42-year-old Croatian began his football career with Rijeka and had spells in Spain with Las Palmas and Compostela before playing in the United Arab Emirates for Al Ittihad Kalba’a.
Victor Figueroa
ACWC: 1999 – 2nd round 1998 – Champions 1991 – Runners-up
MD6 – May 11, 18:00 Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Nassr (KSA) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Dragan Skocic
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Once a major force in Saudi and continental club football, Al Nassr are making their debut in the AFC Champions League in 2011 after a few years in the wilderness.
P W 22 9
D 6
2008/09 League – 5th L 7
Cup – 1st round Lost to Al Hilal 2-0
F A Pts 34 35 33
P W 22 10
D 4
2009/10 League – 3rd L 8
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Hilal 1-0
F A Pts 24 22 34
P W 22 12
D 7
L 3
Razvan Cocis
F A Pts 38 23 43
A Romania international, Razvan Cocis joined Al Nassr from Romanian club FC Timisoara last May and the 27-year-old has gone on to become a vital cog in the midfield for the Riyadh side.
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Hilal 2-1 aet
A versatile attacker, who can be deployed either in midfield or as a striker, Cocis began his football career with Universitatea Cluj at the age of 18 in 2001 before joining Moldovan giants Sheriff Tiraspol three years later. After two years in Moldova, he moved to Russia for a two-year spell at Lokomotiv Moscow before returning home to join Timisoara.
ACL Record 2007
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Young star Ibrahim Ghaleb The 19-year-old midfielder joined Al Nassr’s youth team in 2006 and his impressive performances with the U-17 team saw him promoted to the first team in 2009, He continued his good form with the club that season and was named the Saudi League’s best young player in that campaign. Having represented his country at U-17 and U-20 levels, Ghaleb made his senior debut for Saudi Arabia in 2010 in an international friendly against Tunisia and played in two other friendlies but was not included in the AFC Asian Cup 2011 squad.
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TAK KHFC
OR
E
Pakhtakor (UZB)
T
IS
1956
TAN
EN
UZB
K
Group B
K
PA
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
H TAS
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1956
Address:
Uzbekistan Str, 98A, PO Box 100027, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tel:
(+998) 71 1130008
Fax:
(+998) 71 1130009
Email:
info@pakhtakor.uz
Website:
www.pakhtakor.uz
Stadium:
Pakhtakor Stadium
Capacity:
35,000
The Tashkent-based side maintained their remarkable record by booking their spot in the 2011 competition after finishing second in the Uzbek League last season. For all of their domestic success, Pakhtakor have, so far, failed to deliver on the continental stage. They reached the semi-finals in the first two seasons of the AFC Champions League in 2003 and 2004 but then failed to get past the group stage in the next four seasons.
Media Contact Name:
Behzod Nazarov
Tel:
(+998) 98 3023216
Fax:
(+998) 71 1130009
Email:
nazarov_fe@mail.ru
Their poor run ended in 2009 when they reached the quarter-finals and they progressed past the group stage again last year but went out in the round of 16 after a 1-0 loss to Qatari side Al Gharafa.
MD1 – March 01, 17:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Nassr (KSA) Pakhtakor Stadium,Tashkent
Domestic Honours League: 8 – 2007, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02, 1998, 92 Cup: 10 – 2009, 07, 06, 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 1997, 93
MD 4 – April 19, 18:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) – Esteghlal (IRN) Pakhtakor Stadium,Tashkent
MD2 – March 06, 18:05 Al Sadd (QAT) – Pakhtakor (UZB) Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
MD 5 – May 04, 20:45 Al Nassr (KSA) – Pakhtakor (UZB) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD3 – April 06, 17:30 Esteghlal (IRN) – Pakhtakor (UZB) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD6 – May 11, 18:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Sadd (QAT) Pakhtakor Stadium,Tashkent
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Quarter-finals 2008 – Group stage 2007 – Group stage ACC: 2000 – 1st round
Stanislav Andreev One of the brightest young prospects in Uzbekistan football, Stanislav Andreev’s career has taken off since he joined Paktakhor from Tupalang in 2007. He made his international debut for Uzbekistan in 2009 at the age of 20 and, while he mainly plays as a winger for his club, he was utilised at left-back by his country during the recent AFC Asian Cup.
Did not participate
While he is not the paciest of players, the 22-year-old possesses plenty of skill, is a good passer and crosser of the ball and is excellent in dead-ball situations.
2007 League – Champions L 0
2008 League – Runners-up F A Pts 83 13 82
Cup – Winners Beat Kuruvchi 7-6 on penalties after 0-0 draw in final
P W 30 23
D 5
L 2
2009 League – Runners -up
F A Pts 64 14 74
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Bunyodkor 3-1 (aet) in final
P W D 30 18 10
L 2
2010 League – Runners-up
F A Pts 69 16 64
Cup – Winners Beat Bunyodkor 1-0 in final
P W 26 17
D 8
L 3
30
H
A 0-2 1-0
w w w. t h e - a f c . c o m
GS GS
Alexander Geynrikh originally joined Pakhatkor as an 18-year-old in 2002 and re-signed for the Tashkent side four years ago after spells at Russian clubs CSKA Moscow and Torpedo Moscow.
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Shortan 2-3 on aggregate
While he has been hampered by injury in recent years, he has continued to score crucial goals for his club including their stoppage-time winner in the AFC Champions League round of 16 clash against Ettifaq in 2009. He has also scored for his country in the last three AFC Asian Cups including a spectacular long-range strike against China at this year’s tournament in Qatar.
2008 – Group stage
0-2 2-1
Alexander Geynrikh
F A Pts 41 19 57
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage Al Hilal Al Kuwait
He led his national team to the 2004 Asian Cup where they won all three of their group game before unfortunately going out on penalties to Bahrain in the quarter-finals.
In addition to marshalling the defence, the 28-year-old Serbian also does his bit in the opposition half, scoring and setting up a fair number of goals as well as regularly taking his side’s penalties. He started in all seven of Pakhtakor’s games during their AFC Champions League campaign in 2010.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
D 4
The 49-year-old is perhaps best known for his time as the national coach of Uzbekistan.
Since joining Pakhtakor in 2009, Bojan Miladinovic has become a key member of the back-four for the Tashkent side with his tall and commanding presence in central defence.
2006 – Group stage 2005 – Group stage 2004 – Semi-finals 2003 – Semi-finals
Domestic Record
P W 30 26
Having previously enjoyed success as a coach at Pakhtakor, Ravshan Haydarov returned to the club last May for his third spell in charge of the Tashkent giants, following the departure of Montenegrin coach Miodrag Radulovic.
Bojan Miladinovic
ACWC: 2002 – 2nd round 1999 – Quarter-finals 1995 – Preliminary Rd ASC:
Ravshan Haydarov
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Although their position as the top club in Uzbekistan has been usurped in recent years by Bunyodkor, Pakhtakor hold the distinction of being the only team to have qualified for all nine editions of the AFC Champions League.
Al Qadisiya Al Gharafa Arbil
2009 – Quarter-finals
H
A
0-1 2-0 2-0
2-2 2-2 5-1
GS GS GS
Al Ittihad Al Ittifaq Al Ahli (UAE) Al Hilal (KSA) Saba Battery
Young star
2010 – Round of 16
1-1 (H) 0-4 (A) 2-1 (A)
H
A
2-0 1-1 2-1
2-1 0-2 2-0
QF R16 GS GS GS
Al Gharafa Al Ain Al Shabab (KSA) Sepahan
0-1 (A)
H
A
3-2 1-3 2-1
1-0 1-2 0-2
R16 GS GS GS
Vladimir Kozak A graduate of the Pakhtakor football academy, Vladimir Kozak made his senior debut for the club in 2009 at the age of 16 when he appeared in a league match against Metallurg. A versatile wide man, who can play either as a left-back or a left winger, the 17-year-old possesses plenty of pace and is also an excellent dribbler. He was one of the key members of the Uzbekistan side that reached the quarter-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship on home soil in 2010.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Sadd (QAT)
Group B
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1969
Address:
P.O. Box 2122, Doha, Qatar
Tel:
(+974) 4444 8080
Fax:
(+974) 4444 8091
Email:
alsaddclub@al-saddclub.com
Website:
www.al-saddclub.com
Stadium:
Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
Capacity:
15,000
Having finished runners-up to Al Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League last season, the Doha club had to negotiate the West Zone play-offs in February in order to qualify for the AFC Champions League for an eighth time. However, the experienced campaigners achieved qualification with little real trouble, thrashing Al Ittihad of Syria 5-1 at Sheik Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in the first round before downing Indian club Dempo 2-0 at home in the second round thanks to goals by Abdul Kader Keita and Leandro.
Media Contact Name:
Ali Khalifa Al Dosari
Tel:
(+974) 6656 652
Fax:
(+974) 4444 8091
Email:
ali-alamar70@hotmail.com
MD1 – March 01, 17:30 Esteghlal (IRN) – Al Sadd (QAT) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD 4 – April 19, 20:40 Al Nassr (KSA) – Al Sadd (QAT) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD2 – March 16, 18:05 Al Sadd (QAT) – Pakhtakor (UZB) Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
MD3 – April 05, 18:15 Al Sadd (QAT) – Al Nassr (KSA) Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
MD5 – May 03, 18:25 Al Sadd (QAT) – Esteghlal (IRN) Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
MD6 – May 11, 18:00 Pakhtakor (UZB) – Al Sadd (QAT) Pakhtakor Stadium,Tashkent
Domestic Honours League: 12 - 2007, 06, 04, 00, 1989, 88, 87, 81, 80, 79, 74, 72 Cup: 12 - 2007, 05, 03, 00, 1994, 91, 88, 86, 85, 82, 77, 75 Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage 2007 – Group stage 2006 – Group stage ACC: 2000 – 2nd round 1991 – Group stage ACWC: 2002 – Semi-finals 2001 – 2nd round ASC: Did not participate
P W 27 17
D 4
L 6
F A Pts 52 29 55
Cup – Winners Beat Al Khor 5-4 on penalties after 0-0 draw
P W 27 16
D 5
L 6
2008/09 League – Runners-up
F A Pts 54 38 53
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Umm Salal 2-3
P W D 27 14 10
L 3
F A Pts 60 25 52
The lanky 30-year-old central midfielder initially joined Al Sadd from his first club, Qatar SC, in 2004 and returned last year for a second spell at the Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium after spending a season with their Qatar league rivals Al Khor.
1990 – Preliminary round 1989 - Champions
Lee Jung-soo
1995 – Quarter-finals 1992 – 1st round
Korea Republic international defender Lee Jung-soo made the switch to Al Sadd last July after helping Japanese side Kashima Antlers to reach the last 16 of the AFC Champions League and then netting two goals during his country’s FIFA World Cup campaign in South Africa. The well-built and speedy 31-year-old began his career as a forward but has gone on to become a first-choice centre-back for the Taeguk Warriors. However he still possesses tremendous attacking instincts which were clearly in evidence when he poached goals against Greece and Nigeria at the World Cup.
2009/10 League – Runners-up P W 22 15
D 5
L 2
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Gharafa 7-6 on penalties after 2-2 draw
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Rayyan 1-0
Al Karama Al Najaf Neftchi
2008 – Group stage
2009
2010 – Group stage
H
A
1-1 1-4 2-0
1-2 0-1 1-2
GS GS GS
Al Ahli (KSA) Al Wahda (UAE) Al Karama
H
A
2-1 2-2 0-2
2-2 0-0 0-1
GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Al Hilal Al Ahli (UAE) Mes Kerman
Nadir Belhadj
F A Pts 55 22 50
A versatile left-back, who can also operate as a centre-back or left winger, Nadir Belhadj joined Al Sadd from Portsmouth last summer after playing for the English side in the FA Cup final. While he was born and raised in France, played for the country’s U-18 international team and was on the books of top-flight sides Lyon and Lens, Belhadj opted to play international football for Algeria. He made his debut for the Desert Foxes in 2004 and appeared in all three of their games during the FIFA World Cup finals in 2010.
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage
The former Uruguay and Qatar national coach, who led Al Sadd through the AFC Champions League group stage in 2006 and 2007, tasted success in the 2009 Recopa Sudamericana with Ecuadorian giants LDU Quito. However, his hopes of lifting the Asian crown last year were dashed in the semi-finals when Al Shabab lost on away goals to eventual winners Seongnam Chunma.
Born in Kuwait, Wesam Rizik has been a stalwart in midfield in the Qatar national team over the past decade, appearing for his country at three consecutive AFC Asian Cups and playing every minute of their four games during the 2011 tournament on home soil.
2005 – Quarter-finals 2004 – Group stage 2003 – Group stage
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
2007/08 League – Runners-up
Having nearly reached last season’s AFC Champions League final with Al Shabab, Jorge Fossati was dismissed by the Saudi club in December but he is back for another crack at the continental title after being put in charge of Al Sadd for a second time.
Wesam Rizik
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – Champions
Jorge Fossati
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Apart from ever-presents Pakhtakor, Al Sadd have made the most appearances in the AFC Champions League since the introduction of the tournament in 2003, playing in every edition apart from 2009. However the 1988 Asian Club Championship winners have only made it past the group stage once before in 2005 when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Korean side Busan I’Park.
Young star
H
A
0-3 2-2 4-1
0-0 5-0 1-3
Yusef Ahmed GS GS GS
A former Qatar U-17 international player, Yusef Ahmed shot to prominence during the AFC Asian Cup in January when he netted both of his country’s goals in a crucial 2-0 win over China during the group stage. The first of the brace was a spectacular volley from the edge of the Chinese box that was one of the goals of the tournament. The 22-year-old, who was born in Saudi Arabia, made his debut for Al Sadd in 2005 and had a loan spell at Qatar SC in 2009 before returning to his parent club where he played in three AFC Champions League matches last year.
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Group B Fixtures
Matchday 6
Matchday 5
Matchday 4
Matchday 3
Matchday 2
Matchday 1
Date
Kick-off
Match
Score
17:30
Esteghlal (IRN)
vs Al Sadd (QAT)
17:00
Pakhtakor (UZB)
vs Al Nassr (KSA)
15/03/2011 (Tuesday)
20:30
Al Nassr (KSA)
vs Esteghlal (IRN)
16/03/2011 (Sunday)
18.05
Al Sadd (QAT)
vs Pakhtakor (UZB)
05/04/2011 (Tuesday)
18.15
Al Sadd (QAT)
vs Al Nassr (KSA)
06/04/2011 (Wednesday)
17:30
Esteghlal (IRN)
vs Pakhtakor (UZB)
20:40
Al Nassr (KSA)
vs Al Sadd (QAT)
18:00
Pakhtakor (UZB)
vs Esteghlal (IRN)
03/05/2011 (Tuesday)
18.25
Al Sadd (QAT)
vs Esteghlal (IRN)
04/05/2011 (Wednesday)
20:45
Al Nassr (KSA)
vs Pakhtakor (UZB)
18:00
Esteghlal (IRN)
vs Al Nassr (KSA)
18:00
Pakhtakor (UZB)
vs Al Sadd (QAT)
01/03/2011 (Tuesday)
19/04/2011 (Tuesday)
11/05/2011 (Wednesday)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP C
Group C Al Wahda (UAE)
Piroozi (IRN)
Al Ittihad (KSA)
Bunyodkor (UZB)
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Al Wahda (UAE)
Group C
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1966
Address:
Al Diffaa Street, PO Box 4388, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel:
(+971) 2 443 3000
Fax:
(+971) 2 443 3001
E-mail:
wahdas@emirates.net.ae
Website:
www.alwahdaclub.net
Stadium:
Al Nahyan Stadium
Capacity:
11,842
The Abu Dhabi club have been regular participants in Asia’s continental tournaments since their debut in the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998. They reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Club Championship in 2002 and reached the same stage in the AFC Champions League two years later, when they lost 5-1 on aggregate to Pakhtakor. Their best performance in the AFC Champions League came in 2007 when they eliminated Saudi giants Al Hilal on away goals in the last eight but lost 3-1 on aggregate to Iranian side Sepahan in the semifinals.
Media Contact
However, they failed to get past the group stage in 2008 and again last year, when they finished last in their group after losing five of their six games. However, their 1-0 win over Zobahan was the only loss suffered by the Iranian club on their run to the final.
Name:
Mansoul Ameur
Tel:
(+971) 5046 41939
Fax:
(+971) 2 446 7171
E-mail:
mansoul_ameur@yahoo.fr
Domestic Honours League: 4 - 2010, 05, 01, 1999 Cup: 1 - 2000
MD1 – March 02, 20:00 Al Wahda (UAE) – Bunyodkor (UZB) Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD 4 – April 20, 20:50 Al Ittihad (KSA) – Al Wahda (UAE) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
MD2 – March 16, 17:30 Piroozi (IRN) – Al Wahda (UAE) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD 5 – May 03, 18:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) – Al Wahda (UAE) Jar Stadium, Tashkent
MD3 – April 05, 20:20 Al Wahda (UAE) – Al Ittihad (KSA) Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD6 – May 10, 20:30 Al Wahda (UAE) – Piroozi (IRN) Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Fernando Baiano A former Brazil U-20 international, Fernando Baiano enjoyed great success three years ago with Al Wahda’s Abu Dhabi rivals Al Jazira, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 25 goals before moving to Al Wahda in June 2009.
Did not participate
The 31-year-old striker, who previously played for Corinthians and Flamengo in his homeland, Wolfsburg in Germany, and Malaga and Celta Vigo in Spain, appeared for Al Jazira in the 2009 AFC Champions League and for Al Wahda last year although he failed to score any goals.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – Runners-up P W 22 13
D 4
L 5
2007/08 League – 8th
F A Pts 40 34 43
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Al Shaab 3-2
P W 22 8
D 6
2008/09 League – 4th L 8
F A Pts 42 42 30
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Ahli 3-1
P W 22 10
D 4
The 61-year-old was appointed by Al Wahda in 2008 after resigning as coach of Austria for a second time. He led the Abu Dhabi side to their fourth title in 2010 before moving to Bahrain where he had a short spell with the national team but returning to Al Wahda at the end of last year.
After impressing in the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Championship, Matar continued his good form with Al Wahda as he led them to the 2005 UAE League championship, scoring 11 goals in 18 matches. The 27-year-old has played in all four of Al Wahda’s previous AFC Champions League campaigns and helped them to reach the semi-finals in 2007.
2002 – Group stage 2000 – 1st round
ASC:
He has coached several clubs in the Gulf region including Al Ahli in Bahrain, Al Shaab and Al Wasl in UAE and Al Gharafa in Qatar as well as taking charge of the Bahrain national team in 1996.
Ismail Matar is arguably the most talented attacking midfielder in the United Arab Emirates and his impressive skills have played a major part in the recent success of both Al Wahda and the UAE national team.
ACWC: 2001 – 1st round 1999 – 1st round
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Josef Hickersberger was a midfielder in the Austria squad that played at the 1978 World Cup and coached his national team at the 1990 World Cup and 2008 European Championships.
Ismail Matar
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage 2007 – Semi-finals 2006 – Group stage 2004 – Quarter-finals ACC:
Josef Hickersberger
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Al Wahda won their fourth United Arab Emirates League title in decisive fashion in 2010, finishing seven points clear of runners-up Al Jazira, to earn qualification to the AFC Champions League for the sixth time.
2009/10 League – Champions L 8
F A Pts 40 39 34
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Shabab 2-1
P W 22 19
D 1
L 2
Mohamed Al Shehhi
F A Pts 45 15 58
A quick forward, Mohamed Al Shehhi has earned the nickname of “Ghost” due to his superb pace. He was chosen as the best young player in the United Arab Emirates League in 2007 when he was just 18 and went on to win the league’s best player award the following year.
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Emirates 1-0
The 22-year-old striker has played for Al Wahda in three editions of the AFC Champions League and was also a member of his country’s Gulf Cup-winning team in 2007.
ACL Record 2007 – Semi-finals Sepahan Al Hilal Al Rayyan Al Arabi (KUW) Al Zawraa
38
2008 – Group stage
1-3 (A) 0-0 (H) 0-0 (H) 1-1 (A)
H
A
3-0 4-1 1-1
1-0 2-3 2-1
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SF QF GS GS GS
Al Karama Al Sadd Al Ahli (KSA)
H
A
1-0 2-2 2-1
1-4 0-0 0-0
GS GS GS
2009
2010 – Group stage
Did not qualify
Zobahan Bunyodkor Al Ittihad (KSA)
Young star
H
A
1-0 1-2 0-2
0-1 1-4 0-4
Khalid Jalal GS GS GS
Khalid Jalal broke into Al Wahda’s first team last season after being a key player for the club’s reserve team. His impressive form saw him featuring in three matches for Al Wahda in the AFC Champions League in 2010. The 19-year-old midfielder, who has been nicknamed Al Wahda’s “Prince” due to his unique and elegant performances for the team, played for the United Arab Emirates in the AFC U-19 Championship in 2010 before earning a call-up to his country’s Olympic national team.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Piroozi (IRN)
Group C
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1963
Address:
No 19, 15 Street. Piruzan, St. North Sheykh Bahee St. Tehran
Tel:
(+98)
Fax:
+62) 98 8804 5040
Email:
info@fc-perspolis.com
Website:
fc-perspolis.com
Stadium:
Azadi Stadium
Capacity:
100,000
However, despite winning the first ever Iranian Pro League title in 2003, the advent of professionalism in Iranian football has seen them caught and overtaken by other, richer clubs. If the club’s financial clout is not as great as others, the pull of its history, traditions and place in Iranian football still attracts big names, such as current coach Ali Daei and Iran’s coach at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Afshin Ghotbi. It was under Ghotbi that Piroozi had their most memorable success since the 1990s, when they beat Sepahan 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal on the last day of the 2007/08 season to pip the Esfahan side to the title.
Media Contact
Fixtures
Name:
Mansour Beikmohammadlou
Tel:
(+98) 912 148 1242
Fax:
(+62) 98 8804 5040
Email:
info@fc-perspolis.com
MD 4 – April 20, 17:30 Piroozi (IRN) – Bunyodkor (UZB) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD2 – March 16, 17:30 Piroozi (IRN) – Al Wahda (UAE) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD 5 – May 03, 17:30 Piroozi (IRN) – Al Ittihad (KSA) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD3 – April 05, 18:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) – Piroozi (IRN) Jar Stadium, Tashkent
MD6 – May 10, 20:30 Al Wahda (UAE) – Piroozi (IRN) Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Domestic Honours League: 9 – 2008, 02, 00, 1999, 97, 96, 76, 74, 72 Cup: 4 – 2010, 1999, 91, 88
P W D 30 14 11
2007/08 League – Champions L 5
F A Pts 49 33 53
Cup – Semi-finals Lost 4-1 to Sepahan
P W D 34 18 11
L 5
F A Pts 55 34 59
He usually plays as a link man between the midfield and a lone striker in a position which allows him to dictate the play.
ACC: ACWC:
2001 – 3rd 2000 – 3rd 1998 – 4th
ASC:
Did not participate
1997 – 3rd 1988 – Group stage
1993 – Quarter-finals 1992 – Runners-up 1990 – Champions
Golamreza Rezaei Scored on his international debut for Iran in 2008 but suffered a frustrating 2009 with injuries. Rezaei is a favourite of legendary striker Ali Daei who gave him his first Iran cap and coached him at Saipa before signing him for Piroozi in the summer of 2010. He is a talented dribbler who likes to run at defenders and prefers to play down the flanks in a three-pronged forward line rather than down the middle.
Cup – 2nd round Lost 3-0 to Pas Hamedan
2008/09 League – 5th P W D 34 15 10
This is Daei’s first managerial job since he was sacked as Iran coach in 2009 when it became highly unlikely that Team Melli would qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. That came after a stunning first season as coach, when he became player-coach of Saipa and took them from mid-table to an improbable maiden title.
A clever attacking midfielder who has been on the fringes of the national team since making his debut just before the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, to which he was taken but not used. Good on the ball with a strong shot and dangerous from set pieces, Nouri’s weakness is that he can get out-muscled.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 3rd
Iran’s legendary striker, who once played for Piroozi, is in his first full season in charge of the club. In December, a year after taking up the post and after a run of five defeats, he tendered his resignation, which was not accepted by the board.
Mohammad Nouri
Continental Record ACL: 2009 – Round of 16 2003 – Group stage
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Ali Daei.
Star Players
Facts & Stats
MD1 – March 02, 20:35 Al Ittihad (KSA) – Piroozi (IRN) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Coach
Piroozi, who were officially called Perspolis before the Islamic Revolution, are Iran’s most popular club and one of the biggest in Asia. Since their founding in the 1960s, the Reds have won nine league titles, four domestic cups and the inaugural Asian Cup Winners Cup.
2009/10 League – 4th L 9
F A Pts 50 41 55
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost 2-1 to Pas Hamadan
P W D 34 13 14
L 7
Vahid Hashemian
F A Pts 46 40 53
After two unhappy years at Bundesliga club Bochum, in which he played less than 50 games, the former Iran international striker ended an absence of more than a decade from the domestic game by signing for Piroozi in December. His time in Germany, which included a year at Bayern Munich, saw Hashemian acquire the nickname of ‘The Helicopter’ in recognition of his aerial prowess.
Cup – Winners Beat Gostaresh 4-1 on aggregate in final
After a self-imposed exile from the national team, he was persuaded back by coach Branko Ivankovic in time to play at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
ACL Record 2007
2008
2009 – Round of 16
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Bunyodkor Al Gharafa Al Shabab (KSA)
2010
0-1 (H)
R16
3-1 1-0
1-5 0-0
H
Did not qualify
A
GS GS
Young star Hamidreza Aliasghar The versatile defender made his debut for the Reds aged just 17 and has gone from strength to strength since. He can play at right-back or left-back and as his confidence in the youngster has grown, coach Ali Daei has encouraged him to push further up the field in an attacking role. Aliasghar is a diminutive player who hugs the touchline and possesses a fearsome shot. He was handed his national team debut in August 2010 against Armenia.
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Al Ittihad (KSA)
Group C
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1929
Address:
PO Box 5945, Jeddah 21432, KSA
Tel:
(+966) 2672 8888
Fax
(+966) 2671 5184
E-mail:
itti_football@yahoo.com
Website:
www.alittihad.com.sa
Stadium:
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium
Capacity:
21,482
But after coming so close to a third title, the Jeddah giants were a huge disappointment in 2010 when they failed to get past the group stage after they finished third in their group behind Iranian side Zobahan and Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan. They put themselves on the back foot after losing 3-0 at Bunyodkor and throwing away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw against Zobahan in their first two games. They still had a chance to advance with victory in their final match but a 1-0 defeat to the eventual finalists in Iran saw them make an early exit.
Media Contact Name:
Majid Daleheelallah Al Malki
Tel:
(+966) 5046 39280
Fax:
(+966) 2671 5184
Email:
itti_football@yahoo.com
They booked their spot in the AFC Champions League for the seventh time after finishing second in the league behind Al Hilal in 2009/10 and ensured they did not end the campaign empty-handed by winning the Saudi Champions Cup.
Domestic Honours League: 8 - 2009, 07, 03, 01, 00, 1999, 97, 82 Cup: 7 - 2004, 01, 1997, 91, 63, 59, 58
MD1 – March 02, 20:35 Al Ittihad (KSA) – Piroozi (IRN) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
MD 4 – April 20, 20:50 Al Ittihad (KSA) – Al Wahda (UAE) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
MD2 – March 16, 17:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) – Al Ittihad (KSA) Jar Stadium, Tashkent
MD 5 – May 03, 17:30 Piroozi (IRN) – Al Wahda (UAE) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD3 – April 05, 20:20 Al Wahda (UAE) – Al Ittihad (KSA) Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD6 – May 10, 21:00 Al Ittihad (KSA) – Bunyodkor (UZB) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2009 – Runners-up 2008 – Group stage ACC: 2002 – 2nd round 2001 – Quarter-finals ACWC: 2000 – Quarter-finals 1999 – Champions ASC:
P W 22 15
D 3
L 4
F A Pts 52 25 48
The 32-year-old played a big part in Al Ittihad’s two AFC Champions League winning campaigns in 2004 and 2005 and he was also impressive in 2009, when he scored four goals including the consolation in the final against Pohang Steelers.
1995 – 3rd 1993 – Semi-final
Abdelmalek Ziaya An Algeria international striker, Abdelmalek Ziayi began his career with ES Guelma in 2002 before moving to Algerian giants ES Setif, where he played an important role in their 2006/07 Arab Champions League victory, scoring a goal against his current club during the group stage.
1999 – Runners-up
His impressive skills and his physical stature earned him a two-year contract with Al Ittihad in January 2010 and he went on to become a key player for the team, playing in five matches in the 2010 AFC Champions League and scoring three goals. 2007/08 League – Runners-up P W 22 14
D 6
L 2
2008/09 League – Champions
F A Pts 40 16 48
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Ettifaq 2-1
P W 22 17
D 4
L 1
2009/10 League – Runners-up
F A Pts 57 21 55
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Nassr 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 draw
P W 22 14
D 3
L 5
Naif Hazazi
F A Pts 46 30 45
Naif Hazazi has been seen as the likely heir to the recently retired Saudi Arabia striker Hamza Idris since he made a flying start with Al Ittihad two years ago, scoring 14 goals in 31 appearances. The 21-year-old striker scored his first goal for Al Ittihad’s first team in their 3-0 win over their namesakes from Syria during the group stage of the 2008 AFC Champions League.
Cup – 1st round Lost to Al Najran 2-1
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Al Ahli 2-1 in final
He played in five games during the 2009 AFC Champions League and scored three goals before missing the majority of last season through injury.
ACL Record
42
2007
2008 – Group stage
Did not qualify
Kuruvchi Al Ittihad (SYR) Sepahan
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The well-travelled 64-year-old also spent time as coach of French club Bordeaux, Spanish side Sevilla, China’s Shenyang Jinde and Egyptian giants Al Ahly before taking charge of Al Ittihad’s Saudi League rivals Al Ittifaq in 2007. He became the head coach of Al Ittihad in 2010.
Mohammed Noor, who is generally considered as one of the best midfielders in Asia, has spent his entire career at Al Ittihad since he turned professional in 1996. With his impressive skills, the Al Ittihad captain has become a mainstay in midfield for both club and country over the past decade although he did not play for Saudi Arabia at the recent AFC Asian Cup.
2006 – Quarter-finals 2005 – Champions 2004 – Champions
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Beat Al Hilal 2-1 in final Regular season – 2nd
A former Portugal international midfielder, Antonio Oliveira first made his mark as a coach at Lisbon giants Benfica, a club where he spent 13 years as a player. He had three spells in charge of his former club, leading them to the European Cup final in 1988 and winning the Portuguese league title six years later.
Mohammed Noor
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – Champions
Antonio Oliveira
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Winners of consecutive AFC Champions League titles in 2004 and 2005, Al Ittihad missed out on becoming the first team to be crowned Asian champions three times when they lost in the final of 2009 edition against Korean side Pohang Steelers.
2009 – Runners-up
H
A
1-0 3-0 0-1
0-2 1-0 1-2
GS GS GS
Pohang Steelers Nagoya Grampus Pakhtakor Al Shabab Esteghlal Umm Salal Al Jazira
Young star
2010 – Group stage
1-2 6-2 (H) 2-1 (A) 1-1 (A) 4-0 (H) 2-1 (H)
H
A
2-1 7-0 0-0
1-1 3-1 1-1
F SF QF R16 GS GS GS
Bunyodkor Zobahan Al Wahda (UAE)
H
A
1-1 2-2 4-0
0-3 0-1 2-0
Mohammed Abusabaan GS GS GS
The young midfielder started his football career with lowly Hajar before joining Al Ittihad in June 2007. He played in the AFC U-17 Championship in 2006 and in the AFC U-19 Championship two years later, when he scored a goal against Iran from the penalty spot. Although he was named in Al Ittihad’s squads for the AFC Champions League during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Mohammed Abusabaan has yet to play for his club in the continental championship.
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Bunyodkor (UZB)
Group C
Club
Club Profile
Established
2005
Address
47 Bunyodkor Street, Tashkent 100161, Uzbekistan
Tel/
(+998) 71 150 8351/150 8352
Fax:
(+998) 71 150 8355
E-mail:
info@fcbunyodkor.com
Web Site:
www.fcbunyodkor.com
Stadium:
Jar Stadium
Capacity:
7,925
Backed by deep-pocketed owners, the Tashkent side spared little expense putting together a strong squad that included Uzbekistan internationals like Server Djeparov, Timur Kapadze and Anvarjon Soliev as well as former World Player of the Year Rivaldo. However, despite progressing past the group stage of the AFC Champions League for three consecutive seasons, they were unable to land the title, bowing out to Adelaide United in the semi-finals in 2008 and to eventual winners Pohang Steelers in the quarter-finals in 2009 before losing 3-0 to Al Hilal in the round of 16 last year.
Media Contact Name:
Ulugbek Mirzaev
Tel:
(+998) 894 6921 100
Fax:
(+998) 71 150 8355
E-mail:
ulugbek_mirzaev@mail.ru
A change of ownership has seen the club pare back their former lofty ambitions and big-spending ways and it remains to be seen how they will perform during the 2011 season.
Domestic Honours League: 3 – 2010, 09, 08 Cup: 2 – 2010, 08
MD1 – March 02, 20:00 Al Wahda (UAE) – Bunyodkor (UZB) Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
MD 4 – April 20, 17:30 Piroozi (IRN) – Bunyodkor (UZB) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
MD2 – March 16, 17:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) – Al Ittihad (KSA) Jar Stadium, Tashkent
MD 5 – May 03, 18:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) – Al Wahda (UAE) Jar Stadium, Tashkent
MD3 – April 05, 18:00 Bunyodkor (UZB) – Piroozi (IRN) Jar Stadium, Tashkent
Nesterov was signed by Pakhtakor from Samarkand-Dinamo as a 19-year-old in 2002 and spent seven successful years with the Tashkent giants before moving to Bunyodkor in 2009. The 27-year-old played in all of his club’s group matches in last season’s AFC Champions League but was suspended for the round of 16 loss to Al Hilal after picking up two yellow cards.
Did not participate
ASC:
Victor Karpenko
Did not participate
Victor Karpenko began his career as a striker but such is the versatility of the talented Uzbekistan international that he was also deployed in central midfield and on the flanks before playing at right-back for his country at the recent AFC Asian Cup. The 33-year-old, who is renowned for his long-distance shooting, spent several seasons playing for clubs in Russia and Kazakhstan before returning to Uzbekistan in 2007 to join Bunyodkor, where he has become a key figure. He played in all of his club’s matches in the AFC Champions League in 2010.
Domestic Record
P W 30 22
D 5
L 3
F A Pts 62 16 71
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Pakhtakor 7-6 on penalties after 0-0 draw in final
P W 30 25
D 4
L 1
F A Pts 75 13 79
Cup – Winners Beat Pakhtakor 3-1 (aet) in final
He led them through to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League before taking charge of the national team in September 2008, occupying that position until he returned to Bunyodkor last year.
ACWC: Did not participate
MD6 – May 10, 21:00 Al Ittihad (KSA) – Bunyodkor (UZB) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
2008 League – Champions
A legend as a captain and a playmaker for his country, Kasimov turned to coaching after his retirement in 2005 and was an assistant coach for the Uzbekistan national team at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup before taking charge of Bunyodkor for the first time.
Uzbekistan’s most-capped goalkeeper, Ignatiy Nesterov was a key player for his country during their run to the semi-finals at the recent AFC Asian Cup but missed their heavy defeat by Australia in the last four due to injury.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
2007 League – Runners-up
Mirdjalal Kasimov is in his second spell as Bunyodkor coach after returning to the club last year following the departure of Luis Felipe Scolari.
Ignatiy Nesterov
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Quarter-finals 2008 – Semi-finals ACC:
Mirdjalal Kasimov
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Since the club’s formation as Kuruvchi in 2005, Bunyodkor have enjoyed a meteoric rise in Uzbek football. They moved up from the regional league to the top flight in just two years, finished runnersup to Pakhtakor in 2007 before winning three consecutive league championships.
2009 League – Champions
2010 League – Champions
P W 30 28
P W 26 20
D 2
L 0
F A Pts 85 13 86
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Pakhtakor 1-0 in final
D 5
L 1
Sakhob Juraev
F A Pts 45 10 65
Sakhob Juraev began Bunyodkor’s 2009 AFC Champions League campaign on the substitute’s bench but such was the impression made by the fast and creative left-back that he ended up appearing in all but two of his team’s nine matches in the competition.
Cup – Winners Beat Shortan 1-0 in final
The 24-year-old full-back, who joined Bunyodkor from Tashkent rivals Lokomotiv in 2007, started in his country’s opening match at the recent AFC Asian Cup but an injury that he suffered in the 2-0 win over Qatar saw him miss a few games and limited his impact in the matches that he did play in the competition.
ACL Record
44
2007
2008 – Semi-finals
Did not participate
Adelaide Utd Saipa Al Ittihad (KSA) Sepahan Al Ittihad (SYR)
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0-3 (A) 1-0 (H) 2-2 (A) 5-1 (H)
H
A
2-0 2-0 1-0
0-1 1-1 2-0
SF QF GS GS GS
2009 – Quarter-finals
2010 – Round of 16
Pohang Steelers Piroozi Ettifaq Al Shabab (UAE) Sepahan
Al Hilal (KSA) Al Ittihad (KSA) Al Wahda (UAE) Zobahan
Young star Javlon Ibragimov
3-1 (H) 1-4 (A) QF 1-0 (A) R16
H
A
2-1 0-0 2-2
0-4 0-2 1-0
GS GS GS
0-3 (A)
H
A
3-0 4-1 0-1
1-1 2-1 0-3
R16 GS GS GS
A talented 20-year-old midfielder, who can play either in the centre or on the right wing, Javlon Ibragimov was snapped up by Bunyodkor in January after making an impression for their Tashkent rivals Lokomotiv in the 2010 season. Ibragimov, who possesses very good technical abilities and pace, helped Uzbekistan’s U-23 side to reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010. However, he was not selected for the senior side for the AFC Asian Cup in January and played instead for his new club at the CIS Cup in Saint Petersburg.
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Group C Fixtures
Matchday 1
02/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 2
16/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 3
05/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 4
20/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 5
03/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 6
Date
10/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Kick-off
Match
Score
20:00
Al Wahda (UAE)
vs
Bunyodkor (UZB)
20:35
Al Ittihad (KSA)
vs
Piroozi (IRN)
17:00
Bunyodkor (UZB)
vs
Al Ittihad (KSA)
17:30
Piroozi (IRN)
vs
Al Wahda (UAE)
18:00
Bunyodkor (UZB)
vs
Piroozi (IRN)
20:20
Al Wahda (UAE)
vs
Al Ittihad (KSA)
17:30
Piroozi (IRN)
vs
Bunyodkor (UZB)
20:50
Al Ittihad (KSA)
vs
Al Wahda (UAE)
18:00
Bunyodkor (UZB)
vs
Al Wahda (UAE)
17:30
Piroozi (IRN)
vs
Al Ittihad (KSA)
20:30
Al Wahda (UAE)
vs
Piroozi (IRN)
21:00
Al Ittihad (KSA)
vs
Bunyodkor (UZB)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP D
Group D Al Rayyan (QAT)
Emirates (UAE)
Zobahan (IRN) ESFAHAN ZOBAHAN CULTURAL & SPORT CLUB
Al Shabab (KSA)
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Al Rayyan (QAT)
Group D
Club
Club Profile
Established
1967
Address:
P.O. Box 400, Doha, Qatar
Tel:
(+974) 4482 5800
Fax:
(+974) 4480 1626
E-mail:
rayyanclub@qatar.net.qa
Website:
www.rayyanclub.com
Stadium:
Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium
Capacity:
25,702
Third-place finishers in the Asian Club Championship in 1992 and quarter-finalists in the same competition in 1997, Al Rayyan will be looking to make a bigger impression in the AFC Champions League after failing to get past the group stage in both of their previous appearances in 2005 and 2007. In their latter appearance, they finished last in their group after failing to win any of their six games.
Media Contact Name
Salem Nasser Saeed Mohammed Al Eida
Tel
(+974) 5580 5828
Fax
(+974) 4480 1626
liil@w.cn
The Qatari club managed to top their group in the AFC Cup last year but they went out in the round of 16 after losing in a penalty shootout to Thai champions Muangthong United.
Domestic Honours League: 7 - 1995, 90, 86, 84, 82, 78,72 Cup: 4 - 2010, 06, 04, 1999
MD1 – March 02, 18:15 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Al Shabab (KSA) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
MD 4 – April 19, 20:00 Zobahan (IRN) – Al Rayyan (QAT) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD2 – March 16, 19:15 Emirates (UAE) – Al Rayyan (QAT) Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
MD 5 – May 03, 20:20 Al Shabab (KSA) – Al Rayyan (QAT) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD3 – April 6, 18:30 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Zobahan (IRN) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
MD6 – May 10, 18:50 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Emirates (UAE) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
The 32-year-old playmaker began his career with Brazilian giants Sao Paolo and had spells in the Czech Republic with Viktoria Pizen and in Italy at Napoli and Avellino before joining Qatari side Al Arabi in 2005. He moved to Umm Salal the following year and helped them to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2009 before moving the Al Rayyan in 2010.
1998 – 2nd round 1997 – Quarter-finals 1992 – 3rd 1986 – Group stage
Itamar The well-travelled Itamar joined Al Rayyan at the start of this year as a replacement for his Brazilian compatriot Afonso Alves, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury. The 30-year-old forward played for a number of clubs in Brazil including Palmeiras and Goias early in his career but made his mark in the K-League with spells at four Korean clubs from 2003 to 2007.
Did not participate
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Domestic Record 2006/07 League– 4th P W 27 9
D 10
2007/08 League – 5th L 8
F A Pts 40 42 37
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Arabi 5-4 on penalties after 2-2 draw
P W 27 12
D 3
2008/09 League – 3rd L F A Pts 12 39 42 39
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Al Sadd 1-3
P W 27 15
D 7
He helped Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2007 before moving to Mexico, where he played for Jaguares de Chiapas and Tigres UANL.
2009/10 League – 5th L 5
F A Pts 62 35 52
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Al Gharafa 2-1 in final
After a spell in Japan with Kashima Antlers in 2006, the 54-year-old took charge of Al Rayyan in 2007. He returned to Brazil to coach Gremio in 2009 but re-joined the Qatari club later that year.
Born in Brazil, Fabio Cesar has made his mark at international level as a naturalised Qatar player and scored twice for his adopted homeland during the recent AFC Asian Cup.
ACWC: 1999 – 2nd round ASC:
Paulo Autuori has gained much experience from coaching in football for over 35 years. His career has included spells at clubs in Brazil and Portugal including Flamengo, Santos and Benfica as well as Peru’s national team. But his greatest success came in 2005 when he led Sao Paulo to victory in the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Fabio Cesar
Continental Record ACL: 2007 – Group stage 2005 – Group stage ACC:
Paulo Autuori
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Established in 1967, Al Rayyan have won the Qatar league seven times although their last championship success dates back to 1995. The club, which boasts the largest supporter base in the Gulf state, will be making their third appearance in the AFC Champions League in 2011 after beating Umm Salal 1-0 to win the Emir Cup for the fourth time last season.
P W 22 11
D 4
L 7
Meshal Mubarak
F A Pts 41 30 37
Meshal Mubarak made his mark as a teenager at Qatar SC, where he made his first team debut in 2000, shortly before he was called up by his country for the first time. The left-back made a big enough impression to earn a loan spell at Dutch giants Feyenoord in 2003 and he played for the Rotterdam club in 27 matches before returning to Qatar SC later that year.
Cup – Winners Beat Umm Salal 1-0 in final
Having spent most of his career at Qatar SC, Mubarak moved to Al Rayyan in 2009 and the 28-year-old helped his new club to win the Emir Cup the following year.
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage Al Wahda (UAE) Al Zawraa Al Arabi (KUW)
H
A
0-1 1-3 1-3
0-3 0-0 1-1
GS GS GS
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Young star Fahed Khalfan A product of Qatar’s ASPIRE Sports Academy, Fahed Khalfan is considered to be one of the most promising young talents in Qatar and joined Al Rayyan two years ago. Good performances by the 18-year-old forward for his club in the Sheikh Jassim Cup earned him a spot in the Qatar U-23 team which took part in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. He was also called up to the senior squad for the first time in 2010 and he featured in a friendly against Bahrain last September.
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Emirates (UAE)
Group D
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1969
Address:
Emirates Club, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Tel:
(+971) 7235 1411
Fax:
(+971) 7235 1677
E-mail:
club1969@emirates.net.ae
Website:
www.emiratesclub.ae
Stadium:
Emirates Club Stadium
Capacity:
3,946
Having spent most of the 1980s and 1990s in the second division, Emirates have become a bit of a yo-yo side in recent years, regularly alternating between the country’s top two divisions. Having been relegated in 2008 and promoted in 2009, they went straight back down in 2010 after a miserable campaign in which they won only four of their 22 games.
Media Contact Name:
Khaled Hasan Obaidh Rashed
Tel:
(+971) 5024 64644
Fax:
(+971) 7235 1677
E-mail:
buabdulrahman@hotmail.com
MD1 – March 02, 18:30 Zobahan (IRN) – Emirates (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD 4 – April 19, 19:30 Emirates (UAE) – Al Shabab (KSA) Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
MD2 – March 16, 19:15 Emirates (UAE) – Al Rayyan (QAT) Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
MD 5 – May 03, 19:35 Emirates (UAE) – Zobahan (IRN) Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
MD3 – April 6, 20:05 Al Shabab (KSA) – Emirates (UAE) Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
MD6 – May 10, 18:50 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Emirates (UAE) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
But they also claimed their first major honour that seaon with a stunning victory in the UAE President’s Cup. They eliminated league champions Al Wahda in the semi-finals before defeating Al Shabab 3-1 in the final to book a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time. For good measure, they also captured the UAE Super Cup with a 3-1 win over Al Wahda.
Domestic Honours League: Nil Cup: 1 - 2010
The 34-year-old midfielder had spells at Manchester City in England, Al Siliya in Qatar and Clyde and Dundee United in Scotland before moving the United Arab Emirates to join Dubai Club in 2005. He spent two seasons with Al Wahda and had a second spell at Dubai before moving in 2009 to Emirates, where he is currently the club captain.
Did not participate
Did not participate
Hadj Bougueche Having spent his entire club career in his native Algeria, striker Hadj Bougueche joined Emirates on a free transfer from MC Alger last July and his prolific goalscoring form has boosted the team’s hopes of a quick return to the top flight.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The 27-year-old began his career with OM Arzew in 2000 and had spells at RC Kouba and USM Blida before earning a move to MC Alger in 2005. During five years at the country’s biggest club, he won the Algerian League and two Algerian Cups and was also the club’s leading scorer in the 2009/10 season with 17 goals.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 10th P W 22 6
D 5
2007/08 League – 11th (relegated) L F A Pts 11 29 40 23
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Al Wasl 4-2 on penalties after 2-2 draw
P W 22 3
D 7
L F A Pts 12 36 54 16
He spent one year with Sfaxien before joining another Tunisian top-flight side Gawafel Gafsa but his stay there was brief as he was soon on the move to the United Arab Emirates to take charge of Ajman. He was appointed coach of Emirates in June 2010 and led the team to victory in the UAE Super Cup last September.
Born to Algerian parents in France, Karim Kerkar spent his early years as a professional player with French sides Geuognon and Le Havre but opted to play international football for the north African nation.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
Ghazi Ghrairi began his football coaching career in his native Tunisia and took charge of several clubs there before gaining prominence and being appointed as coach of one of the country’s biggest clubs, CS Sfaxien, in 2008.
Karim Kerkar
Continental Record ACL: Did not participate ACC:
Ghazi Ghrairi
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Emirates Club were established in 1969 following the merger of two local sides, Oman and Al Qadisiya, but for much of their history, the club from Ras Al Khaimah have lived in the shadow of the United Arab Emirates’ bigger teams.
2008/09 League – 2nd (2nd division) P W 30 19
D 5
L 6
F A Pts 84 39 62
2009/10 League – 11th (relegated) P W 22 4
D 2
Cup – 1st round Lost to Dibba Al Hisn 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Al Dhafra 2-1
2007
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Hadef Saif
L F A Pts 16 37 57 14
Hadef Saif started his career with the youth team of Emirates and graduated to the first team in 2006. His impressive play in defence and his good scoring ability earned him a move to league rivals Al Nasr in August 2009.
Cup – Winners Beat Al Shabab 3-1 in final
However, after just one year with the Dubai-based side, the 25-year-old defender opted to return to his home club and signed a new contract with the team in August 2010. He played well in the UAE Super Cup victory over Al Wahda and was selected as the player of the game.
ACL Record
Young star Hareb Mardad The 21-year-old defender has already played for several clubs in the United Arab Emirates despite his young age. Having stated his career in the youth system at Emirates, Mardad moved to Al Nasr in a deal which caused plenty of tension between the two teams. But after just one year with Al Nasr, he moved to Sharjah and played for the team during the 2009 AFC Champions League. Mardad was a member of the UAE team that won the AFC U-19 Championship in 2008 but he was left out of the squad that played in the FIFA U-20 World Cup a year later.
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Zobahan (IRN)
Group D
ESFAHAN ZOBAHAN CULTURAL & SPORT CLUB
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1968
Address:
Shams Abadi St. Esfahan, Iran
Tel:
(+98) 311 221 8534
Fax:
(+98) 311 221 1259
Email:
info@zobahanclub.com
Website :
www.zobahanclub.com
Stadium:
Foolad Shahr Stadium
Capacity:
12,000
But their run thrust a team of hard-working players with no stars amongst them under the spotlight and some of the players into contention for the national team. Led by captain Mohammad Salsali and his deputy, midfielder Ghassem Hadadifar, they have been moulded into an organised and confident unit by coach Mansour Ebrahimzadeh.
Media Contact
He has allied the industry and no-nonsense approach of players like midfielder Shahin Kheiri and defender Farshid Talebi, with the instinctive flair up front of Mohammadreza Khalabari and Igor Castro, whom Ebrahimzadeh personally watched in his native Brazil before signing him.
Name:
Kamran Shirzadi
Tele:phone
(+98) 913 114 3983
Fax:
(+98) 311 221 1259
Email:
kamikazesaida@yahoo.com
Domestic Honours League: Nil Cup: 2 – 2009, 03
MD1 – March 02, 18:30 Zobahan (IRN) – Emirates (UAE) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD 4 – April 19, 20:00 Zobahan (IRN) – Al Rayyan (QAT) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
MD2 – March 16, 20:00 Al Shabab (KSA) – Zobahan (IRN) Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
MD 5 – May 03, 19:35 Emirates (UAE) – Zobahan (IRN) Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
ASC:
MD6 – May 10, 20:30 Zobahan (IRN) – Al Shabab (KSA) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
Talebi is physically strong and good in the air but lacks pace. A late developer, the 30-year-old only established himself in the Zobahan team during the 2008/09 season, when they narrowly missed out on a domestic double, finishing second in the league.
Did not participate
Did not participate
Ghassem Hadadifar A one-club man who, in the absence of regular skipper Mohammad Salsali, captained Zobahan to the final of the 2010 AFC Asian Champions League. A cultured, left-footed midfielder who is dangerous from free kicks and likes to link up with the forwards but lacks composure in front of goal.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
He made his international debut in a friendly against Armenia in August 2010, and Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi was sufficiently impressed with him to select Hadadifar for the AFC Asian Cup squad.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 8th P W 30 10
D 9
2007/08 League – 6th L F A Pts 11 39 42 39
Cup – 1st round
He masterminded their surprise run to the final of the 2010 AFC Champions League, turning a squad lacking in stars, into one which almost conquered the continent.
One of three Zobahan players whose form in the 2010 AFC Champions League propelled him into the national squad for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. Talebi is a tall and commanding central defender who was a rock at the back as Zobahan surprised the continent by reaching the final of Asia’s top club competition.
ACWC: Did not participate MD3 – April 6, 18:30 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Zobahan (IRN) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
The 54-year-old is living proof that it is possible for assistants to step up and become successful coaches in their own right. Locally born in Esfahan, Ebrahimzadeh had spells as assistant coach of Sepahan and Zobahan before briefly taking caretaker charge of Iran’s national team in 2008, then finally taking the helm of Zobahan later that year.
Farshid Talebi
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Runners-up 2004 – Group stage ACC:
Mansour Ebrahimzadeh
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Zobahan exploded onto the international stage last year when they reached the final of the AFC Champions League, beating some of the continent’s biggest names en route including Uzbek champions Bunyodkor, title holders Pohang Steelers and Saudi giants Al-Hilal. However, like their city rivals, Sepahan in 2007, Zobahan fell at the last hurdle, losing to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in Tokyo.
P W D 34 11 15
2008/09 League – Runners-up L 8
F A Pts 39 32 48
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Esteghlal 3-1 on penalties after 1-1 draw
P W 34 19
D 9
L 6
F A Pts 58 42 66
Cup – Winners Beat Rah Ahan 5-2 on aggregate in final
2009/10 League – Runners-up P W D 34 16 13
L 5
Mohammadreza Khalatbari
F A Pts 48 29 61
After being rejected by Esteghlal’s youth academy, Mohammadreza Khalatbari enjoyed success with Aboomoslem, winning the 2005 Hazfi Cup. A speedy and mobile forward who can run the channels as well as attack defenders with his raw pace, Khalatbari put in a string of shining performances in Zobahan’s surprising run to the AFC Champions League final.
Cup – Semi-finals Lost 2-0 to Gostaresh
A year earlier, he had the joint highest number of assists as Zobahan finished second in the league. Things usually happen when he’s on the pitch, but he’s as likely to be booked as create goals.
ACL Record
54
2007
2008
2009
2010 – Runners-up
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Seongnam Al Hilal Pohang Steelers Mes Kerman Al Wahda (UAE) Al Ittihad (KSA) Bunyodkor
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Young star
1-3 1-0 1-0 2-1 1-1 1-0 (H) R16
H
A
1-0 1-0 3-0
0-1 2-2 1-0
F SF QF
GS GS GS
Hosein Mahini The diminutive left-back began to attract the attention of observers with his dependable performances for Zobahan last season. Though still used infrequently, Mahini – who was with Esteghlal Ahvaz for five years before signing for the Esfahanbased club – performed so impressively that some began touting him for an international call-up. He is an energetic runner who gets up and down the left flank and likes to cross the ball, although he still has to work on improving his upper body strength.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Shabab (KSA)
Group D
Club
Club Profile
Address:
PO Box 60595, Riyadh 11555, KSA
Tel:
(+966) 1 441 8444
Fax:
(+966) 1 441 8200
Email:
info@shababclub.com
Website:
www.shababclub.com
Stadium:
King Fahd International Stadium
Capacity:
62,685
Capacity:
12,000
The winners of the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 2001 failed to advance past the group stage in 2004 and 2007 and suffered a humiliating 6-0 loss to Korean side Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i in the 2005 quarter-finals. They reached the last 16 in 2009 but bowed out after a 2-1 loss to Saudi league rivals Al Ittihad in Jeddah. Their best AFC Champions League performance came last year when they reached the semi-finals for the first time. They showed tremendous resolve to come from behind three times to beat Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 4-3 in the first leg in Riyadh but suffered a 1-0 loss in the return match to bow out on away goals to the eventual champions.
Media Contact Name:
Sultan Saleha Al Zahrani
Tel:
(+966) 506 230 708
Fax:
(+966) 1 441 8300
Email:
s_aljalmood@yahoo.com
MD1 – March 02, 18:15 Al Rayyan (QAT) – Al Shabab (KSA) Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
MD 4 – April 19, 19:30 Emirates (UAE) – Al Shabab (KSA) Emirates Club Stadium, Ras Al Khaimah
MD2 – March 16, 20:00 Al Shabab (KSA) – Zobahan (IRN) Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
MD 5 – May 03, 20:20 Al Shabab (KSA) – Al Rayyan (QAT) King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
MD3 – April 6, 20:05 Al Shabab (KSA) – Emirates (UAE) Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
MD6 – May 10, 20:30 Zobahan (IRN) – Al Shabab (KSA) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
Domestic Honours League: 5 - 2006, 04, 1993, 92, 91 Cup: 3 - 1999, 96, 93
After playing in Qatar for Al Arabi for one season, he returned to Saudi Arabia in 2007 to sign for Al Shabab and helped his new club to win the King’s Cup the following year. He scored twice for the club during their run to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League last year.
2002 –
Nasser Al Shamrani Having emerged through the ranks at Mecca side Al Wahda, Nasser Al Shamrani joined Al Shabab on loan in 2006 and proved a big hit, netting four goals to help the Riyadh side to reach the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
2001 – Runners-up
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The Saudi international striker joined Al Shabab on a permanent basis the following year and has continued his prolific form there, winning the league’s golden boot in 2008 with 18 goals and finishing as their joint top scorer one year later.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 4th place
2007/08 League – 3rd
Lost to Al Wahda 2-1 in play-off Regular season – 4th P W D L F A Pts 22 14 2 6 45 27 44
P W 22 11
D 9
2008/09 League – 4th L 2
F A Pts 39 21 42
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Hilal 1-0 on aggregate
P W 22 10
D 5
2009/10 League – 4th L 7
F A Pts 37 29 35
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Al Hilal 1-0 aet in final
P W 22 11
D 7
L 4
ACL Record
56
H
A 2-0 0-1 1-1
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Abdoh Autef started his football career with Al Shabab during the 2003/04 season when he was only 20 years old and he helped the team to win the Saudi league title that season. The 26-year-old midfielder, whose brothers Ahmed and Ali are also at Al Shabab, also played a major role in leading Al Shabab to another league title in 2006. In addition to being a mainstay for his club, Autef has also represented his country in a number of major international tournaments including three AFC Asian Cups.
2007 – Group stage 2-0 0-1 4-0
Abdoh Autef
F A Pts 36 23 43
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Al Ahli 3-1 on penalties after 2-2 draw
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Ettifaq 1-0 in final
Al Ain Sepahan Al Ittihad (SYR)
After retiring as a player in 1989, the 57-year-old held coaching positions at a number of clubs in Argentina and Switzerland before a spell as coach of the Swiss national team from 2000 to 2001, which was followed by three years with Guatemalan side CSD Municipal.
An influential midfielder at Al Shabab, Camacho first came to prominence in the Middle East at Al Hilal, emerging as the Saudi side’s top scorer in 2005 with 14 goals as they claimed the Saudi league and the Crown Prince Cup.
ACWC: 2002 – 2nd round 2001 – Champions ASC:
A former Argentina international defender, Enzo Trossero first took charge of Al Shabab from 2007 to 2009, leading them to the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League. However, he returned home for a spell at Godoy Cruz before re-joining the Riyadh club earlier this year.
Marcelo Camacho
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Semi-finals 2009 – Round of 16 2007 – Group stage 2006 – Quarter-finals 2005 – Group stage ACC:
Enzo Trossero
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Al Shabab have emerged as one of Saudi Arabia’s top clubs in recent years, claiming the league championship twice in the last seven seasons and also winning two King’s Cup titles. But the White Lions are still seeking success in the AFC Champions League, a competition in which they will be making their sixth appearance after finishing fourth in the Saudi league in 2009/10.
GS GS GS
2008
2009 – Round of 16
Did not qualify
Al Ittihad (KSA) Al Gharafa Piroozi
Young star
2010 – Semi-finals
1-2 (A)
H
A
1-0 0-0
3-1 0-1
R16 GS GS
Seongnam Chunma 4-3 (H) 0-1 (A) Jeonbuk Motors 2-0 (A) 0-1 (H) Esteghlal 3-2 (H) H A Sepahan 1-1 0-1 Pakhtakor 2-1 3-1 Al Ain 3-2 1-2
SF QF R16 GS GS GS
Hussain Shaian Hussein Shaian is already the third-choice goalkeeper in the Saudi Arabia national team behind club teammate Waleed Abdullah although he has yet to play for his country in a major tournament. The 21-year-old custodian began his career at Al Shabab and was loaned out to Ettifaq in January 2009. He returned to his home club four months later and was recently called up by Saudi Arabia for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals although he did not appear in any of their three matches in Qatar.
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57
Group D Fixtures
Matchday 1
02/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 2
16/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 3
06/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 4
19/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 5
03/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 6
Date
10/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Kick-off
Match
Score
18:15
Al Rayyan (QAT)
vs
Al Shabab (KSA)
18:30
Zobahan (IRN)
vs
Emirates (UAE)
20:00
Al Shabab (KSA)
vs
Zobahan (IRN)
19:15
Emirates (UAE)
vs
Al Rayyan (QAT)
20:05
Al Shabab (KSA)
vs
Emirates (UAE)
18:30
Al Rayyan (QAT)
vs
Zobahan (IRN)
19:30
Emirates (UAE)
vs
Al Shabab (KSA)
20:00
Zobahan (IRN)
vs
Al Rayyan (QAT)
20:20
Al Shabab (KSA)
vs
Al Rayyan (QAT)
19:35
Emirates (UAE)
vs
Zobahan (IRN)
18:50
Al Rayyan (QAT)
vs
Emirates (UAE)
20:30
Zobahan (IRN)
vs
Al Shabab (KSA)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP E
Group E Jeju United (KOR)
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Jeju United (KOR)
Group E
Club
Club Profile
Established:
2006
Address:
[697-370] 3355-5, Gang Jung-Dong, Seogwipo, Jeju, Korea Republic
Tel:
(+82) 64 738 0935 /
Fax:
(+82) 64 738 0600
Email:
sf00492@g2.skenergy.com
Website:
www.jeju-utd.com
Stadium:
Jeju World Cup Stadium
Capacity:
35,657
On the eve of the 2006 season, the club moved with little notice to the vacant Jeju World Cup Stadium and renamed themselves Jeju United. Having just missed out on the championship play-offs a year earlier, the form of the club slipped after the move and they struggled in their first four seasons in Seogwipo, never finishing higher than 10th. But their fortunes turned for the better under coach Park Kyung-hoon in 2010 when they finished second in the K-League table during the regular season and just missed out on the league title after losing 4-3 on aggregate to FC Seoul in the championship play-off final.
Media Contact Name:
Park Sang-joon
Tel:
(+82) 10 8776 3319
Fax:
(+82) 64 738 0600
Email:
ske.sf00494@partner.sk.com
MD1 – March 01, 15:00 Jeju United (KOR) – Tianjin Teda (CHN) Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
MD 4 – April 19, 19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Jeju United (KOR) Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
MD2 – March 15, 19:30 Melbourne Victory (JPN) – Jeju United (KOR) Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
MD 5 – May 04, 19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Jeju United (KOR) Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin
MD3 – April 06, 19:30 Jeju United (KOR) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
MD6 – May 11, 19:30 Jeju United (KOR) – Melbourne Victory (JPN) Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
Domestic Honours League: Nil Cup: Nil
Did not participate
The lanky 31-year-old, who made his professional debut for Daejeon Citizen in 1997 and spent four years at FC Seoul before moving to China, will be expected to shoulder even more of the attacking responsibility for the club this season following the departure of fellow forward Koo Ja-cheol to German side Wolfsburg.
Did not participate
Hong Jeong-ho Talented young central defender Hong Jeong-ho enjoyed a memorable debut season as a professional in 2010 as he helped Jeju United to an unexpected runner-up finish in the K-League and was named in the league’s Best XI at the end of the season.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The 21-year-old was called up to the Korea Republic squad for the AFC Asian Cup in January as a late replacement after the withdrawal of the injured Park Chu-young and appeared in three matches for his country in Qatar, setting up the decisive third goal in the victory over Uzbekistan in the third-place play-off.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 11th (missed play-offs) P W 26 8
D 6
L F A Pts 12 27 35 30
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Pohang Steelers 2-1
2008 League – 10th (missed play-offs) P W 26 7
D 7
L F A Pts 12 23 31 28
Cup – 1st round Lost to Changwon City 1-0
2009 League – 14th (missed play-offs) P W 28 7
He coached K-League clubs Chunnam Dragons and Busan I’cons and the Korea Republic U-23 team before taking charge of the national U-17 side from 2004 to 2007. He returned to coaching in the K-League at Jeju United in 2010 and the 50-year-old was named the league’s Manager of the Year after steering the side that finished second from last a year earlier to the runners-up position.
Having returned to Korea in 2010 after a one-year stint at Chinese club Changsha Ginde, former Korea Republic international forward Kim Eun-jung had a season to remember at Jeju United as he netted 17 goals in 34 appearances and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
A former Korea Republic international defender who played in all of his country’s matches at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, Park Kyung-hoon turned to coaching after retiring as a player at the age of 31 in 1992.
Kim Eun-jung
Continental Record ACL: Did not participate ACC:
Park Kyung-hoon
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
While K-League football did not arrive in the southern Korean island of Jeju until 2006, the roots of Jeju United can be traced back to 1983 when the Yukong Elephants became one of the league’s founding members. The franchise won a single league title in 1989 and changed their name to Bucheon SK in 1996 when they were forced to move from Seoul to the satellite city of Bucheon.
D 7
L F A Pts 14 22 44 28
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Jeonbuk Motors 5-2 aet
2010 League – Runners-up
Shin Young-rok
Lost to FC Seoul 4-3 on aggregate in play-off final P W 28 17
D 8
L 3
Having made his professional debut for Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2003 at the age of 16, striker Shin Young-rok helped his club to win the 2008 K-League title, scoring six goals in 18 games. He returned to Suwon last year after two seasons at Turkish side Bursaspor before agreeing a move to Jeju United in the off-season.
F A Pts 54 25 59
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Suwon Bluewings 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw
ACL Record 2007
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
The 23-year-old, who has represented Korea Republic at U-17, U-20, U-23 and senior level is a well-built centre forward who holds up the ball well, has excellent close control and is also good in the air.
Young star Felipinho Having represented his country at the FIFA U-17 World Cup two years ago, talented 19-year-old striker Felipe Barreto Da Silva, who is more popularly known as Felipinho, will be looking to make his mark at Jeju United after joining the K-League side on loan from Brazilian giants Internacional in January. The diminutive forward stands only 1.65m tall but his pace and skill could be the key to unlocking defences for Jeju as they look to follow up on their surprise runners-up finish in the K-League last season.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
Group E
Club
Club Profile
Established:
2004
Address:
GPO Box 4611, Melbourne, Victoria, 3001
Tel:
(+61) 1300 466832
Fax:
(+61) 3 8656 0799
Email:
mvfc@mvfc.com.au
Website:
www.melbournevictory.com.au
Stadium:
Docklands Stadium
Capacity:
53,383
For all of their success in the A-League, Melbourne have yet to find their form in the AFC Champions League. They have bowed out during the group stage in both of their previous appearances in the competition although they were unfortunate to be places in the same groups with the eventual winners on each occasion.
Media Contact Name:
Nick Slade
Tel:
(+61) 400 536 466
Fax:
(+61) 3 8656 0799
Email:
nslade@mvfc.com.au
Fixtures
Facts & Stats
MD1 – March 01, 19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Melbourne Victory (AUS) Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
MD 4 – April 20, 19:30 Melbourne Victory (AUS) – Tianjin Teda (CHN) Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
Domestic honours League: 2 - 2009, 07 Premiership: 2 - 2009, 07
MD2 – March 15, 19:30 Melbourne Victory (AUS) – Jeju United (JPN) Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
MD 5 – May 04, 19:30 Melbourne Victory (AUS) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
MD3 – April 5, 19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Melbourne Victory (AUS) Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin
MD6 – May 11, 19:30 Jeju United (JPN) – Melbourne Victory (AUS) Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
They finished second behind Gamba Osaka in 2008 after losing both of their matches against the Japanese side and finished last in their group in 2010 after managing only one win in a tough section that included champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.
P W 21 14
D 3
L 4
F A Pts 41 20 45
P W 21 6
D 9
F A Pts 29 29 27
P W 21 12
ACC:
Did not participate
ACWC:
Did not participate
ASC:
Did not participate
Muscat’s aggressive style of play has seen the 37-year-old get into plenty of trouble in the past and earned him a reputation as a hard man with his fair share of both admirers and detractors.
Archie Thompson The scorer of a world record 13 goals in Australia’s 31-0 victory over American Samoa in 2001, Archie Thompson joined Melbourne Victory from Belgian side Lierse for the inaugural A-League season in 2005 as the club’s marquee player. The 32-year-old striker, who also bagged five goals in Melbourne’s 6-0 thumping of Adelaide United in the 2007 A-League grand final, will be keen to make an impression in this year’s AFC Champions League after tearing ligaments that required major knee reconstruction and caused him to miss the entire 2010 competition.
D 2
L 7
F A Pts 39 27 38
Play-offs – Did not qualify Play-offs – Champions Beat Adelaide United 6-0 in final
Despite being criticised for his conservative team selection and tactics, the 53-year-old has enjoyed much success with Melbourne, leading them to league championships in 2007 and 2009 and winning the league’s coach of the year award in 2007 and 2009.
After spending a decade in Britain at clubs like Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Rangers and Millwall, former Australia international Kevin Muscat joined Melbourne Victory for the A-League’s inaugural season in 2005 and has remained the rock at the heart of their defence ever since, lifting two A-League trophies as the club’s captain.
Continental record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2008 – Group stage
2008/09 League – 1st (Premiership winners) L 6
Born in Scotland, Ernie Merrick carved out a playing and coaching career in Australia before leaving the Victorian Institute of Sport in 2005 to become the first coach of Melbourne Victory. He is the only coach to have been in charge of the same club in the first six seasons of the A-League.
Kevin Muscat
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
2007/08 League – 5th
Ernie Merrick
Star Players
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 1st (Premiership winners)
Coach
Melbourne Victory have enjoyed much domestic success since the formation of the A-League in 2005, winning both the league championship and regular-season premiership titles in 2007 and 2009 and regularly drawing large crowds to the Docklands Stadium. However, they narrowly missed out on more honours in 2010 when they were pipped to the premiership crown by Sydney FC and lost to the same team on penalties in the A-League grand final.
Play-offs – Champions Beat Adelaide United 1-0 in final
2009/10 League – 2nd P W 27 14
D 5
L 8
Surat Sukha
F A Pts 47 32 47
After helping Chonburi to a stunning 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory in the 2008 AFC Champions League, Surat Sukha found himself pursued by the Australian side. He became the first South East Asian player to earn a contract in the A-League when he signed a two-year deal with the club in 2009.
Play-offs – Runners-up Lost to Sydney FC 4-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw in final
The speedy 27-year-old, who has been capped by Thailand along with his twin brother Suree, is a defensive asset for Melbourne and can be deployed as either a full-back or a defensive midfielder.
ACL Record
64
2007
2008 – Group stage
Did not qualify
Chunnam Dragons Chonburi Gamba Osaka
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2009
H
A
2-0 3-1 3-4
1-1 1-3 0-2
Young star
2010 – Group stage
Robbie Kruse
Did not qualify H Beijing Guoan 0-0 Seongnam Chunma 0-2 Kawasaki Frontale 1-0
A 0-1 2-3 0-4
Since joining Melbourne Victory from Brisbane Roar in 2009, Robbie Kruse has emerged as one of Australia’s most prolific young strikers, averaging nearly a goal a game for his club in this year’s A-League. Such has been the form of the pacy 22-year-old that he was the only Melbourne Victory player and one of only four A-League players to be included in the Australia squad that reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup in January. Kruse played in three games in Qatar and scored in the 6-0 demolition of Uzbekistan in the semi-finals.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
Group E
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1980
Address:
Banpaku Kinen Koen Sports Hiroba, 3-3 Senri-Banpaku-Koen, Suita City, Osaka 565-0826, Japan
Tel:
(+81) 6 6875 8111
Fax:
(+81) 6 6875 7778
Email:
gamba-info@sp.gamba-osaka.net
Website:
www.gamba-osaka.net
Stadium:
Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium
Capacity:
21,070
Gamba’s record for consistency in the J.League has only been eclipsed in recent seasons by Kashima Antlers, with the Osaka club finishing in second place in 2010 while also claiming third place in four of the last seven seasons. Gamba became only the second J.League club to win the AFC Champions League when they defeated Adelaide United in the 2008 final, achieving the unique feat of winning every one of their away games throughout the competition. They lost out to eventual champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the second round of last year’s competition.
Media Contact Name:
Kana Katayama
Tel:
(+81) 80 2409 6560
Fax:
(+81) 6 6875 7775
Email:
koizumi@sf.gamba.osaka.net
Facts & Stats MD 4 – April 19, 19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Jeju United (KOR) Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
Domestic Honours League: 1 - 2005 Cup: 3 - 2009, 08, 1990
MD2 – March 15, 19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin
MD 5 – May 04, 19:30 Melbourne Victory (JPN) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
MD3 – April 06, 19:30 Jeju United (KOR) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
MD6 – May 11, 19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Tianjin Teda (CHN) Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
With an eye for goal from set pieces and a creative talent to match anyone in the region, Endo is a scourge to defences right across Asia. He was nominated for the AFC Player of the Year Award in 2008 when he steered his club to the ACL title and he finally won the crown in 2009 after a number of fine performances for both Gamba and Japan.
Did not participate
ACWC: Did not participate
Adriano
Did not participate
After impressing with cross-town rivals Cerezo Osaka during the 2010 season, when he scored 19 times in 31 J.League matches, Brazil-born striker Adriano has signed for Gamba Osaka for the 2011 campaign.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
P W D 34 19 10
2008 League – 8th L 5
F A Pts 71 37 67
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1
P W 34 14
D 8
2009 League – 3rd L F A Pts 12 46 49 50
Cup – Winners Beat Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 aet in final
P W 34 18
D 6
Nishino began his top-flight career in Japan with Kashiwa Reysol, who he coached after steering Japan to the final rounds of the Olympic Games in 1996, the first time the country had qualified since winning bronze in Mexico City in 1968. Once there, Nishino masterminded an historic 1-0 win over Brazil at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Former AFC Player of the Year Yasuhito Endo continues to be the driving force for Gamba Osaka and the Japan national team and he was instrumental in his country’s victory at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
The well-travelled 29-year-old replaces compatriot Lucas, who left the club at the end of last season after a Gamba career that saw him score three times over the two legs of the 2008 AFC Champions League final win over Adelaide United. Those will be big boots for Adriano to fill but having played with Internacional in the Brazilian league and with Spanish side Malaga, the striker will be a potent weapon for Akira Nishino’s team.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 3rd
In his time at the helm of Gamba Osaka, Akira Nishino has won just about everything available in Japan and Asia. He guided the team to their first J.League title in 2005 while the club’s 2008 triumph in the AFC Champions League saw him named Asian Coach of the Year.
Yasuhito Endo
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Round of 16 2008 – Champions 2006 – Group stage
ASC:
Akira Nishino
Star Players
Fixtures MD1 – March 01, 19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Melbourne Victory (JPN) Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
ACC:
Coach
While other Japanese clubs may have had more sustained success in one competition or another, only Gamba Osaka have, in recent times, managed to claim every trophy available to J.League clubs. Since the arrival of Akira Nishino as manager in 2002, the team has steadily established themselves among the most dominant in Asia, winning the J.League title in 2005, the J.League Cup in 2007 and the AFC Champions League in 2008 as well as the Emperor’s Cup in both 2008 and 2009.
2010 League – 2nd L F A Pts 10 62 44 60
Cup – Winners Beat Nagoya Grampus 4-1 in final
P W 34 18
D 8
L 8
Akira Kaji
F A Pts 65 44 62
Former FC Tokyo and Japan right-back Akira Kaji remains one of the most attack-minded defenders in Japanese football despite his decision in 2008 to retire from the international scene.
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0
Kaji, a veteran of more than 60 games for Japan and a member of Gamba’s AFC Champions League-winning side in 2008, is one of the most experienced players in the J.League and he was part of the Japan squad that won the AFC Asian Cup title in 2004, making him one of the few players to have won Asian titles at both club and national team levels.
ACL Record
66
2007
2008 – Champions
Did not qualify
Adelaide United 3-0 (H) 2-0 (A) Urawa Reds 1-1 (H) 3-1 (A) Al Karama 2-1 (A) 2-0 (H) H A Chonburi 1-1 2-0 Chunnam Dragons 1-1 4-3 Melbourne Victory 2-0 4-3
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2009 – Round of 16 F SF QF GS GS GS
Kawasaki Frontale 2-3 (H) H A Shandong Luneng 3-0 1-0 FC Seoul 1-2 4-2 Sriwijaya 5-0 3-0
Young star
2010 – Round of 16 R16 GS GS GS
Seongnam Chunma 0-3 (A) H A Suwon Bluewings 2-1 0-0 Henan Jianye 1-1 1-1 S’pore Armed Forces 3-0 4-2
R16 GS GS GS
Takashi Usami Teenage sensation Takashi Usami is the latest product of Gamba Osaka’s youth system and the teenager – who turns 19 on May 6 – has already caused a major stir at J.League level, claiming the country’s Best Young Player Award for the 2010 season. The midfielder made his debut for the club in the AFC Champions League, featuring in the clash with FC Seoul last year and he is expected to be a leading light in Japan’s attempts to qualify for the Olympic Games in London in 2012.
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Tianjin Teda (CHN)
Group E
Club
Club Profile
Established
1998
Address
Tianjin Teda Football Stadium, TEDA Street, Teda District, Tianjin
Tel:
(+86) 22 6628 6615
Fax:
(+86) 22 6622 0600
tdm850@sina.com
Website
http://sports.enorth.com.cn/teda
Stadium
Tianjin Teda Football Stadium
Capacity
34,432
The club have since established their place in the China Super League and they have not finished lower than sixth since the 2004 season. They earned a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time in 2009 after a fourth-place finish a year earlier but they failed to make an impression, bowing out during the group stage after failing to manage a win in their first four games. Under former China national coach Arie Haan, they secured their highest ever finish in the China Super League in 2010 when they were runnersup behind Shandong Luneng. It also earned them another shot at the AFC Champions League.
Media Contact Name:
Liu Da
Mobile:
(+86) 1390 211 3925
Fax:
(+86) 22 6622 0600
Email:
tdm850@.sina.com
Domestic Honours League: Nil Cup: 1 - 1960
MD1 – March 01, 15:00 Jeju United (KOR) – Tianjin Teda (CHN) Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo
MD 4 – April 19, 19:30 Melbourne Victory (JPN) – Tianjin Teda (CHN) Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
MD2 – March 15, 19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Gamba Osaka (JPN) Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin
MD 5 – May 04, 19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Jeju United (KOR) Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin
MD3 – April 06, 19:30 Tianjin Teda (CHN) – Melbourne Victory (JPN) Tianjin Teda Stadium, Tianjin
MD6 – May 11, 19:00 Gamba Osaka (JPN) – Tianjin Teda (CHN) Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
Did not participate
The 32-year-old is solid and dependable in defence and is a strong header of the ball. However, he has often been let down by his temperament which has resulted in him receiving a number of red cards during the course of his career.
Did not participate
Rodolfo Rodriguez A product of the youth system at Deportivo Saprissa, Rodolfo Rodriguez spent the early years of his professional career at Liberia Mia and Brujas in his native Costa Rica before joining Norwegian side FK Haugesund on loan in 2007.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Having represented his country at U-17 level, the midfielder made his senior international debut for Costa Rica in 2007 and has played for his country in the UNCAF Nations Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The 31-year-old joined Tianjin Teda in 2010 and helped them to a solid second-place finish in the China Super League last season.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 6th P W 28 12
D 8
2008 League – 4th L 8
F A Pts 31 22 44
P W 30 16
D 9
2009 League – 6th L 5
F A Pts 54 29 57
P W 30 12
After spells at Iranian giants Piroozi and the national sides of Cameroon and Albania, Haan returned to China to take charge of Chongqing Lifan in 2009 before moving on to Tianjin at the end of the season.
After a two-year spell in Korea, former China international captain Li Weifeng has returned to Chinese football at Tianjin Teda and is set to appear for a fourth different club in the AFC Champions League after previously playing for Shenzhen Jianlibao, Shanghai Shenhua and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the competition.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
A three-time European Cup winner with Ajax and a two-time World Cup runners-up with the Netherlands as a player, Arie Haan coached several European clubs including Belgium’s Anderlecht, Germany’s Stuttgart and Dutch side Feyenoord before being appointed as China’s national coach in 2002. He led them to the AFC Asian Cup final on home soil in 2004 but left his post later that year after their elimination from the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Li Weifeng
Continental Record ACL: 2009 – Group stage ACC:
Arie Haan
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
While the city of Tianjin has been home to a football club since 1957, the current Tianjin Teda side only came into being in 1998 as a second division side. However, they quickly won promotion to the top flight after topping the table and going unbeaten throughout the season.
D 9
2010 League – 2nd L 9
F A Pts 36 29 45
P W D 30 13 11
L 6
Cao Yang
F A Pts 37 29 50
Having graduated from the Tianjin Teda youth system, Cao Yang has spent his entire at his hometown club, making over 200 appearances for them over the past 11 years. A versatile and solidly-built player who can play either in defence or midfield, Cao took over the captain’s armband from defender Wang Xiao for Tianjin’s first AFC Champions League campaign in 2009. He played for his country in the 2002 Asian Games and the 29-year-old has also made over 30 appearances for China’s senior national side.
ACL Record 2007
2008
2009 – Group stage
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Kawasaki Frontale Central Coast Pohang Steelers
2010
H
A
3-1 2-2 0-0
0-1 1-0 0-1
GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Young star Yu Dabao A native of Qingdao, Yu Dabao caught the attention of several European clubs while he was still a teenager and he was eventually signed as an 18-year-old by Portuguese giants Benfica in 2006. However, things did not quite work out for Yu with the Lisbon side and he spent much of the next three seasons on loan at various Portuguese clubs before returning to China in 2010. Quick, strong and good in the air, the 22-year-old helped Tianjin to finish second in the China Super League last season and made his senior international debut in a friendly against Estonia in December.
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Group E Fixtures
Matchday 1
01/03/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 2
15/03/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 3
05/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 4
20/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 5
04/05/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 6
Date
11/05/2011 (Wednesday)
Kick-off
Match
Score
15:00
Jeju United (KOR)
vs
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
19:00
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
vs
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
19:30
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
vs
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
19:30
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
vs
Jeju United (KOR)
19:30
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
vs
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
19:30
Jeju United (KOR)
vs
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
19:30
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
vs
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
19:00
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
vs
Jeju United (KOR)
19:30
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
vs
Jeju United (KOR)
19:30
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
vs
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
19:30
Jeju United (KOR)
vs
Melbourne Victory (AUS)
19:00
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
vs
Tianjin Teda (CHN)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP F
Group F Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
FC Seoul (KOR)
Al Ain (UAE)
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
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Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
Group F
Club
Club Profile
Established
1998
Address
No. 36-1 Taoyuan Community, Zhongtai Town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Tel:
(+86) 571 8865 3666
Fax:
(+86) 571 8865 3555
greentownfc@163.com
Website
www.greentownfc.com
Stadium
Zhejiang Dragon Stadium
Capacity
51,135
Renamed Hangzhou Greentown in 2009, the club struggled in their first three seasons in the China Super League and ended the 2009 campaign in the relegation zone. But they avoided the drop when Chengdu Blades and Guangzhou FC were demoted instead after being involved in match-fixing.
Media Contact Name:
Bao Zhongliang
Tel:
(+86) 139 5807 1228
Fax:
(+86) 571 8865 3555
Email:
bao501@163.com
Hangzhou took full advantage of their let-off and made a remarkable turnaround last season under former Shanghai Shenhua coach Wu Jingui, finishing fourth, their highest ever league position and earning a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time.
MD1 – March 01, 19:35 Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Yellow Dragon Stadium, Zhejiang
MD4 – April 19, 19:30 Al Ain (UAE) – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
MD2 – March 15, 20:00 FC Seoul (KOR) – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) Seoul World Cup Stadium
MD 5 – May 04, 14:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya
MD3 – April 06, 20:00 Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) – Al Ain (UAE) Yellow Dragon Stadium, Zhejiang
MD6 – May 11, 20:00 Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) – FC Seoul (KOR) Yellow Dragon Stadium, Zhejiang
Domestic Honours League: Nil Cup: Nil
Did not participate
Able to play in central defence or in midfield, Du began his professional career in 2000 and spent nearly a decade on the books of Shanghai Shenhua, winning the league title there in 2003 and having a short loan spell at Scottish club Celtic. The 29-year-old moved the Hangzhou last year and was immediately given the club captaincy.
Did not participate
Wang Song A China international who can be deployed either as a left winger or a striker, Wang Song made his name as the captain at Chengdu Blades, where he scored 17 goals during the 2007 season to help them win promotion to the China Super League. But after the club were demoted following a match-fixing scandal two years, he left to join Hangzhou Greentown.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The 27-year-old began his career with the now-defunct Sichuan Guangcheng and won his first international cap in 2007 after his impressive performances at Chengdu.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 11th P W 28 6
D L F A Pts 10 12 25 35 28
Wu served as an assistant coach on China’s national team in 2004 but he returned to Shenhua a year later and was in charge again in 2006 when the club finished second in the league and reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League. The 50-year-old joined Hangzhou in 2009.
A veteran of China’s lone FIFA World Cup campaign in 2002 when he was just 20 years old, Du Wei has firmly established himself as one of the top defenders in his country and recently skippered his national team at the AFC Asian Cup finals in Qatar.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
After graduating with a Masters degree in sports management from Germany in 1997, Wu Jingui joined Shanghai Shenhua, rising to become an assistant manager of the China Super League club. In 2002, he became Shenhua’s head coach and led them to the league title in his first full season in charge the following year.
Du Wei
Continental Record ACL: Did not participate ACC:
Wu Jingui
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Established in 1998 as Zhejiang Greentown, the club from the city of Hangzhou in the Yangtze River Delta region began playing in China’s third division the following year and moved up to the second tier in 2001 after buying over the league registration of Jilin Aodong. With strong financial backing from Greentown China, one of the country’s leading property developers, the team won promotion to the top flight in 2006 after finishing second in the China League.
2008 League – 9th P W 30 9
D 12
2009 League – 15th L 9
F A Pts 38 32 39
P W 30 8
D 8
2010 League – 4th L F A Pts 14 30 43 32
P W 30 13
D 9
L 8
Adam Griffiths
F A Pts 38 30 48
Australian midfielder Adam Griffiths found himself in the unusual situation of playing against his twin brother, Joel, and younger brother, Ryan, in an AFC Champions League match two years ago when his Newcastle Jets side lost 2-0 to China’s Beijing Guoan in their opening group stage match. The tall 31-year-old, who can also play in central defence, had spells in England at Watford, Bournemouth and Brentford before returning to Australia in 2007 and helping Newcastle to win the A-League title that season. He also played for Adelaide United in last year’s AFC Champions League before moving to China to join Hangzhou Greentown.
ACL Record 2007
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Young star Rong Hao A talented young left-back, Rong Hao has already established himself in that position for his national team and started in all of China’s games when they won the East Asian Championship in 2010. He also started in all of their matches at the recent AFC Asian Cup. He made his debut for his hometown club, Wuhan Guanggu, in 2006 at the age of 19 and was a regular first team player when the club withdrew from the China Super League two years later. He joined newly-promoted Jiangsu on loan for one year before signing for Hangzhou before the 2010 season.
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FC Seoul (KOR)
Group F
Club
Club Profile
Established
1983
Address:
GS Sports Ltd, FC Seoul, Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seongsan-dong, 515 Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-250
Tel:
(+82) 2 306 5050
Fax:
(+82) 2 306 1620
Email:
fcseoul@gssports.co.kr
Website:
www.fcseoul.com
Stadium:
Seoul World Cup Stadium
Capacity:
66,806
Media Contact Name:
Kim Tae-joo
Tel:
(+82) 10 6424 5838
Fax:
(+82) 2 306 1620
Email:
whabaek@gssports.co.kr
MD1 – March 02, 19:05 Al Ain (UAE) – FC Seoul (KOR) Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
MD 4 – April 19, 20:00 FC Seoul (KOR) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Seoul World Cup Stadium
MD2 – March 15, 20:00 FC Seoul (KOR) – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) Seoul World Cup Stadium
MD 5 – May 04, 20:00 FC Seoul (KOR) – Al Ain (UAE) Seoul World Cup Stadium
MD3 – April 06, 19:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – FC Seoul (KOR) Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya
MD6 – May 11, 20:00 Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) – FC Seoul (KOR) Yellow Dragon Stadium, Zhejiang
Having been forced to move from Seoul to the satellite city of Anyang in 1996, the club relocated back to the capital in 2004 and changed their name to FC Seoul. However, success was slow in coming after their move to the Seoul World Cup Stadium and they did not capture the K-League championship again until 2010 when they beat Jeju United 4-3 on aggregate in the final. They will be appearing in the AFC Champions League for a second time this year after qualifying as K-League runners-up in 2009. In that year, they stunned J.League champions Kashima Antlers with a penalty shootout win in the round of 16 but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Qatari side Umm Salal.
Domestic Honours League: 4 - 2010, 00, 1990, 85 Cup: 1 - 1998
The 28-year-old, who is a major threat in attack with his excellent vision, good distribution skills and his deadly ability in front of goal, was named the AFC Player of the Year in 2008 after firing Bunyodkor through to a domestic double and the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. He also helped his country to reach the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals in 2004 and 2007, and the semi-finals this year.
Did not participate
Did not participate
Choi Tae-euk Having won the K-League championship with Anyang Cheetahs in his rookie season in 2000, Choi Tae-euk came full circle last year when he re-joined the club where he began his career and helped them to win their first league title in a decade.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
A pacy winger who can play on either flank, Choi spent three years at Anyang before leaving for spells at Incheon United, J.League side Shimizu S-Pulse, Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He won the 2009 K-League championship with Jeonbuk before moving to FC Seoul midway through the 2010 campaign.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 7th (Missed play-offs)
2008 League – Runners-up Lost to Suwon Bluewings 3-2 on aggregate in play-off final
2009 League – 5th Lost to Chunnam Dragons 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw in play-offs
2010 League – Champions Beat Jeju United 4-3 on aggregate in play-off final
Adilson
Regular season – 2nd P W D L F A Pts 26 15 9 2 44 25 54
Regular season – 3rd P W D L F A Pts 28 16 5 7 47 27 53
Regular season – 1st P W D L F A Pts 28 20 2 6 58 26 62
Brazilian defender Adilson has been one of the top players in the K-League in recent seasons, earning a spot on the league’s Best XI in three of the past four years and finishing second behind Jeju United’s Kim Eun-jung in voting for the Most Valuable Player award in 2010.
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Koyang Kookmin Bank 6-5 on penalties after 1-1 draw
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Jeonbuk Motors 3-1
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Busan I’Park 2-1
The 34-year-old, who normally operates as a left-back for FC Seoul, first arrived in Asia in 2000 and spent five seasons at Dalian Shide, where he won three Chinese league championships and two cup titles. He joined FC Seoul in 2006 and played a key role in their run to the title last year.
2007
2008
2009 – Quarter-finals
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Umm Salal 2-3 (A) 1-1 (H) Kashima Antlers 2-2 (H) 5-4 pens H A Sriwijaya 5-1 4-2 Gamba Osaka 2-4 2-1 Shandong Luneng 1-1 0-2
P W 26 8
D 13
L 5
F A Pts 23 16 37
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Incheon United 2-1
ACL Record
76
Hwangbo, who is now 45, spent much of his career at K-League side Yukong Elephants and played for his country at the 1990 FIFA World Cup before retiring as a player at Oita in 1997. He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Korea Republic U-20 side but returned in 2000 to Oita, where he has served as a coach, manager, vice-president and director.
Having helped FC Seoul to win the K-League during a successful loan spell in the second half of 2010, Uzbekistan international captain Server Djeparov has agreed a three-year deal to stay with the K-League side.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
After spending a decade in various positions at J.League side Oita Trinita, former Korea Republic international midfielder Hwangbo Kwan has returned to his homeland to take charge of FC Seoul following the departure of league-winning manager Nelo Vingada.
Server Djeparov
Continental Record ACL: Did not participate ACC:
Hwangbo Kwan
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
In their former guise as the Anyang Cheetahs, FC Seoul went close to winning the final edition of the Asian Club Championship in 2002 when they met K-League rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the final in Tehran. But after a goalless draw at the Azadi Stadium, they were eventually beaten in a penalty shootout.
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QF R16 GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Young star Lee Gyu-ro Lee Gyu-ro made his K-League debut for Chunnam Dragons as a 19-year-old in 2007 and helped his club to win the Korean FA Cup title that year. A versatile player, who can be deployed in midfield or at full-back, Lee played his first senior international for Korea Republic in a friendly against Zambia in early 2010. He went on to join FC Seoul before the start of the 2010 season but he has yet to make his mark at the capital club.
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Al Ain (UAE)
Group F
Club
Club Profile
Established
1968
Address:
P.O.Box 1113, Sarooj District Al Ain City, UAE
Tel:
(+971) 3 722 2777
Fax:
(+971) 3 722 4077
Email:
info@alainfc.ae
Website:
www.alainfc.net
Stadium:
Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium
Capacity:
9,900
They were the only team to reach the knockout stage in the first four editions of the AFC Champions League and went close to winning the competition again in 2005, reaching the final before losing 5-3 on aggregate to Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. While Al Ain are the most successful club in the UAE with nine league titles, they have failed to win the championship in the last six years and they had to negotiate the play-offs to qualify for the AFC Champions League after finishing third in the UAE Premier League last season. They got through the play-offs with little difficulty though, trouncing Sriwijaya 4-0 in Indonesia to secure their place in the competition for a seventh time.
Media Contact Name:
Khalid Mustafa Abbas
Tel:
(+971) 5066 40940
Fax:
(+971) 3 722 4077
Email:
khalid.mustafa@alaianfc.ae
MD 4 – April 19, 19:30 Al Ain (UAE) – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) Thanon Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
MD1 – March 02, 19:05 Al Ain (UAE) – FC Seoul (KOR) Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
MD2 – March 15, 19:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Al Ain (UAE) Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya
MD 5 – May 04, 20:00 FC Seoul (KOR) – Al Ain (UAE) Seoul World Cup Stadium
MD3 – April 06, 20:00 Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) – Al Ain (UAE) Yellow Dragon Stadium, Zhejiang
MD6 – May 11, 19:40 Al Ain (UAE) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
Domestic Honours League: 9 – 2004, 03, 02, 00, 1998, 93, 84, 81, 77 Cup: 5 – 2009, 06, 05, 01, 1999 Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2007 – Group stage 2006 – Quarter-finals ACC: 2001 – 2nd round 1999 – Semi-finals
P W 22 7
D 7
L 8
F A Pts 22 26 28
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Al Wasl 4-1 in final
P W 22 9
D 5
The tall midfielder spent five years at Al Qadisiya, helping the club to win a pair of league championships and to reach the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2006. He joined Al Ain on a one-year loan deal last August.
ACWC: 2002 – Quarter-finals 2000 – 1st round
Ali Al Wehaibi
ASC:
One of the few players remaining from Al Ain’s victorious AFC Champions League campaign in 2003, Ali Wehaibi has established himself as a key player in midfield for club and country since enjoying a sensational breakthrough season eight years ago.
Did not participate
2009 League – 3rd L 8
F A Pts 41 36 32
P W 22 12
Aside from winning the continental crown and the UAE league title during his first full season with the club, Al Wehaibi was also a member of his country’s U-20 squad in 2003, which reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Youth Championship that year. He played in all three of UAE’s matches at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
D 7
2010 League – 3rd L 3
F A Pts 40 20 43
P W 22 14
D 3
L 5
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Sharjah 8-7 on penalties after 2-2 draw
Cup – Winners Beat Al Shabab 1-0 in final
2008
2009
2010 – Group stage
Al Shabab (KSA) Al Ittihad (SYR) Sepahan
H
A
0-2 0-0 3-2
0-2 1-1 1-1
GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Pakhtakor Sepahan Al Shabab (KSA)
Elias Ribeiro
F A Pts 57 29 45
A product of the youth system at Brazilian club Sao Paulo, Elias Ribiero played for some of the top clubs in his country including Vasco de Gama and Fluminense before agreeing a move to Al Ain earlier this year.
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Al Ajman 4-3 on penalties after 0-0 draw
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage
The 43-year-old built up his coaching experience by working as an assistant under the likes of Carlos Alberto Parreira and Wanderlay Luxemburgo at top Brazilian clubs like Corinthians and Santos before striking out on his own as a head coach with Brazilian teams Internacional and Sport as well as J.League side FC Tokyo. He led Internacional to victory in the Recopa Sudamericana in 2007.
A native of the Ivory Coast, Ibrahima Keita was signed by Kuwaiti club Fahaheel as an 18-year-old in 2003 and played there for two years before he was snapped up by Kuwait league giants Al Qadisiya.
2005 – Runners-up 2004 – Quarter-finals 2003 – Champions
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
2008 League – 6th
A former defensive midfielder, Alexandre Gallo was handed the reins at Al Ain last year as the United Arab Emirates league giants sought to rebuild their fortunes after a series of disappointing campaigns.
Ibrahima Keita
Domestic Record 2007 League – 9th
Alexandre Gallo
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Al Ain entered the history books in 2003 when they were crowned the inaugural AFC Champions League winners following a 2-1 aggregate victory over BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand in the final. In winning the title, they also became the first and, so far, only team from the United Arab Emirates to win an Asian continental trophy.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder has quickly proven his worth to his new club and scored two goals in the 4-0 win over Indonesian side Sriwijaya in a qualifying play-off game in February that secured Al Ain’s spot in the 2011 AFC Champions League.
Young star
H
A
0-1 2-0 2-1
2-3 0-0 2-3
Omar Abdulrahman GS GS GS
Having already established himself as a fixture in the Al Ain squad, much is expected of teenager Omar Abdulrahman, who was the youngest player included by United Arab Emirates national coach Srecko Katanec in his squad for the AFC Asian Cup in January. The skilful 19-year-old, who is a product of the Al Ain youth system, has become the key creator in the heart of the Al Ain midfield since the departure of Chilean Jorge Valdivia at the end of last season and he has reportedly attracted interest from Spanish club Espanyol.
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Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
Group F
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1991
Address:
Hisaya YS Bldg. 6F, 5-1-32 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi 460-0008
Tel:
(+81) 52 242 9180
Fax:
(+81) 52 242 9194
Website:
www.so-net.ne.jp/grampus
Stadium:
Mizuho Athletic Stadium
Capacity:
20,231
Grampus claimed their first-ever domestic league crown last season since the start of professional football in Japan in 1993, finishing 10 points clear at the top of the standings as Dragan Stojkovic’s side dominated the league following the resumption of play in the aftermath of Japan’s appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. That success was long overdue for one of the perpetual underachievers of Japanese football, with the club’s previous best performance in the league coming in 1996 when they finished as runners-up with Carlos Queiroz at the helm, the same year they reached the final of the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup.
Media Contact Name:
Umemura Fuhimito
Mobile:
(+81) 90 2923 9251
Fax:
(+81) 565 48 5340
Email:
f-umemura@nagoya-grampus-eight.co.jp
Grampus’ previous appearance in the AFC Champions League in 2009 saw the club reach the semi-finals, where they lost to two-time champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.
MD1 – March 01, 19:35 Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Yellow Dragon Stadium, Zhejiang
MD 4 – April 19, 20:00 FC Seoul (KOR) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Seoul World Cup Stadium
MD2 – March 15, 19:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Al Ain (UAE) Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya
MD 5 – May 04, 14:00 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – Hangzhou Greentown (CHN) Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya
Domestic Honours League: 1 - 2010 Cup: 2 - 1999, 95
ASC:
Did not participate
Did not participate
Marcus Tulio Tanaka Charismatic central defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka has already tasted success in continental club competition, having been a key part of the Urawa Red Diamonds side that won the AFC Champions League title in 2007.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
P W 34 13
D 6
2008 League – 3rd L F A Pts 15 43 45 45
Cup – 5th round Lost to Honda FC 2-0
P W 34 17
D 8
2009 League – 9th L 9
F A Pts 48 35 59
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Gamba Osaka 2-1
P W 34 14
Since his retirement from playing, Stojkovic has served as the president of the Serbian Football Association and was president of Red Star Belgrade before returning to Japan, where his J.League title-winning run in 2010 saw him named the league’s Manager of the Year.
His assured nature between the posts has made him first choice for Grampus since he joined the club from the defunct Yokohama Flugels in 1998 and he was a member of the Japan squads for the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups, although he only played in Germany in 2006. Narazaki was the starting goalkeeper under former national coach Zico when Japan won the AFC Asian Cup in China in 2004.
The Brazil-born Japan international joined Grampus at the start of the 2010 season and was instrumental in the club’s first-ever J.League victory while also playing a major role in defence as the national team reached the second round of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the first time Japan had done so in an overseas-based finals. His all-action style and leadership from defence mark Tulio out as one of the personalities of Japanese football.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 11th
A mercurial player in his heyday, Stojkovic represented Yugoslavia in the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals and played for Red Star Belgrade before joining Olympic Marseille, from where he eventually signed for Grampus in 1994.
Named the J.League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2010 season – the first time a goalkeeper had won the award – Seigo Narazaki remains one of the best goalkeepers in Japan despite being overlooked by the national team since the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
ACWC: 2001 – Quarter-finals 1997 – Runners-up
MD3 – April 06, 19:00 MD6 – May 11, 19:40 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) – FC Seoul (KOR) Al Ain (UAE) – Nagoya Grampus (JPN) Mizuho Athletic Stadium, Nagoya Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
Dragan Stojkovic’s name has become synonymous with Nagoya Grampus, the club he represented as a player for eight seasons before returning in 2008 as head coach. In his first full season he qualified the club for the AFC Champions League by taking Grampus to third position in the J.League.
Seigo Narazaki
Continental Record ACL: 2009 – Semi-finals ACC:
Dragan Stojkovic
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
After missing out last year, Nagoya Grampus are returning to the AFC Champions League for their second campaign in the continental championship and their first as J.League champions.
D 8
2010 League – Champions L F A Pts 12 46 42 50
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Gamba Osaka 4-1 in final
P W 34 23
D 3
L 8
Josh Kennedy
F A Pts 54 37 72
Towering Australia international Josh Kennedy had a season to remember in 2010 as his goals helped the club to the J.League title.
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Kashima Antlers 2-1
The former Cologne, Dynamo Dresden and Wolfsburg striker found the back of the net on 17 occasions in 31 games, ensuring he was joint-top scorer in the league alongside Jubilo Iwata’s Ryoichi Maeda. Kennedy has also become a member of the Australia national team, representing his nation at both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, but he missed the finals of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January due to a back injury.
ACL Record
80
2007
2008
2009 – Semi-finals
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Al Ittihad 2-6 (A) 1-2 (H) Kawasaki Frontale 1-2 (A) 3-1 (H) Suwon Bluewings 2-1 (H) H A Ulsan Horang-i 4-1 3-1 Beijing Guoan 0-0 1-1 Newcastle Jets 1-1 1-0
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2010 SF QF R16 GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Young star Kensuke Nagai A new recruit for the start of the 2011 season, young striker Kensuke Nagai is highly rated within Japanese football and has already made his debut for the senior national side when he was part of an experimental team that faced Yemen in early 2010 in qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup finals. The 22-year-old, who left Vissel Kobe to join Grampus after an earlier spell at Avispa Fukuoka, has represented Japan at U-19 and U-23 levels as well as his solitary appearance for the full national side.
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Group F Fixtures Kick-off
Match
Score Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
02/03/2011 (Wednesday)
19:05
Al Ain (UAE)
vs
FC Seoul (KOR)
19:00
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
vs
Al Ain (UAE)
20:00
FC Seoul (KOR))
vs
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
19:00
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
vs
FC Seoul (KOR)
20:00
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
vs
Al Ain (UAE)
20:00
FC Seoul (KOR)
vs
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
19:30
Al Ain (UAE)
vs
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
14:00
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
vs
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
20:00
FC Seoul (KOR)
vs
Al Ain (UAE)
20:00
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
vs
FC Seoul (KOR)
19:40
Al Ain (UAE)
vs
Nagoya Grampus (JPN)
Matchday 2
vs
15/03/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 3
Hangzhou Greentown (CHN)
06/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 4
19:35
19/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 5
01/03/2011 (Tuesday)
04/05/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 6
Matchday 1
Date
11/05/2011 (Wednesday)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP G
Group G Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
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Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
Group G
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1957
Address:
Kincho Stadium, 1-1, Nagai-Koen, Higashisu Miyoshiku, Osaka 546-0034, Japan
Tel:
(+81) 6 6609 3700
Fax:
(+81) 6 6609 3760
Email:
N/A
Website:
www.cerezo.co.jp
Stadium:
Osaka Nagai Stadium
Capacity:
47,853
Cerezo’s performance was all the more impressive as it came just one year after the club earned promotion back into the J.League’s top division following three seasons in the second tier and it was the club’s highest ever finish since joining the league in 1995. Prior to the 2010 season, the nearest Cerezo had come to challenging for the title in Japan was in 2005 when they led the standings going into the final day of the season, only to end up in fifth in what was the closest finish ever in the history of the J.League.
Media Contact Name:
Mokoto Yokoi
Tel:
(+81) 90 1900 4087
Fax:
(+81) 6 6609 3760
Email:
m.yokoi@cerezo.co.jp
MD1 – March 02, 19:00 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) – Arema Indonesia (IDN) Nagai Stadium, Osaka
MD 4 – April 20, 19:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
MD2 – March 16, 15:30 Shandong Luneng (CHN) – Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Shandong Sports Centre, Jinan
MD 5 – May 03, 15:30 Arema Indonesia (IDN) – Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang
MD3 – April 05, 19:00 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Nagai Stadium, Osaka
MD6 – May 10, 19:00 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) – Shandong Luneng (CHN) Nagai Stadium, Osaka
Domestic Honours League: 4 - 1980, 75, 74, 71 Cup: 3 - 1974, 70, 68
Did not participate
Ryuji Bando A winner of the AFC Champions League in 2008 with Cerezo’s cross-town rivals Gamba Osaka, Ryuji Bando joined Cerezo following the club’s promotion to the J.League’s top flight at the start of 2010.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
P W 48 24
D 8
L F A Pts 16 72 55 80
Cup – 4th round Lost to Kawasaki Frontale 3-0
2008 League – 4th J2 P W 42 21
D 6
L F A Pts 15 81 60 69
Cup – 4th round Lost to Omiya Ardija 1-0
With extensive experience of working across his native Brazil – he won the Copa do Brazil with Cruzeiro in 1996 and took Criciuma into the Copa LIbertadores in 1992 – Culpi has also worked elsewhere overseas having also spent time with Saudi Arabian side Ettifaq.
Did not participate
Bando’s eye for goal has seen him earn several call-ups for the Japan national team after previously being part of the Japan team that reached the final of the World Youth Championship back in 1999 and with the return of Adriano – the club’s top scorer last season – to Brazil, the onus will be on Bando to deliver this season.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 5th J2
The 58-year-old returned with the club in the J.League’s second division but he succeeded in leading the club to the top flight at the end of the 2009 season, when Cerezo finished in second place in the standings.
Central defender Teruyuki Moniwa has been a cornerstone in Cerezo Osaka’s rise to the upper echelon of Japanese football with the former FC Tokyo man providing stability in the middle of the club’s backline throughout the 2010 season. A veteran of Japan’s 2006 FIFA World Cup campaign in Germany – where he featured as a substitute in the 3-1 defeat at the hands of Australia in the group stages – the 29-year-old’s vast experience will be of vital importance as Cerezo move into the unknown in their first AFC Champions League campaign.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
Brazilian coach Levir Culpi returned to Cerezo Osaka in 2007 for a second stint in charge of the club after previously being at the helm of the side 10 years earlier, when he spent a solitary season in Osaka.
Teruyuki Moniwa
Continental Record ACL: Did not participate ACC:
Levir Culpi
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Cerezo Osaka will make their first-ever appearance in the AFC Champions League after their most successful showing ever in the J.League, when Levir Culpi’s side finished in third place in the 2010 standings.
2009 League – 2nd J2 (promoted) P W D 51 31 11
L F A Pts 9 100 53 104
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Fukushima United 2-1
2010 League – 3rd P W D 34 17 10
L 7
Martinez
F A Pts 58 32 61
A regular in midfield since his arrival at the beginning of the 2009 season from Palmeiras, Brazilian Martinez has been a key component of coach Levir Culpi’s side as they have climbed steadily from Japan’s second division.
Cup – 4th round Lost to Kashima Antlers 2-1
The 30-year-old played in the team that earned promotion in 2009 and was a regular in the team that finished third in 2010. He previously played for Cruzeiro and Internacional in his native Brazil.
ACL Record 2007
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Young star Takashi Inui Signed from Yokohama F Marinos – initially on loan – in 2008, attacking midfielder Takashi Inui has shouldered much of Cerezo Osaka’s attacking burden since the sale of Shinji Kagawa to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund last summer. The 22-year-old was a key performer for Cerezo as the club emerged from the second division – he scored 20 times in 47 games in 2009 - and carried his fine form into life in the top flight as a regular in Levir Culpi’s side.
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Shandong Luneng (CHN)
Group G
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1998
Address:
Shandong Luneng, Erhuan Nan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250002, China
Tel:
(+86) 531 8279 2710
Fax:
(+86) 531 8277 0288
Email:
sdlntsfc@yahoo.com.cn
Website:
www.lnts.com.cn
Stadium:
Shandong Luneng Stadium
Capacity:
43,664
Former Iran coach Branko Ivankovic replaced Ljubisa Tumbakovic and the Croatian quickly established himself as a more than suitable replacement, taking the club to the league title by a comprehensive margin of 13 points from second-placed Tianjin Teda. Although Shandong have vast experience of playing in the AFC Champions League, the club has found success hard to come by, only progressing to the knockout phase on one occasion. That was on their debut in the competition in 2005, when the Jinan-based club were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual winners Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia.
Media Contact Name:
Ma Baogang
Tel:
(+86) 138 0893 7268
Fax:
(+86) 531 8277 0288
Email:
mbg66mdcg@yahoo.com.cn
MD1 – March 02, 19:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Shandong Luneng (CHN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
MD 4 – April 20, 15:30 Shandong Luneng (CHN) – Arema Indonesia (IDN) Shandong Sports Centre, Jinan
MD2 – March 16, 15:30 Shandong Luneng (CHN) – Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Shandong Sports Centre, Jinan
MD 5 – May 03, 19:30 Shandong Luneng (CHN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Shandong Sports Centre, Jinan
MD3 – April 05, 15:30 Arema Indonesia (IDN) – Shandong Luneng (CHN) Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang
MD6 – May 10, 19:00 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) – Shandong Luneng (CHN) Nagai Stadium, Osaka
A product of the Shandong Luneng youth system, Han Peng was once seen as one of the great hopes of Chinese football but, while he has fallen short of those lofty ambitions, he remains a key player for Shandong. His haul of 17 goals in 28 games in the Chinese Super League in 2010 was the best of a prolific career – and saw him finish second on the goal scoring chart – but it was not enough to resurrect his national team career as he missed out on a place in the national squad for the AFC Asian Cup finals in Qatar.
2001 – Quarter-finals
ACWC: Did not participate
Roda Antar
Did not participate
Lebanese midfielder Roda Antar embarks on his third season in the colours of Shandong Luneng after establishing himself as first choice for the club since his move to China from FC Koln in 2009 following eight seasons in Germany.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Antar made his debut for Lebanon aged just 19 during his country’s hosting of the AFC Asian Cup in 2000 while playing for local side Tadamon Sur and is seen as his nation’s finest-ever footballer.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 3rd P W 28 14
D 6
2008 League – Champions L 8
F A Pts 53 29 48
P W 30 18
D 9
L 3
F A Pts 54 25 63
2009 League – 4th P W D 30 11 12
Ivankovic is well known to regular followers of the Asian game, having a long association with the Iran national team. After a stint as assistant to Miroslav Blazevic – who he also worked with when Blazevic took Croatia to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup in France – Ivankovic took over as head coach and steered Team Melli to the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Han Peng
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Group stage 2009 – Group stage 2007 – Group stage 2005 – Quarter-finals
ASC:
Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic had a debut season to remember as he delivered the China Super League title to his new employers after joining the club from Dinamo Zagreb, where he won the Croatian league title in 2007.
Star Players
Domestic Honours League: 4 - 2010, 08, 06, 1999 Cup: 4 - 2006, 04, 1999, 95
ACC:
Branko Ivankovic
They began well in their last campaign with a 1-0 away win over Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima but then lost four matches in a row – three of them at home – to finish last in their group.
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Shandong Luneng’s dominance of the Chinese Super League continued last season as the club lifted their third domestic title in five seasons to qualify for a fifth AFC Champions League despite a change in the coaching hot-seat.
2010 League – Champions L 7
F A Pts 35 30 45
P W 30 18
D 9
L 3
Zhou Haibin
F A Pts 59 34 63
Another product of Shandong Luneng’s youth system, defensive midfielder Zhou Haibin shone during the early days of his career, with his impressive performances earning him a move to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. However that move did not work out as expected and Zhou returned to China at the end of 2009 and re-signed with Shandong. He was instrumental in the club’s performances in the 2010 season as he claimed the third Chinese Super League title of his career.
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage H Adelaide United 2-2 Seongnam Chunma 2-1 Dong Tam Long An 4-0
A 1-0 0-3 3-2
GS GS GS
2008
2009 – Group stage
Did not qualify
Gamba Osaka Sriwijaya FC Seoul
Young star
2010 – Group stage
H
A
0-1 5-0 2-0
0-3 2-4 1-1
GS GS GS
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Adelaide United Pohang Steelers
H
A
2-3 0-2 1-2
1-0 1-0 0-1
Deng Zhouxiang GS GS GS
Dead-ball expert Deng Zhuoxiang came to international prominence at the East Asian Championships in Japan in 2010 when he scored with a fine individual effort in China’s historic 3-0 win over Korea Republic, the first time the Chinese had ever beaten the Koreans in a full international. Deng scored the only goal of the game in China’s 1-0 friendly win against France last June – with a stunning free kick – and the 22-year-old repeated the feat at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January when he claimed his country’s second in their 2-0 win over Kuwait.
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Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
Group G
Club
Club Profile
Established
1994
Address
2F, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, 763-1, Banwol-Dong, Dukjin-Gu, Jeonju City, Jeonbuk, Korea 561-370
Tel:
(+82) 63 273 1763
Fax:
(+82) 63 273 1762
Website:
www.hyundai-motorsfc.co.kr
Stadium:
Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity:
43,389
Formed in 1993, the Korean side made their first foray onto the Asian stage in 2001/02 when they played in the last edition of the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup, reaching the final which they lost 2-1 in extra time to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Two years later, they appeared in the AFC Champions League for the first time as Korean FA Cup holders, eliminating defending champions Al Ain in the quarter-finals before suffering a heart-breaking 4-3 aggregate defeat to eventual winners Al Ittihad in the last four.
Media Contact Name:
Son Ji-hoon
Tel:
(+82) 11 673 6167
Fax:
(+82) 63 273 1762
Email:
jh6167@hyundai-motorsfc.com
Jeonbuk enjoyed better fortune in 2006 when they eliminated Japanese champions Gamba Osaka, Chinese champions Dalian Shide and Korean champions Ulsan Horang-i en route to the final. They lifted the trophy after a late Ze Carlo goal gave them a 3-2 aggregate victory over Al Karama.
MD1 – March 02, 19:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Shandong Luneng (CHN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
MD 4 – April 20, 19:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
MD2 – March 16, 15:30 Arema Indonesia (IDN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang
MD 5 – May 03, 19:30 Shandong Luneng (CHN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Shandong Sports Centre, Jinan
MD3 – April 05, 19:00 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Nagai Stadium, Osaka
MD6 – May 10, 15:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Arema Indonesia (IDN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Domestic Honours League: 1 - 2009 Cup: 3 - 2005, 03, 00
Did not participate
Luis Henrique
Did not participate
Brazilian forward Luiz Henrique first arrived in Korea for a loan spell at Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2008 before moving to Jeonbuk Motors later that year.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
P W 34 13
D 6
L F A Pts 15 43 45 45
Cup – 5th round Lost to Honda FC 2-0
He won over the Jeonbuk fans in his first season there by scoring an extra-time winner in a first round play-off match against Seongnam Ilhwa but his impact was more keenly felt a year later when he found the net eight times and also won the K-League’s ‘Top Assister’ award after setting up 12 goals for the champions. Following that campaign, the 29-year-old inked a permanent deal to remain with the K-League club.
2008 League – 4th
2009 League – Champions
2010 League – 3rd
Lost to Ulsan Horang-i 1-0 in play-offs Regular season – 6th P W D L F A Pts 26 11 4 11 39 37 37
Beat Seongnam Chunma 3-1 on aggregate in play-off final
Lost to Jeju United 1-0 in play-offs
Kim Hyung-bum
Regular season – 3rd P W D L F A Pts 28 15 6 7 54 36 51
Midfielder Kim Hyeung-bum played a key role in Jeonbuk Hyundai Motor’s AFC Champions League triumph in 2006 as he scored five goals including a pair of crucial two-goal salvos in comeback wins against Gamba Osaka and Dalian Shide to help the Korean side to advance to the knockout rounds.
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Suwon Bluewings 2-0
The 27-year-old, who joined Jeonbuk from his first club, Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i is a renowned dead-ball specialist and will be keen to make his mark again after being sidelined by injury for much of the last two seasons.
Regular season – 1st P W D L F A Pts 28 17 6 5 59 33 57
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Koyang Kookmin Bank 3-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw
Cup – Semi-finals Lost to Suwon Bluewings 3-0
2008
2009
2010 – Quarter-finals
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Al Shabab 0-2 (H) 1-0 (A) Beijing Guoan 3-2 (A) aet R16 H A Persipura Jayapura 8-0 4-1 Kashima Antlers 1-2 1-2 Changchun Yatai 1-0 2-1
ACL Record 2007 – Quarter-finals Urawa Reds
1-2 (A) 0-2 (H)
QF
As defending champions, Jeonbuk entered the competition at the knockout stage
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Jeonbuk have continued to make steady progress under Choi, qualifying for the championship playoffs in 2008 before topping the table in 2009 and capturing their first ever K-League title.
After a disappointing two-year spell in England at Middlesbrough, he returned to Korea to join Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2008 before moving to Jeonbuk a year later. It proved a good move as he emerged as the K-League’s top scorer with 21 goals and helped the club to win the title in 2009.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 11th
While the club finished 11th in his first two seasons there, they won silverware each time, downing Ulsan Mipo Dockyard to win the Korean FA Cup in 2005 and capturing an unlikely AFC Champions League title with victory over Al Karama the following year.
Striker Lee Dong-gook shot to fame at the AFC Asian Cup in 2000 when he was the top scorer with six goals for Korea Republic, who finished third. He netted another four at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup but missed the 2006 FIFA World Cup after suffering a knee injury shortly before the tournament.
ACWC: 2002 – Runners-up ASC:
A former Korea Republic international defender, Choi Kang-hee had spells as an assistant coach with Suwon Bluewings and the Korean national team before being given the managerial post by Jeonbuk in July 2005.
Lee Dong-gook
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Quarter-finals 2007 – Quarter-finals 2006 – Champions 2004 – Semi-finals ACC:
Choi Kang-hee
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
While they did not win their first K-League championship until 2009, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were already experienced continental campaigners by that time. In fact, they hold the distinction of being the first club from east Asia to win the AFC Champions League after defeating Al Karama of Syria in the 2006 final.
Young star QF
GS GS GS
Huang Bowen China international midfielder Huang Bowen made history in 2004 when he became the youngest player to score a goal in the China Super League at the age of 16 years and 317 days. He spent the first six years of his career at Beijing Guoan, earning his first international call-up in 2008 and winning the Chinese league title in 2009. The 23-year-old was an integral member of the Beijing squad and played in all of their matches in last year’s AFC Champions League before agreeing a move in the off-season to Jeonbuk.
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Arema Indonesia (IDN)
Group G
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1987
Address:
No. 9 Jl. Sultan Agung, Malang, Indonesia
Tel:
(+62) 341 331 462
Fax:
(+62) 341 358 444
Email:
pt_aremaindonesia@yahoo.com
Stadium:
Kanjuruhan Stadium
Capacity:
33,000
Formed in 1987, the club from Malang in East Java won their first title in 1993 but struggled in the seasons that followed and were relegated to the second division in 2003. But the club’s fortunes were soon revived as they won promotion at the first attempt before capturing back-toback Indonesian Cup titles in 2005 and 2006. Arema should have made their debut in the AFC Champions League in 2006 but they were famously disqualified along with three other teams after their player registration list was not submitted in time by the Indonesian football authorities. They did make it into the competition the following year but went out at the group stage after managing only one win in six games.
Media Contact Name:
Sudarmaji
Tel:
(+62) 812 5264 7878
Fax:
(+62) 341 358 444
Email:
mediaofficer@aremafc.com
Domestic Honours League: 2 - 2010, 1993 Cup: 2 - 2006, 05
MD1 – March 02, 19:00 Cerezo Osaka (JPN) – Arema Indonesia (IDN) Nagai Stadium, Osaka
MD 4 – April 20, 15:30 Shandong Luneng (CHN) – Arema Indonesia (IDN) Shandong Sports Centre, Jinan
MD2 – March 16, 15:30 Arema Indonesia (IDN) – Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang
MD 5 – May 03, 15:30 Arema Indonesia (IDN) – Cerezo Osaka (JPN) Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang
MD3 – April 05, 15:30 Arema Indonesia (IDN) – Shandong Luneng (CHN) Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang
MD6 – May 10, 15:00 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) – Arema Indonesia (IDN) Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
1994 – 1st round
However the 30-year-old, who joined Arema from S-League side Tampines Rovers in 2009, does have a volatile temper and he served a seven-month ban for violent conduct in 2008 after knocking an opponent unconscious during the 2007 Singapore Cup final.
Did not participate
Ahmad Bustomi Having impressed during Arema’s league championship season, defensive midfielder Ahmad Bustomi was called up by Indonesia for the first time for the AFF Suzuki Cup in December. The 25-year-old made the most of his opportunity and played in every match for his country during their run to the final as he anchored the Indonesian midfield superbly.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
Having started his career at Persikoba Batu, the native of Jombang in East Java joined Persema Malang in 2005 and spent three years there before moving to local rivals Arema three years ago.
Domestic Record 2006 League – 1st Western Conference, eliminated in Super Eight group stage P W 26 13
D 8
L 5
F A Pts 39 17 47
Cup – Winners Beat Persipura 2-0 in final
2007/08 League – 4th Eastern Conference, eliminated in Super Eight group stage P W D 34 15 12
L 7
F A Pts 45 28 57
2008/09 League – 10th P W 34 13
D 8
2010 League – Champions L F A Pts 13 40 42 47
Cup – 1st round Lost to Persibo 4-3 on aggregate
P W 34 23
D 4
H
A 0-3 0-2 0-0
Zulkifli Syukur
F A Pts 57 22 73
Signed from Permin Minahasa three years ago, Zulkifli Syukur played a key role in Arema’s victorious Indonesia Super League campaign in 2009/10 with his assured performances at right-back for the champions.
Cup – Runners-up Lost to Sriwijaya 2-1 in final
He was called up by Indonesia coach Alfred Riedl for the AFF Suzuki Cup in December and with his speed and his excellent delivery – particularly from dead-ball situations – he emerged as one of his country’s key players during the tournament. The 26-year-old started in all of Indonesia’s matches and helped them to reach the final for the first time in four years.
ACL Record
1-3 0-1 1-0
L 7
Cup – 2nd round Lost to Persekabpas 1-0 on aggregate
2007 – Group stage Kawasaki Frontale Chunnam Dragons Bangkok University
The 51-year-old, who spent much of his career as a player at Slavia Prague, is in his fourth spell at an Indonesian club. Prior to his first stint at Arema, he coached Persigo Gronotalo and PSM Makassar, leading the latter to a second-place finish during the 2004 season.
Generally regarded as one of the best strikers in Southeast Asia, Arema captain Noh Alam Shah has made his mark on the international stage for Singapore, helping his country to win back-to-back Asean Championship titles in 2004 and 2007. He netted 10 goals in the latter triumph including seven in an 11-0 thumping of Laos.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
Having been in charge of Arema during their first AFC Champions League campaign in 2007, Czech Miroslav Janu returned to the Indonesian club in 2010 to replace Robert Alberts after the Dutchman had delivered the league title to the Crazy Lions.
Noh Alam Shah
Continental Record ACL: 2007 – Group stage ACC:
Miroslav Janu
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
One of Indonesia’s best supported clubs, Arema Indonesia ended a 17year wait for a league title in 2010 when they won the Indonesia Super League, finishing six points ahead of runners-up Persipura Jayapura. However, the Crazy Lions missed out on a domestic double when they lost 2-1 to Sriwijaya in the Indonesian Cup final.
GS GS GS
2008
2009
2010
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Young star Yongki Aribowo Regarded as one of Indonesia’s brightest young stars, Yongki Aribowo began his professional career at Persik Kediri in 2009 but moved to Arema last year. With Indonesia’s national team eyeing younger talent to gradually replace their aging veterans, the 21-year-old Yongki, who possesses tremendous pace and a deft goal-scoring touch, was drafted into his country’s squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup last December. While he spent much of the tournament on the bench, he did play in the semi-finals and finals after fellow striker Irfan Bachdim was injured.
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Group G Fixtures
Matchday 1
02/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 2
16/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 3
05/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 4
20/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 5
03/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 6
Date
10/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Kick-off
Match
Score
19:00
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
vs
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
19:00
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
vs
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
15:30
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
vs
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
15:30
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
vs
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
15:30
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
vs
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
19:00
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
vs
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
15:30
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
vs
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
19:00
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
vs
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
15:30
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
vs
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
19:30
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
vs
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
19:00
Cerezo Osaka (JPN)
vs
Shandong Luneng (CHN)
15:00
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR)
vs
Arema Indonesia (IDN)
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
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GROUP H
Group H Sydney FC (AUS)
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
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Sydney FC (AUS)
Group H
Club
Club Profile
Established:
2004
Address:
PO Box 2180, Bondi Junction, NSW 1355, Australia
Tel:
(+61) 2 8314 5100
Fax:
(+61) 2 8314 5199
Email:
info@sydneyfc.com
Website:
www.sydneyfc.com
Stadium:
Sydney Football Stadium
Capacity:
44,000
Media Contact Name:
Ben Hawes
Tel:
(+61) 404 785 552
Fax:
(+61) 2 8314 5199
Email:
benh@sydneyfc.com
However, their defence of the domestic crown was far from impressive as they finished ninth in the 2010/11 season and missed the championship play-offs for only the second time in the six-year history of the A-League.
A two-time Coach of the Year in his native Czech Republic, Vitezslav Lavicka was appointed coach of Sydney FC in 2009. The former Sparta Prague and Slovan Liberec boss duly led the Sky Blues to the A-League championship in his first season at the helm and was named the A-League’s Coach of the Year.
In their only previous appearance in the AFC Champions League in 2007, the Sky Blues suffered just one defeat in their six group games but they missed out on qualifying for the knockout stage by just one point after being held to a goalless draw in their final game by Urawa Red Diamonds, who went on to win the title.
The club had a disappointing 2010/11 season and failed to qualify for the A-League finals series, but the 47-year-old Lavicka will remain in charge at least through the group stage of the AFC Champions League.
Star Players
Domestic Honours League: 2 - 2010, 06 Premiership: 1 - 2010
MD1 – March 02, 20:00 Sydney FC (AUS) – Suwon Bluewings (KOR) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
MD 4 – April 19, 20:00 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) – Sydney FC (AUS) Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
MD2 – March 16, 19:00 Kashima Antlers (JPN) – Sydney FC (AUS) Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
MD 5 – May 03, 19:30 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) – Sydney FC (AUS) Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
MD3 – April 6, 20:00 Sydney FC (AUS) – Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
MD6 – May 10, 20:00 Sydney FC (AUS) – Kashima Antlers (JPN) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Nick Carle Having made his debut for Australian National Soccer League side Sydney Olympic as a 15-year-old in 1997, Nick Carle returned to his hometown last year, signing for Sydney FC as their marquee player after spells in Turkey at Genclerbiligi and England at Bristol City and Crystal Palace.
Continental Record ACL: 2008 – Group stage ACC:
Did not participate
ACWC:
Did not participate
ASC:
Did not participate
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder’s first season with the Sky Blues was blighted by injury as his new side missed the championship play-offs. But the Australia international appeared to be finding his form when he netted a brace against Melbourne Heart in Sydney’s final game of the season in February.
Hayden Foxe Having first caught the eye when he represented Australia at the 1996 Olympics, central defender Hayden Foxe went on to play for clubs in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and England before he returned to Australia to join A-League side Perth Glory in 2007.
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
A native of Sydney, Foxe joined his hometown club in the 2009/10 season and helped them to win the A-League title that season, converting one of the penalties in their shootout win over Melbourne Victory. The experienced 33-year-old then extended his contract and was named the club’s vice-captain.
Domestic Record 2006/07 League – 4th
2007/08 League – 3rd
P W D L F A Pts 21 8 8 5 29 19 29 Deducted 3 points for breaches of player contracting regulations Play-offs – Quarter-finals Lost to Newcastle Jets 3-2 on aggregate
P W 21 8
D 8
2008/09 League – 5th L 5
F A Pts 28 24 32
P W 21 7
D 5
2009/10 League – 1st (Premiership winners) L 9
F A Pts 33 32 26
P W 27 15
D 3
Play-offs – Quarter-finals Lost to Queensland Roar 2-0 on aggregate
Play-offs – Did not qualify
2008
2009
2010
Shanghai Shenghua Urawa Reds Persik Kediri
H
A
0-0 2-2 3-0
2-1 0-0 1-2
GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
L 9
Juho Makela
F A Pts 35 23 48
Finland international striker Juho Makela joined Sydney FC in December after a splendid season at HJK Helsinki, where he emerged as the league’s top scorer with 16 goals and helped his side to win the league.
Play-offs – Champions Beat Melbourne Victory 4-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw in final
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage
Vitezslav Lavicka
The club appeared in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2005 after winning the Oceania Club Championship that year.
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Winners of the inaugural A-League championship in 2006, Sydney FC claimed their first silverware in four seasons in the 2009/10 campaign when they topped the A-League table during the regular season and defeated rivals Melbourne Victory on penalties to win the grand final and qualify for the AFC Champions League for a second time.
The tall and speedy forward, who spent three seasons at Scottish side Hearts, scored on his home debut against Gold Coast United but the arrival of the 27-year-old came too late to help his new club to qualify for the A-League championship play-offs.
Young star Kofi Danning Born in Ghana, Kofi Danning moved to Australia at the age of seven and nurtured his talent at the Australian Institute of Sport under Steve O’Connor, who took him to Sydney FC when he became the club’s youth coach in 2008. The Australia U-20 player helped Sydney to win Australia’s National Youth League in the 2008/09 season and made his A-League debut for the club in 2009 at the age of 16. While he showed tremendous progress that year, he spent much of 2010 recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
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Kashima Antlers (JPN)
Group H
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1991
Address:
2887 Aou Higashiyama Kashima City, Ibaraki 314 - 0021
Tel:
(+81) 299 84 6800
Fax:
(+81) 299 84 6825
Email:
konishi@antlers.co.jp
Website:
www.so-net.ne.jp/antlers
Stadium:
Kashima Soccer Stadium
Capacity:
37,638
Antlers became the first club in history to win the J.League three seasons in a row in 2009 and while their run of success in the league ended last year, they still managed to capture the Emperor’s Cup, the fourth time the club has claimed Japan’s premier knockout competition. With seven league titles and three victories in the J.League Cup, Antlers are Japan’s most successful club by some distance.
Media Contact Name:
Hiroki Konishi
Tel:
(+81) 90 4425 6073
Fax:
(+81) 299 84 6825
Email:
konishi-hrk@antlers.co.jp
Their record in the AFC Champions League, though, makes for more sober reading. The club’s best performance came in 2008 when they reached the quarter-finals before losing unexpectedly to Adelaide United. In 2010 they were knocked out in the Round of 16 by K-League side Pohang Steelers.
MD1 – March 02, 20:00 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) – Kashima Antlers (JPN) Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
MD 4 – April 19, 19:00 Kashima Antlers (JPN) – Suwon Bluewings (KOR) Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
MD2 – March 16, 19:00 Kashima Antlers (JPN) – Sydney FC (AUS) Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
MD 5 – May 03, 15:00 Kashima Antlers (JPN) – Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
MD3 – April 06, 19:30 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) – Kashima Antlers (JPN) Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
Domestic Honours League: 7 - 2009, 08, 07, 01, 00, 1998, 96 Cup: 4 - 2010, 07, 00, 1997
MD6 – May 10, 20:00 Sydney FC (AUS) – Kashima Antlers (JPN) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Sogahata was a key member of the Japan team that qualified for the finals of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 but has been unable to transfer that ability into a spot with the full national side. However, he remains a regular for Kashima’s allconquering side where his reliability has seen him play a vital role as the club has hovered up domestic honours throughout his time in Ibaraki.
2002 – Quarter-finals 2000 – Quarter-finals 1998 – Quarter-finals
Masahiko Inoha Versatile defender Masahiko Inoha joined Kashima Antlers from FC Tokyo in 2008 and has established himself as a regular in Oswaldo Oliveira’s side, where he can play either as a central defender, a full back or in defensive midfield.
Did not participate
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The 25-year-old was a member of Japan’s AFC Asian Cup winning side in Qatar in January 2011 and scored the winning goal for the Samurai Blue in the 3-2 victory over hosts Qatar in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Domestic Record 2007 League – Champions P W 3 4 22
D 6
L 6
F A Pts 60 36 72
Cup – Winners Beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 in final
2008 League – Champions P W 34 18
D 9
L 7
2009 League – Champions
F A Pts 56 30 63
Cup – 5th round Lost to Shimizu S-Pulse 4-3 aet
P W 34 20
The 59-year-old former Santos coach, however, proved he was more than a match for his compatriot by embarking on an astonishing run of success since his appointment at the start of 2007, winning the league and Emperor’s Cup double in his first season before going on to retain the J.League title in each of the next two seasons.
An ever-present between the posts for Kashima Antlers, goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata has been a mainstay for the club throughout his professional career.
ACWC: 1999 – 3rd round ASC:
When Brazilian Oswaldo Oliveira took over at Kashima Antlers, the shadow of former coach Toninho Cerezo – a man who had won everything there was to win in Japanese football – still hung over Kashima Stadium.
Hitoshi Sogahata
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Round of 16 2009 – Round of 16 2008 – Quarter-finals 2003 – Group stage ACC:
Oswaldo Oliveira
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Kashima Antlers’ dominance on the domestic scene in Japan has become so great the club is almost expected to win something every season. But despite their unrivalled record in the J.League, the club from Ibaraki have yet to claim the AFC Champions League.
D 6
L 8
2010 League – 4th
F A Pts 51 30 66
Cup – Quarter-finals Lost to Gamba Osaka 2-1
P W D 34 16 12
L 6
Mitsuo Ogasawara
F A Pts 51 31 60
Mitsuo Ogasawara is in his second stint at Kashima Antlers and he has proven just as valuable to the club on his return as he was prior to his short-lived loan move to Serie A side Messina.
Cup – Winners Beat Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 in final
Ogasawara’s performances earned him the J.League’s Most Valuable Player award in 2009 and he made a return to the national team in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup, although he was not selected in Takeshi Okada’s final 23-man squad for South Africa. A dynamic presence in midfield, Ogasawara’s dead-ball delivery makes him a potent presence at set-pieces. He is a multiple winner of the J.League title and was also part of the Japan team that won the AFC Asian Cup in 2004.
ACL Record
100
2007
2008 – Quarter-finals
Did not qualify
Adelaide United Krung Thai Bank Nam Dinh Beijing Guoan
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2009 – Round of 16
1-1 (H) 0-1 (A)
H
A
8-1 6-0 1-0
9-1 4-0 0-1
QF GS GS GS
FC Seoul 2-2 (H) 4-5 pens H A Suwon Bluewings 3-0 1-4 Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 1-1 S’pore Armed Forces 5-0 4-1
Young star
2010 – Round of 16
Yuya Osako
R16 GS GS GS
Pohang Steelers 0-1 (H) H A Changchun Yatai 1-0 1-0 Jeonbuk Motors 2-1 2-1 Persipura Jayapura 5-0 3-1
R16 GS GS GS
Despite his youth, Yuya Osako is already a veteran of two AFC Champions League campaigns, having played in 10 fixtures in the competition for Kashima Antlers prior to the start of the 2011 tournament. His four goals in the competition have seen his rated as one of the brightest prospects in Japanese football and over the last two seasons the 20-year-old has steadily established himself in the Kashima first team.
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Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
Group H
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1993
Address:
No. 2600 Hunan Road Shanghai, 201315, China PR
Tel:
(+86) 21 5671 2117
Fax :
(+86) 21 5671 6023
Website:
www.shenhuafc.com.cn
Stadium:
Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
Capacity:
30,000
They are making their sixth appearance in the AFC Champions League in 2011, a record for a Chinese club, but the Blues have yet to progress beyond the quarter-finals. They reached the last eight in 2006 only to lose to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors after squandering a two-goal aggregate lead against the eventual champions.
Media Contact
In their previous participation in the competition, in 2009, they were also drawn to face Kashima Antlers and Suwon Bluewings and failed to progress beyond the group stage. Shanghai qualified for the tournament by finishing third in the 2010 Chinese Super League, a solid achievement for a club that was rebuilding under coach Miroslav Blazevic. The former Croatia national coach, however, has left to take on the role of China’s Olympic team coach, leaving Xi Zhikang to plot the team’s course through the AFC Champions League.
Name:
Cao Yan
Tel:
(+86) 1378 8988 378
Fax:
(+86) 21 6806 2550
Email:
pr.shenhuafc@gmail.com
Domestic Honours League: 2 - 2003, 1995 Cup: 1 - 1998
MD1 – March 02, 20:00 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) – Kashima Antlers (JPN) Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
MD 4 – April 19, 20:00 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) – Sydney FC (AUS) Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
MD2 – March 16, 19:30 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) – Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
MD 5 – May 03, 15:00 Kashima Antlers (JPN) – Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
MD3 – April 06, 20:00 Sydney FC (AUS) – Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
MD6 – May 10, 20:00 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) – Suwon Bluewings (KOR) Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
The 24-year-old initially signed a one-year deal with Shanghai – on loan from Colombian side Once Caldas – but extended that agreement for another six months as he aims to reproduce his goal scoring form from the China Super League in the continental club championship.
1997 – 2nd round
Yu Tao A Shanghai Shenhua stalwart, captain Yu Tao is the first name on the team sheet and his influence is felt throughout the team from his position in the heart of the midfield.
Did not participate
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The 29-year-old was one of only a handful of senior players to be included in the China national team squad that travelled to Qatar for the AFC Asian Cup finals in Qatar in January, and he came on a substitute in the win over Kuwait before starting in the loss against the hosts.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 4th P W D 28 12 10
2008 League – 2nd L 6
F A Pts 35 29 46
P W D 30 17 10
2009 League – 5th L 3
F A Pts 58 29 61
P W 30 12
He eventually returned to Shanghai to work as a youth and reserve team coach before working alongside Blazevic in 2010. He now will be looking to build on the work done by the Croatian as Shanghai aim to continue their rebuilding process.
Colombian striker Duvier Riascos made an instant impression in his first season in Chinese football by finishing the 2010 campaign as the league’s top scorer with 20 goals, three clear of his nearest rival.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
Xi Zhikang steps up from his position as Miroslav Blazevic’s assistant to take control of the first team after working at all levels within the club. The 55-year-old – who was on the books of Shenhua during his playing days – is a former China international and he previously served as head coach of Shenzhen upon the launch of professional football in China in 1994.
Duvier Riascos
Continental Record ACL: 2009 – Group stage 2007 – Group stage 2006 – Quarter-finals 2004 – Group stage 2003 – Quarter-finals ACC:
Xi Zhikang
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Shanghai Shenhua are two-time Chinese league champions but the history of the club since its formation in 1993 has been characterised by numerous near-misses as they have been runners-up eight times.
D 9
2010 League – 3rd L 9
F A Pts 39 29 45
P W 30 14
D 6
Wang Dalei
L F A Pts 10 44 41 48
Young goalkeeper Wang Dalei made headlines for his clashes with Chinese fans during his nation’s disappointing showing during the Asian Games football tournament in Guangzhou in November last year, but that controversy masked the talents of the 22-year-old, who is seen as a future number one for his country. Wang’s ability has attracted the attentions of several clubs in Europe and he has had trials with Inter Milan and Manchester City while he also won the Chinese Young Player of the Year Award in 2006.
ACL Record 2007 – Group stage
H
A
Sydney FC Persik Kediri Urawa Reds
1-2 6-0 0-0
0-0 0-1 0-1
GS GS GS
2008
2009 – Group stage
Did not qualify
S’pore Armed Forces Kashima Antlers Suwon Bluewings
2010
H
A
4-1 1-1 2-1
1-1 0-2 1-2
GS GS GS
Did not qualify
Young star Feng Renliang Signed by Shanghai Shenhua at the start of the 2010 season, Feng Renliang’s move to the top flight of Chinese football from Tianjin Locomotive in the third tier proved a huge success as he finished the season crowned China’s Young Player of the Year. Feng – who turns 23 on May 12 – blossomed under the tutelage of coach Miroslav Blazevic on the right wing for Shanghai and his form throughout last season was good enough for national team boss Gao Hongbo to give him his first cap in August 2010.
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Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
Group H
Club
Club Profile
Established:
1995
Address:
Suwon World Cup Stadium 4F, 228 Woonam-1dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon
Tel:
(+82) 31 247 2002
Fax:
(+82) 31 257 0766
Email:
eunho.lee@samsung.com
Website:
www.bluewings.kr
Stadium:
Suwon World Cup Stadium
Capacity:
43,000
They were eliminated in the group stage by China’s Shenzhen Jianlibao in 2005 and bowed out in the round of 16 in 2009 after a 2-1 loss to Japan’s Nagoya Grampus. Their best performance in the competition came last year when they reached the quarter-finals for the first time but lost 4-3 on aggregate to K-League rivals Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who went on to win the title. Formed in 1995, Suwon have quickly become one of Korea’s most successful clubs winning four K-League titles and three Korean FA Cup titles. Their 1-0 win over Busan I’Park in last year’s FA Cup final saw them retain the trophy that they also won in 2009 and rescued a disappointing campaign in which they finished seventh in the league and failed to qualify for the championship play-offs.
Media Contact Name:
Lee Eun-ho
Tel:
(+82) 10 9052 8890
Fax:
(+82) 31 257 0766
Email:
eunho.lee@samsung.com
MD1 – March 02, 20:00 Sydney FC (AUS) – Suwon Bluewings (KOR) Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
MD 4 – April 19, 19:00 Kashima Antlers (JPN) – Suwon Bluewings (KOR) Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima
MD2 – March 16, 19:30 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) – Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
MD 5 – May 03, 19:30 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) – Sydney FC (AUS) Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
MD3 – April 06, 19:30 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) – Kashima Antlers (JPN) Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon
MD6 – May 10, 20:00 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) – Suwon Bluewings (KOR) Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
Domestic Honours League: 4 - 2008, 04, 1999, 98 Cup: 3 - 2010, 09, 02
Jung started his career at Pohang Steelers and won the K-League title there in 2007 before he joined Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma the following year. The 26-year-old played every minute of Seongnam’s victorious 2010 AFC Champions League campaign and also kept goal for his country at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa last June and the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
2002 – Champions 2001 - Champions 2000 – 4th place
Yeom Ki-hun Having recovered from injury after a serious motor accident, Yeom Ki-hun helped to inspire Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to victory in the AFC Champions League in 2006, scoring some crucial goals including the opener in their victory over Al Karama of Syria in the final.
2002 – Champions 2001 - Champions
All kick-off times are local and subject to change
The quick and tricky Korea Republic international winger joined Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i the following year before moving to Suwon in 2010. Sidelined by injury for most of the group stage last year, he scored twice after coming on as a substitute against Singapore Armed Forces and also found the net in their quarter-final loss to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.
Domestic Record 2007 League – 3rd Lost to Pohang 1-0 in play-offs Regular season – 2nd P W D L F A Pts 26 16 7 3 43 18 55 Cup – 2nd round Lost to FC Seoul 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw
2008 League – Winners Beat FC Seoul 3-2 on aggregate in play-off final Regular season – 1st P W D L F A Pts 26 17 3 6 46 24 54
2009 League – 10th (missed play-offs) P W 28 8
D 8
L F A Pts 12 29 32 32
Cup – Winners Beat Seongnam Chunma 4-2 on penalties after 1-1 draw
2010 League – 7th (missed play-offs) P W 28 12
D 5
A nominee for the AFC Player of the Year award in 2009 when he helped Pohang Steelers to win the AFC Champions League, Hwang Jae-won was brought to Suwon by coach Yoon Sung-hyo in the middle of the 2010 season and helped to shore up their leaky defence in the second half of the campaign.
Cup – Winners Beat Busan I’Park 1-0 in final
Cup – Round of 16 Lost to Gwangju Sangmu 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw
The 29-year-old played for his country at the AFC Asian Cup in January, scoring his first international goal for the Taeguk Warriors with a dramatic late equaliser in the semi-final against Japan, which forced the game to a penalty shootout.
2007
2008
2009 – Round of 16
Did not qualify
Did not qualify
Nagoya Grampus 1-2 (A) H A Kashima Antlers 4-1 0-3 S’pore Armed Forces 3-1 2-0 Shanghai Shehua 2-1 1-2
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Hwang Jae-won
L F A Pts 11 39 44 41
ACL Record
104
The 48-year-old, who had enjoyed great success as coach of Soongsil University’s football team in the previous five years, sparked a revival at Suwon after a disappointing first half of the season. And while the team just failed to get into the championship play-offs, they did capture some silverware and book their place in the AFC Champions League with victory in the Korean FA Cup final.
Having succeeded Lee Woon-jae as Korea Republic national goalkeeper, Jung Sung-ryong has now replaced the veteran as the first-choice at Suwon Samsung Bluewings after joining the K-League club as a free agent on a five-year contract.
ACWC: Did not participate ASC:
A former player and assistant coach at Suwon, Yoon Sung-hyo was appointed head coach by his old club in June when Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun resigned after seven years in charge of the Bluewings.
Jung Sung-ryong
Continental Record ACL: 2010 – Quarter-finals 2009 – Round of 16 2005 – Group stage ACC:
Yoon Sung-hyo
Star Players
Facts & Stats
Fixtures
Coach
Winners of the last two editions of both the Asian Club Championship and the Asian Super Cup in 2001 and 2002, Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings have yet to enjoy similar success in the AFC Champions League, a competition in which they will make their fourth appearance this season.
Young star
2010 – Quarter-finals R16 GS GS GS
Seongnam Chunma 1-4 (A) 2-0 (H) Beijing Guoan 2-0 (H) H A Gamba Osaka 0-0 1-2 S’pore Armed Forces 6-2 2-0 Henan Jianye 2-0 2-0
QF R16 GS GS GS
Ha Tae-goon Selected by Suwon as their number one draft pick in 2007, Ha Tae-goon endeared himself to the club’s fans that year when he scored the winning goal in a derby match against FC Seoul and was named the K-League’s Rookie of the Year. The tall 23-year-old striker played for his country at the FIFA World U-20 World Cup in Canada in 2007 and also appeared in the qualifying competition for the 2008 Olympic Football Tournament.
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105
Group H Fixtures
Matchday 1
02/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 2
16/03/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 3
06/04/2011 (Wednesday)
Matchday 4
19/04/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 5
03/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Matchday 6
Date
10/05/2011 (Tuesday)
Kick-off
Match
Score
20:00
Sydney FC (AUS)
vs
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
___ ___
19:30
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
vs
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
___ ___
19:30
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
vs
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
___ ___
19:00
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
vs
Sydney FC (AUS)
___ ___
19:30
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
vs
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
___ ___
20:00
Sydney FC (AUS)
vs
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
___ ___
19:00
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
vs
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
___ ___
20:00
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
vs
Sydney FC (AUS)
___ ___
19:30
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
vs
Sydney FC (AUS)
___ ___
15:00
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
vs
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
___ ___
20:00
Sydney FC (AUS)
vs
Kashima Antlers (JPN)
___ ___
20:00
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
vs
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
___ ___
All kick-off times are local and subject to change. Simultaneous kick-off times may be required on Matchday Six
106
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KNOCKOUT STAGE
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Knockout Stage Schedule Round 16 Day/Date
Match
24/05/2011 (Tuesday)
25/05/2011 (Wednesday)
Group A Winner
vs
Group C Runner-up
Group C Winner
vs
Group A Runner-up
Group E Winner
vs
Group G Runner-up
Group G Winner
vs
Group E Runner-up
Group B Winner
vs
Group D Runner-up
Group D Winner
vs
Group B Runner-up
Group F Winner
vs
Group H Runner-up
Group H Winner
vs
Group F Runner-up
Quarter Finals LEG 1
LEG 2
27/09/2011 (Tuesday)
14/09/2011 (Wednesday)
28/09/2011 (Wednesday)
Semi Finals LEG 1
LEG 2
19/10/2011 (Wednesday)
26/10/2011 (Wednesday)
Final LEG 1
LEG 2
04/11/2011 (Friday)
05/11/2011 (Saturday)
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109
ACL 2010
11 0
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Seongnam extend Korean dominance
Jubilation for Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma after their 3-1 win over Zobahan in the 2010 final in Tokyo.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma laid to rest the ghosts of 2004 and ensured that the AFC Champions League trophy remained in Korean hands as they swept aside Iranian side Zobahan 3-1 in the 2010 final at the National Stadium in Tokyo. Skipper Sasa Ognenovski gave the K-League side a 29th minute lead and Cho Byung-kuk struck eight minutes after the interval half to put Seongnam in control. And although Mohammadreza Khalatbari pulled a goal back for Zobahan midway through the second half, Kim Cheol-ho’s late strike sealed a deserved win for the Korean outfit. With the win, Seongnam extended Korean dominance in Asia’s premier club competition following Pohang Steelers’ victory of a year earlier. But more importantly for Shin Tae-yong’s side, they finally banished the memories of the 2004 final, when they allowed a 3-1 first-
leg lead to slip by capitulating to a 5-0 home defeat against Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the return match. Having easily topped a group that included Chinese champions Beijing Guoan, Australian champions Melbourne Victory and Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale during the group stage, Seongnam dismissed 2008 AFC Champions League winners Gamba Osaka of Japan 3-0 in the round of 16 before ousting K-League rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the quarter-finals. That set up a semi-final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab, who edged a sevengoal thriller in the first leg in Riyadh thanks to Faisal Bin Sultan’s last-minute winner. But Chong Dong-geon got the only goal in the return game which was enough to send Seongnam advance on away goals. The final pitted the tournament’s best attack against the best defence as Seongnam, who had scored 22 goals en route to the final met a Zobahan side that had conceded only five
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11 3
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
times in 11 games on the road to Tokyo. The Iranian side nearly went ahead in the 24th minute when Mahdi Rajabzadeh’s free-kick was punched away by goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong straight to Igor Castro who put his effort back on goal only to be denied by Ognenovski’s goal-line clearance. The Australian centre-back then put his side ahead five minutes later, heading home from close range after Kim Sung-hwan’s long throw-in had caused havoc in the Zobahan box. The Korean side maintained their advantage at the break thanks to Jung, who turned an effort by Mohammad Hosseini around the post just before half-time.
But with the Iranians pushing for an equaliser, Seongnam snatched a decisive third with eight minutes left as an effort by Colombian forward Mauricio Molina struck a defender and fell nicely for Kim Cheol-ho, who tucked the ball into the unguarded net. Shin was a member of the Seongnam side that won the Asian Club Championship in 1995, but the 41-year-old felt that winning the continental title as a coach was extra special. “I have won as a player before and now as a head coach but I am happier tonight,” the former Korea Republic international midfielder said.
And Seongnam extended their advantage in the 54th minute when Cho Dong-geon flicked on a corner for Cho Byung-kuk to head in his side’s second.
“As a player I had belief that we could become champion but since I became a head coach I did not think that I would ever have this opportunity to participate in a major tournament like this.
With 24 minutes left, Zob Ahan hit back as Khalatbari headed in after Jung had parried a shot by Igor Castro.
“So to become champion as a coach it is twice as good as when I won as a player so I am very happy.”
AFC Champions League 2010 - Final
13/11/10 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma ………….…..…3 (Sasa Ognenovski 29, Cho Byung-kuk 53, Kim Cheol-ho 83)
Knockout Stage results Final 13/11/10
11 4
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HT: 1-0
Semi-finals 05/10/10 20/10/10
Al Shabab (KSA) 4 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 HT: 1-2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 HT: 1-0 Aggregate score 4-4. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win on away goals
06/10/10 20/10/10
Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al HIlal (KSA) 0 Al HIlal (KSA) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Zobahan win 2-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
Quarter-finals 15/09/10 22/09/10
Al HIlal (KSA) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Gharafa (QAT) 4 Al HIlal (KSA) 2 aet FT: 3-0 Al HIlal win 5-4 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 3-0
15/09/10 22/09/10
Zobahan (IRN) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Zobahan win 3-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
15/09/10 22/09/10
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Al Shabab win 2-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
15/09/10 22/09/10
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 4 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-0
Round of 16 11/05/10
Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 2 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-2 HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
12/05/10
Zobahan (IRN) 1 Mes Kerman (IRN) 0 Al HIlal (KSA) 3 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 aet FT: 2-2
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1 HT: 0-1
Zobahan ……………………………………..1 (Mohammadreza Khalatbari 67) National Stadium, Tokyo
Seongnam‘s Cho Dong-geon shields the ball from Zobahan defender Farshad Talebi in the final.
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Zobahan (IRN) 1
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Gharafa
6
4
1
1
11
9
13
Esteghlal
6
3
2
1
9
5
Al Ahli
6
2
0
4
11
Al Jazira
6
1
1
4
6
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Zobahan
6
4
1
1
8
3
13
11
Bunyodkor
6
3
1
2
10
7
9
6
Al Ittihad
6
2
2
2
9
14
4
Al Wahda
6
1
0
5
3
23/02/10 Al Jazira (UAE) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 2
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-1
09/03/10 Esteghlal (IRN) 0 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Gharafa (QAT) 3 Al Ahli (KSA) 2
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-1
23/03/10 Esteghlal (IRN) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 5 Al Jazira (UAE) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
Group F
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Seongnam Chunma
6
5
0
1
11
6
15
Kashima Antlers
6
6
0
0
14
3
18
10
Beijing Guoan
6
3
1
2
7
5
10
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
6
4
0
2
17
6
12
7
8
Kawasaki Frontale
6
2
0
4
8
8
6
Changchun Yatai
6
1
0
5
10
7
3
13
3
Melbourne Victory
6
1
1
4
3
10
4
Persipura Jayapura
6
1
0
5
4
29
23/02/10 Bunyodkor (UZB) 3 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 0
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-0
09/03/10 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Zobahan (IRN) 2
HT: 0-1 HT: 2-0
24/03/10 Zobahan (IRN) 3 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
23/02/10 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 2 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
09/03/10 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1 HT: 0-1
23/03/10 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 3 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0
HT: 3-0
3
23/02/10 Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0
HT: 0-2
09/03/10 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 9 Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2
HT: 3-0
24/03/10 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 5 Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 0
HT: 0-0
HT: 1-3 HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0
HT: 1-0
HT: 2-0
31/03/10 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
30/03/10 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 4-0
31/03/10 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
30/03/10 Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 3 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0
14/04/10 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 4 Al Jazira (UAE) 2
HT: 2-1 HT: 2-0
14/04/10 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
14/04/10 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 0 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0
HT: 2-0
14/04/10 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 8 Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 3-0 HT: 1-0
28/04/10 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 3 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 2 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0
HT: 1-0
28/04/10 Persipura Jayapura (IDN) 2 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1
HT: 1-0
Changchun Yatai finished ahead of Persipura Jayapura due to better record in head-to-head meetings.
28/04/10 Al Jazira (UAE) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Ahli (KSA) 0 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
28/04/10 Bunyodkor (UZB) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Zobahan (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0
Group C
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-0
Group D
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Shabab
6
3
1
2
10
8
10
Pakhtakor
6
3
0
3
8
10
Sepahan
6
2
2
2
5
Al Ain
6
2
1
3
8
HT: 0-0
Group G
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Hilal
6
3
2
1
11
7
11
9
Mes Kerman
6
3
0
3
13
13
5
8
Al Sadd
6
2
2
2
12
8
0
Al Ahli
6
1
2
3
9
HT: 2-0
Group H
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Suwon Bluewings
6
4
1
1
13
4
13
Adelaide United
6
3
1
2
6
4
10
9
Gamba Osaka
6
3
3
0
11
5
12
Pohang Steelers
6
3
1
2
8
7
10
9
8
Singapore Armed Forces
6
1
1
4
6
16
4
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
6
3
0
3
11
11
9
16
5
Henan Jianye
6
0
3
3
3
8
3
Shandong Luneng
6
2
0
4
5
8
6
24/02/10 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
24/02/10 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Mes Kerman (IRN) 4 Al Ahli (UAE) 2
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-1
24/02/10 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0 Henan Jianye (CHN) 0 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
24/02/10 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
10/03/10 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 3
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
10/03/10 Al Ahli (UAE) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 5 Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Mes Kerman (IRN) 1
HT: 0-3 HT: 2-0
10/03/10 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Henan Jianye (CHN) 1 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1
10/03/10 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 1
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
23/03/10 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 1
HT: 1-1 HT: 2-1
24/03/10 Al Sadd (QAT) 4 Mes Kerman (IRN) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 1
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
23/03/10 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4 Henan Jianye (CHN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2
HT: 1-1
24/03/10 Adelaide United (AUS) 3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0
HT: 1-0
30/03/10 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2
HT: 1-0
13/04/10 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 3 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 0
HT: 1-0
27/04/10 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 4 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 3 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1
HT: 3-1
31/03/10 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 2
13/04/10 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0
27/04/10 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1
11 6
Group E
P
w w w. t h e - a f c . c o m
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-1
HT: 3-2 HT: 1-0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
30/03/10 Mes Kerman (IRN) 3 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 3
13/04/10 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Mes Kerman (IRN) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0
27/04/10 Mes Kerman (IRN) 3 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-1
HT: 0-0
31/03/10 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Henan Jianye (CHN) 0
HT: 1-0
13/04/10 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 2 Henan Jianye (CHN) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
27/04/10 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 6 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 2 Henan Jianye (CHN) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1
HT: 4-1
HT: 1-0
HT: 0-1
HT: 1-0
HT: 0-0
HT: 0-0
HT: 0-0
Adelaide United finished ahead of Pohang Steelers due to better record in head-to-head meetings.
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11 7
Play-off results West 30/01/10
Al Karamah (SYR) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 1
HT: 0-0
06/02/10
Al Wahda (UAE) 5 Churchill Brothers (IND) 2
HT: 1-1
30/01/10
Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 3 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0
HT: 1-0
31/01/10
SHB Da Nang (VIE) 0 Muang Thong United (THA) 3
HT: 0-2
06/02/10
Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Muang Thong United (THA) 0 Singapore Armed Forces win 4-3 on penalties
HT: 0-0
East
ACL 2009
Seongnam netted 25 goals on their path to the title in 2010.
11 8
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Third time lucky for Steelers
Pohang Steelers savour their third continental title after defeating Al Ittihad 2-1 in the 2009 final in Tokyo.
In the first AFC Champions League final to be decided by a single game, Pohang Steelers made history by becoming the first club to be crowned Asian champions three times. The Korean outfit entered the final as slight underdogs against an Al Ittihad side that had recorded emphatic wins against Pakhtakor and Nagoya Grampus en route to the National Stadium in Tokyo. However, second-half strikes by No Byungjun and Kim Hyung-il put the Steelers in control before Mohammed Noor pulled back a goal to give the Saudis a glimmer of hope. Pohang held on though to become the second Korean club after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2006 to win the AFC Champions League. The victory marked a glorious peak for Sergio Farias’ five-year tenure as Pohang head coach. Having already won every title available in Korea during his time there, the Brazilian left just over a month after engineering the AFC Champions League triumph to take charge of Saudi side Al Ahli
Pohang fans had waited a long time to see their club return to the top of Asian football. The Steelers were a major force on the continent when they captured back-to-back Asian Club Championships in 1997 and 1998 but had been in the doldrums for a number of years, missing out on the first five editions of the AFC Champions League because of their disappointing form in the K-League. The arrival of Farias in 2005 sparked a revival. Just two years later, Pohang won their first league championship in over a decade after a 4-1 aggregate victory over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the K-League championship final. However, their AFC Champions League debut in 2008 was a bust as they won only one of six games to miss out on the quarter-finals. They returned to the competition in 2009 as Korean FA Cup holders but struggled initially, drawing three of their first four games during the group stage. A come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Central Coast Mariners and a 2-0 win at Kawasaki Frontale sent them through as group winners to the round of 16 where they soundly
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thrashed Australia’s Newcastle Jets 6-0. Their battling qualities came to the fore in their epic quarter-final clash against Bunyodkor. Trailing 1-3 after the first leg, Pohang netted three second-half goals to take control in the return match, only for Bunyodkor to force extra-time with a last-minute goal. But the Korean side advanced thanks to Stevica Ristic’s extra-time winner. Qatar’s Umm Salal were despatched 4-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, setting up a final meeting with Al Ittihad, who had swept aside Nagoya 8-3. With the final turned from a two-legged affair to a single-game championship match played at a neutral venue, Al Ittihad spent two weeks in Tokyo after the Nagoya match to acclimatise for the final but the extra conditioning did not seem to be a factor during a turgid first half. Apart from a long-range free-kick by Hicham Aboucherouane which forced a wonderful save out of Pohang goalkeeper Shin Hwa-
yong, there was little to excite the crowd of 25,743. Al Ittihad turned up the heat in the second half and were unfortunate not to take the lead in the 47th minute when Amine Chermiti headed against the crossbar. But against the run of play, Pohang took the lead in the 57th minute as tournament MVP No fired in a free-kick from 25 metres that went through the Al Ittihad wall and into the far corner of the net. Pohang doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Kim Jae-sung’s free-kick from the right was headed in by Kim Hyung-il. Al Ittihad would not throw in the towel and cut the deficit to one in the 77th minute when Noor volleyed home from close range. But it proved to be only a consolation for the Saudis as Shin repelled everything thrown at him in the dying minutes to confirm Pohang’s victory.
AFC Champions League 2009 - Final
07/11/09 Al Ittihad ……………………............………1 (Mohammed Noor 74) Pohang Steelers ………………............…..2 (No Byung-jun 57, Kim Hyung-il 66) National Stadium, Tokyo
Pohang lost only one of 12 games on their run to the title in 2009.
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Knockout Stage results Final 07/11/09
Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2
HT: 0-0
Semi-finals 21/10/09 28/10/09
Al Ittihad (KSA) 6 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 2 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Ittihad win 8-3 on aggregate
HT: 1-2 HT: 0-1
21/10/09 28/10/09
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Umm Salal (QAT) 0 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Pohang Steelers win 4-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
Quarter-finals 23/09/09 30/09/09
Umm Salal (QAT) 3 FC Seoul (KOR) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 1 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Umm Salal win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 0-2 HT: 1-1
23/09/09 30/09/09
Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 3 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Nagoya Grampus win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 2-1
23/09/09 30/09/09
Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Ittihad win 5-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
23/09/09 30/09/09
Bunyodkor (UZB) 3 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 4 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 aet FT: 3-1 Pohang Steelers win 5-4 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
Round of 16 26/05/09
Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Umm Salal (QAT) 0 FT: 0-0 Umm Salal win 4-3 on penalties
HT: 0-0.
27/05/09
Piroozi (IRN) 0 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 Ettifaq (KSA) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 1
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
24/06/09
Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 2 aet FT: 2-2 FC Seoul win 5-4 on penalties Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 6 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 0
HT: 1-1. HT: 1-0 HT: 2-1 HT: 2-0
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Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Hilal
6
4
2
0
10
4
14
Pakhtakor
6
4
1
1
9
5
Saba Battery
6
1
2
3
7
Al Ahli
6
0
1
5
6
Group E
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Piroozi
4
2
1
1
5
6
7
13
Al Shabab
4
2
1
1
4
2
9
5
Al Gharafa
4
1
0
3
7
14
1
Sharjah
0
0
0
0
0
10/03/09 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Saba Battery (IRN) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1
17/03/09 Saba Battery (IRN) 0 Al Ahli (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
07/04/09 Saba Battery (IRN) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-1
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Nagoya Grampus
6
3
3
0
10
4
12
Gamba Osaka
6
5
0
1
17
4
15
7
Newcastle Jets
6
3
1
2
6
5
10
FC Seoul
6
3
1
2
14
11
10
8
3
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
6
2
0
4
4
10
6
Shandong Luneng
6
2
1
3
10
9
7
0
0
Beijing Guoan
6
1
2
3
4
5
5
Sriwijaya
6
1
0
5
7
24
10/03/09 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 3
HT: 1-3
17/03/09 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Piroozi (IRN) 0
HT: 0-0
08/04/09 Piroozi (IRN) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1
HT: 2-0
21/04/09 Al Gharafa (QAT) 5 Piroozi (IRN) 1 22/04/09 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Saba Battery (IRN) 1 Al Ahli (UAE) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 3
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1
06/05/09 Saba Battery (IRN) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
20/05/09 Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Saba Battery (IRN) 5 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 2-0
HT: 3-0
06/05/09 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Al Al Gharafa (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0
20/05/09 Piroozi (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0
Piroozi finished ahead of Al Shabab due to better record in head-to-head meetings. Sharjah withdrew from competition. All results for matches involving Sharjah declared null and void.
Group C W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Ittihad
6
3
3
0
14
4
12
Umm Salal
6
2
2
2
6
13
Al Jazira
6
0
5
1
6
Esteghlal
6
0
4
2
6
HT: 1-0
17/03/09 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 2 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-0
07/04/09 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
22/04/09 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 1 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 0 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1
HT: 0-0
06/05/09 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 4 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 1 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 2 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1
HT: 2-1
20/05/09 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 0 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 1
HT: 0-1
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
17/03/09 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 5 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0 FC Seoul (KOR) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4
HT: 3-0 HT: 0-1
08/04/09 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 5 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-0
21/04/09 Sriwijaya (IDN) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 FC Seoul (KOR) 1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1
HT: 0-2 HT: 1-0
05/05/09 FC Seoul (KOR) 5 Sriwijaya (IDN) 1
HT: 1-0
06/05/09 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1
HT: 0-0
20/05/09 Sriwijaya (IDN) 4 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 FC Seoul (KOR) 2
HT: 0-2 HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0
HT: 0-0
HT: 0-0
HT: 0-1
Group G
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Ettifaq
6
4
0
2
15
8
12
8
Bunyodkor
6
2
2
2
5
9
7
5
Sepahan
6
2
1
3
9
8
4
Al Shabab Al Arabi
6
2
1
3
6
3
10/03/09 Sriwijaya (IDN) 2 FC Seoul (KOR) 4 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0
Group H
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Kashima Antlers
6
4
1
1
16
6
13
Pohang Steelers
6
3
3
0
7
3
12
8
Suwon Bluewings
6
4
0
2
12
8
12
Kawasaki Frontale
6
3
1
2
10
7
10
7
7
Shanghai Shenhua
6
2
2
2
9
8
8
Tianjin Teda
6
2
2
2
6
5
8
11
7
Singapore Armed Forces
6
0
1
5
4
19
1
Central Coast Mariners
6
0
2
4
5
13
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
11/03/09 Bunyodkor (UZB) 2 Ettifaq (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
11/03/09 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 4 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 4 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 1
18/03/09 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Jazira (UAE) 1 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1
18/03/09 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 2 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Ettifaq (KSA) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-1
18/03/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 HT: 1-0 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings HT: 0-0 (KOR) 2
18/03/09 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 2 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 2 HT: 1-0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 HT: 1-1
07/04/09 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 0 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
08/04/09 Bunyodkor (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Ettifaq (KSA) 4 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 1
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1
07/04/09 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 4 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 2 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 1
HT: 1-2
08/04/09 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 5 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 1 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0
HT: 0-3 HT: 0-0
22/04/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 5 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 0 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 2 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1
HT: 2-0
21/04/09 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 1 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
05/05/09 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 3 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 0 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1
HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
05/05/09 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 3 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 3 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 2
HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
05/05/09 Umm Salal (QAT) 2 Al Jazira (UAE) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1
HT: 0-2 HT: 0-0
19/05/09 Al Jazira UAE) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 7 Umm Salal (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 3-0
21/04/09 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 1 Ettifaq (KSA) 4
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-1
05/05/09 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Ettifaq (KSA) 4 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0
19/05/09 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Ettifaq (KSA) 0 Bunyodkor (UZB) 0 Al Shabab Al Arabi (UAE) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
Bunyodkor finished ahead of Al Shabab Al Arabi due to better record in head-to-head meetings.
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HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
HT: 1-0
HT: 2-1
19/05/09 Suwon Bluewings (KOR) 3 Singapore Armed HT: 2-0 Forces (SIN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 HT: 1-1
11/03/09 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0
2
11/03/09 Al Jazira (UAE) 0 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1
22/04/09 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Umm Salal (QAT) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Jazira (UAE) 1
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10/03/09 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 1 Nagoya Grampus (JPN) 3 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 2 Newcastle Jets (AUS) 0
Group D
P
Group F
P
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
19/05/09 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 HT: 0-1 Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 0 Tianjin Teda (CHN) 1 HT: 0-0
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Play-off results West 25/02/09
Sharjah (UAE) 3 Dempo SC (IND) 0
HT: 2-0
East 18/02/09
Provincial Electricity Authority (THA) 1 Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) HT: 1-1 4 aet FT: 1-1
25/02/09
Singapore Armed Forces (SIN) 2 PSMS Medan (IDN) 1 aet FT: 1-1
HT: 1-0
ACL 2008
Macedonian forward Stevica Ristic and ? show their delight as they celebrate with the AFC Champions League trophy.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Gamba stroll to victory
Celebration Down Under as Gamba Osaka celebrate their emphatic victory over Adelaide United in the 2008 final.
Gamba Osaka became the second consecutive J.League club to win the AFC Champions League with an emphatic victory over Adelaide United of Australia in the twolegged final.
won nine matches and all six of their away games on their march to the title.
Goals by Lucas, Yasuhito Endo and Michihiro Yasuda in the first leg in Japan had given Gamba a formidable advantage to take to South Australia for the return game.
But while Akira Nishino’s side ultimately took the title in a convincing manner, they had hardly looked like a championship side eight months earlier when they kicked off their campaign at home against Thailand’s Chonburi and needed a stoppage-time equaliser by Lucas to salvage a 1-1 draw.
And the Japanese side effectively wrapped up the tie when Lucas scored twice in the first 15 minutes at Hindmarsh Stadium to complete a 5-0 aggregate victory, which was the largest ever margin of victory in an AFC Champions League final played over two legs.
However, Gamba got on track with a pair of remarkable away wins. They first came from 2-0 down to beat Korean side Chunnam Dragon 4-3 and then won a seesaw encounter by the same score against Australian champions Melbourne Victory thanks to another late Lucas goal.
In the end, it was a deserved victory for Gamba, who became just the third club after Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad in 2005 and Japanese rivals Urawa Reds in 2007 to go through the entire competition with an unbeaten record. More impressively, they
They duly won their next two games to clinch first place in their group and then dispatched Syria’s Al Karama 4-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to set up a last four meeting with J.League rivals and defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds.
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Urawa entered the semi-final tie as favourites and Gamba needed a late Endo penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw at home in the first leg. But in the return game, they recovered from a 1-0 deficit at half-time with goals by Satoshi Yamaguchi, Endo and Tomokazu Myojin lifting them to a memorable 3-1 victory and a place in the AFC Champions League final. Adelaide conceded only four goals in 10 games during their run to the final but they were put to the sword by Gamba in the first leg at the Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium. Lucas opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the 37th minute and then set up the second for Endo six minutes later before Yasuda volleyed home Gamba’s third midway through the second half. Endo had a last minute effort disallowed but the Japanese side appeared well on course for the trophy as they travelled to Australia for the second leg. Any hope that Adelaide had of rescuing the tie then disappeared within the first quarterof-an-hour of the return match.
After just four minutes, Lucas turned the ball in after Adelaide goalkeeper Mark Birighitti had parried Hayato Sasaki’s shot from the edge of the area. And 11 minutes later, the Brazilian took one touch to control Takahiro Futagawa’s through ball on the counter-attack and poked the ball past Birighitti for his sixth goal of the competition. Having watched Urawa become the first Japanese team to win the AFC Champions League a year earlier, Nishino said there was a determination within his side to emulate that feat. “I wanted to win after what Reds did but I wanted to do it with a different style,” said the Gamba coach. “We won all our away matches and that showed we are in good shape. “As a coach I’m very satisfied, it’s something I have aimed for throughout the season. The standard has been very high and I’m really very happy that we have won.”
Knockout Stage results Final 05/11/08 12/11/08
Second Leg 12/11/08 Adelaide United………………………… 0 Gamba Osaka…………………………... 2 (Lucas 4, 14) Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam hands over the trophy to Gamba skipper Satoshi Yamaguchi.
HT: 2-0 HT: 2-0
Semi-finals 08/10/08 22/10/08
Adelaide United (AUS) 3 Kuruvchi (UZB) 0 Kuruvchi (UZB) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Adelaide United win 3-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
08/10/08 22/10/08
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Gamba Osaka win 4-2 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
Quarter-finals 17/09/08 24/09/08
Saipa (IRN) 2 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Kuruvchi (UZB) 5 Saipa (IRN) 1 Kuruvchi win 7-3 on aggregate
HT: 2-2 HT: 3-0
17/09/08 24/09/08
Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0 Adelaide United win 2-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
17/09/08 24/09/08
Al Qadisiya (KUW) 3 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0 Urawa Red Diamonds win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
17/09/08 24/09/08
Al Karama (SYR) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Gamba Osaka win 4-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
AFC Champions League 2008 - Final First Leg 05/11/08 Gamba Osaka…………………………… 3 (Lucas 37, Yasuhito Endo 43, Michihiro Yasuda 68) Adelaide United ………………………….0 Expo ’70 Commemorative Stadium, Osaka
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Gamba Osaka win 5-0 on aggregate
Gamba Osaka win 5-0 on aggregate Urawa Red Diamonds received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions
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Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Kuruvchi
6
4
1
1
8
2
13
Al Ittihad (KSA)
6
3
0
3
6
5
Sepahan
6
2
1
3
5
Al Ittihad (SYR)
6
2
0
4
4
Group E
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Saipa
6
3
3
0
7
3
12
9
Al Quwa Al Jawiya
6
2
2
2
5
5
8
7
Al Wasl
6
2
1
3
5
8
6
Al Kuwait
6
1
2
3
4
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Adelaide United
6
4
2
0
9
2
14
Kashima Antlers
6
5
0
1
28
3
15
8
Changchun Yatai
6
3
3
0
10
3
12
Beijing Guoan
6
4
0
2
14
9
12
7
7
Pohang Steelers
6
1
2
3
6
7
5
Krung Thai Bank
6
2
1
3
20
27
7
6
5
Binh Duong
6
0
1
5
4
17
1
Nam Dinh
6
0
1
5
4
27
1
12/03/08 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
12/03/08 Al Wasl (UAE) 0 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Saipa (IRN) 1
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
19/03/08 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
19/03/08 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Saipa (IRN) 2 Al Wasl (UAE) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
09/04/08 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
09/04/08 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Wasl (UAE) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
23/04/08 Kuruvchi (UZB) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
23/04/08 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 2 Al Wasl (UAE) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-1
07/05/08 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-0
07/05/08 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Wasl (UAE) 2 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0
21/05/08 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Kuruvchi (UZB) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0
21/05/08 Al Wasl (UAE) 1 Saipa (IRN) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 2
Group C
12/03/08 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 2 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
19/03/08 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 4 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
09/04/08 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
23/04/08 Adelaide United (AUS) 4 Binh Duong (VIE) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 2
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
07/05/08 Binh Duong (VIE) 0 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 5 Adelaide United (AUS) 1 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0
HT: 0-3 HT: 0-0
HT: 1-2 HT: 1-0
21/05/08 Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 Binh Duong (VIE) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-1
22/05/08 Changchun Yatai (CHN) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 0
Group D
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Karama
6
3
2
1
8
3
11
Al Wahda
6
2
3
1
6
7
Al Sadd
6
1
3
2
6
Al Ahli
6
0
4
2
5
12/03/08 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 9 Nam Dinh (VIE) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3
HT: 0-3 HT: 1-0
19/03/08 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 6 Nam Dinh (VIE) 0 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 4 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
09/04/08 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 0 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 9 Nam Dinh (VIE) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 3-0
23/04/08 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 1 Kashima Antlers 0 (JPN) Nam Dinh (VIE) 2 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-1
HT: 0-0
07/05/08 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 8 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3 Nam Dinh (VIE) 0
HT: 3-0 HT: 2-0
HT: 0-0
21/05/08 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 5 Beijing Guoan (CHN) 3 Nam Dinh (VIE) 0 Kashima Antlers (JPN) 4
HT: 3-0 HT: 0-1
Group G
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Qadisiya
6
3
2
1
8
7
11
Gamba Osaka
6
4
2
0
14
8
14
9
Pakhtakor
6
3
2
1
13
6
11
Melbourne Victory
6
2
1
3
10
11
7
8
6
Arbil
6
2
2
2
8
11
8
Chunnam Dragons
6
1
3
2
8
10
6
7
4
Al Gharafa
6
0
2
4
3
8
2
Chonburi
6
1
2
3
7
10
5
12/03/08 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 1
HT: 2-0 HT: 2-0
12/03/08 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Arbil (IRQ) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
12/03/08 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 2 Chunnam Dragons 0 (KOR) Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Chonburi (THA) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
19/03/08 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1
19/03/08 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Arbil (IRQ) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
19/03/08 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4 Chonburi (THA) 3 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-0
09/04/08 Al Ahli (KSA) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 2
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
09/04/08 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Arbil (IRQ) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
09/04/08 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 1 Chonburi (THA) 0 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-2
23/04/08 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
23/04/08 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Arbil (IRQ) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 5
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-1
23/04/08 Chonburi (THA) 2 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
07/05/08 Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 0
HT: 2-1 HT: 0-0
07/05/08 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Arbil (IRQ) 1
HT: 2-1 HT: 0-1
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
21/05/08 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
21/05/08 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Arbil (IRQ) 4 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-2
07/05/08 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 1 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 1 Chonburi (THA) 0 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 21/05/08 Melbourne Victory (AUS) 3 Chonburi (THA) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
Al Qadisiya finished ahead of Pakhtakor due to better record in head-tohead meetings
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Gamba striker Lucas and Adelaide’s Scott Jamieson challenge for the ball during the final.
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ACL 2007
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Gamba’s impressive unbeaten run to the 2008 title saw them win nine of 12 games.
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Urawa make history
The celebrations kick-off in Saitama after Urawa Red Diamonds became the first Japanese club to lift the AFC Champions League title in 2007.
Urawa Red Diamonds became the first Japanese side to win the AFC Champions League with goals from Yuichiro Nagai and Yuki Abe earning the J.League champions a 2-0 win over Sepahan of Iran at Saitama Stadium as they completed a 3-1 aggregate victory. Nagai gave Urawa the lead in the 22nd minute in front of more than 59,000 fans before Abe doubled his side’s advantage on the night with a header from close range 19 minutes from time, wrapping up what was a comfortable win for Holger Osieck’s side. Reds had gone into the game with the slimmest of advantages from the first leg after a 1-1 draw in Isfahan which gave the Japanese a valuable away goal ahead of the home tie. Urawa’s hopes were further boosted by the return of inspirational defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka, who missed the first leg due to
injury, while Mahmoud Karimi, scorer of the equaliser for Sepahan in Iran previous week, was left on the bench alongside defender Jalal Akbari for the visitors. Sepahan goalkeeper Abbas Mohammadi was called into action as early as the eighth minute when he reacted superbly to push Tulio’s header to safety after Robson Ponte’s perfectly weighted free kick into the penalty area. However, 14 minutes later the Iranian goalkeeper was picking the ball out of the net. Another ball forward by Ponte – this time from open play – was sent in the direction of Nagai and, after a miskick by Jaba Mujiri, the Reds striker lashed the ball beyond Mohammadi’s despairing grasp and into the top corner. Within five minutes of Nagai’s strike, the
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Iranians were pushing forward, looking for a goal of their own. Former Iraqi international Abdul Wahab Abolheil let fly with his attempt from long range, only to see the ball go beyond Ryota Tsuzuki’s right post. Sepahan, though, struggled to break down the Reds defence and, as a result, coach Luka Bonacic introduced Karimi for Emad Ridha with 15 minutes remaining in the first half as he sought a way through. But it was at the other end that the next goal looked more likely to be scored. Nagai’s 39th-minute pass released Ponte only for the Brazilian to fail to pull the trigger in time. Two minutes later Washington tried his luck with an outrageous attempted lob from just inside the Sepahan half, only for the ball to clip the top of Mohammadi’s crossbar.
With seconds remaining in the half, Sepahan had a rare glimpse of goal when a mix-up between Tulio and Tsuzuki presented Karimi with the opportunity to level the scores, but his weak shot was hacked to safety as Tulio atoned for his earlier error.
Knockout Stage results Final 07/11/07 14/11/07
Sepahan made another change at the start of the second half, with Mohsen Hamidi making way for Hossein Papi. And less than six minutes after the restart, Moharram Navidkia had the Reds fans flustered for a split second when he came close to ending a flowing move with a flourish, but his shot was narrowly wide of Tsuzuki’s goal.
Sepahan (IRN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Sepahan 0 (IRN) Urawa Red Diamonds win 3-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
Semi-finals 03/10/07 24/10/07
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 2 (AET) Aggregate score 4-4. Urawa Red Diamonds win 5-3 on penalties
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
03/10/07 24/10/07
Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Sepahan win 3-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
AFC Champions League 2007 - Final Quarter-finals First leg 07/11/07 Sepahan ……….........…….........................1 (Mahmoud Karimi 47) Urawa Red DIamonds …………............…1 (Robson Ponte 45) Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan
Second leg 14/11/07 Urawa Red Diamonds…........................…2 (Yuichiro Nagai 22, Yuki Abe 71) Sepahan …………………......................…..0 Saitama World Cup Stadium, Saitama Urawa coach Holger Osieck shows his delight on the touchline after his side’s 3-1 aggregate win over Sepahan.
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19/09/07 26/09/07
Sepahan (IRN) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 0 Aggregate score 0-0. Sepahan win 5-4 on penalties
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
19/09/07 26/09/07
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 4-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-1
19/9/07 26/9/07
Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Aggregate score 1-1. Al Wahda win on away goals
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
19/9/07 26/9/07
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds win 4-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
Urawa Reds win 3-1 on aggregate Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors received a bye into the knockout stage as the defending champions.
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Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Wahda
6
4
1
1
13
6
13
Al Zawra’a
6
3
2
1
9
6
Al Arabi
6
2
1
3
10
Al Rayyan
6
0
2
4
3
Group E
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Hilal
6
2
2
0
5
1
8
11
Pakhtakor
6
2
0
2
3
5
12
7
Al Kuwait
6
0
2
2
2
11
2
Esteghlal (IRN)*
6
0
0
0
0
07/03/07 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Urawa Red Diamonds
6
2
4
0
9
5
10
Kawasaki Frontale
6
5
1
0
15
4
16
6
Sydney FC
6
2
3
1
8
5
9
Chunnam Dragons
6
3
1
2
7
8
10
4
2
Persik Kediri
6
2
1
3
6
16
7
Arema Malang
6
1
1
4
2
9
4
0
0
Shanghai Shenhua
6
1
2
3
7
4
5
Bangkok University
6
0
3
3
4
7
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
07/03/07 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1
HT: 1-0
21/03/07 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 0 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Al Wahda (UAE) 4 Al Arabi (KUW) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
21/03/07 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1
HT: 0-0
11/04/07 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 1 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
11/04/07 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 2
HT: 0-0
25/04/07 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0
HT: 1-0
25/04/07 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
09/05/07 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 3 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0
09/05/07 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Hilal (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0
23/05/07 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 23/05/07 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Al Wahda (UAE) 2
Group F
P
07/03/07 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 3 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Sydney FC (AUS) 2
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-2
21/03/07 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 1 Bangkok University (THA) 1 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 2 Arema Malang (IDN) 0
HT: 0-1
11/04/07 Persik Kediri (IDN) 2 Sydney FC (AUS) 1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-0
11/04/07 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3 Bangkok University (THA) 0 Arema Malang (IDN) 0
HT: 0-1
25/04/07 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 0 Sydney FC (AUS) 3 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
25/04/07 Arema Malang (IDN) 1 Bangkok University (THA) 0 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
09/05/07 Persik Kediri (IDN) 3 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 3 Sydney FC (AUS) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0
HT: 2-1 HT: 0-0
09/05/07 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 3 Bangkok University (THA) 2 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3 Arema Malang (IDN) 0
HT: 1-2
23/05/07 Bangkok University (THA) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2 Arema Malang (IDN) 0 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 1
HT: 1-1
23/05/07 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 0 Sydney FC (AUS) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 6 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0
Group D
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Karama
6
3
2
1
11
7
11
Neftchi
6
3
1
2
6
7
Al Najaf
6
2
2
2
9
Al Sadd
6
1
1
4
6
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-0
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Sepahan
6
4
1
1
12
5
13
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
6
4
1
1
13
6
13
10
Al Shabab
6
3
1
2
9
3
10
Shandong Luneng
6
4
1
1
12
8
13
8
8
Al Ain
6
1
3
2
5
8
6
Adelaide United
6
2
2
2
9
6
8
10
4
Al Ittihad
6
0
3
3
3
13
3
Dong Tam Long An
6
0
0
6
4
18
07/03/07 Al Najaf (IRQ) 0 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
07/03/07 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2
HT: 2-1 HT: 0-1
HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0
HT: 0-0
21/03/07 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Najaf (IRQ) 4 Neftchi (UZB) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-1
21/03/07 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0
11/04/07 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Neftchi (UZB) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Najaf (IRQ) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
25/04/07 Al Najaf (IRQ) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 4 Neftchi (UZB) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 1
0
07/03/07 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 4 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
21/03/07 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 1
HT: 0-2 HT: 0-0
11/04/07 Al Shabab (KSA) 4 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Sepahan (IRN) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-1
11/04/07 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 4 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 0 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-1
25/04/07 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
25/04/07 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 1 Adelaide United (AUS) 0 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 2 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 3
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-1
09/05/07 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Najaf (IRQ) 1
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-0
09/05/07 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Sepahan (IRN) 5
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-3
09/05/07 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Adelaide United (AUS) 2 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 1 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1
23/05/07 Al Najaf (IRQ) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Neftchi (UZB) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
23/05/07 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
23/05/07 Adelaide United (AUS) 3 Dong Tam Long An (VIE) 0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 0
HT: 2-0 HT: 2-0
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HT: 0-0
Group G
P
Seongnam finished ahead of Shandong due to better record in head-tohead meetings.
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HT: 1-1
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-1
Esteghlal (IRN) disqualified for failing to comply with player registration rules
Group C
HT: 0-0
31/03/07 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 Sydney FC (AUS) 2 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 2
HT: 1-0
HT: 0-3 HT: 1-1
3
07/03/07 Bangkok University (THA) 0 Chunnam Dragons (KOR) 0 Arema Malang (IDN) 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3
Urawa midfielder Makoto Hasebe holds off the attention of a Seongnam player during the semi-finals.
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Jubilant Urawa captain Keita Suzuki lifts the AFC Champions League trophy.
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Ze Carlo heads Jeonbuk to victory
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players accept the AFC Champions League trophy from Syrian President Bashar Al Assad after their dramatic victory over Al Karama in the 2006 final.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors let a two-goal advantage slip but a dramatic late header by Brazilian striker Ze Carlo saw the Korean side become the first east Asian team to lift the AFC Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate win against Al Karama of Syria.
champions Gamba Osaka and China Super League champions Dalian Shide during the group stage, Chinese giants Shanghai Shenhua in the quarter-finals and K-League champions Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i in the semi-finals.
Second-half strikes in Homs by Iyad Mando and Mohanad Ibrahim had wiped out Jeonbuk’s 2-0 lead from the first leg. But with only two minutes remaining in regulation time, Chung Jung-kwan’s cross from the right flank found Ze Carlo completely unmarked in the Al Karama box.
Al Karama also had a fairy-tale run as they became the first team from Syria to reach the AFC Champions League final.
The Brazilian buried the ball into the Al Karama net to complete Jeonbuk’s unlikely championship run, earning the Korean FA Cup holders the AFC Champions League title and a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The team from Homs ousted United Arab Emirates League winners Al Wahda, Qatar League champions Al Gharafa and Iranian Hafzi Cup holders Saba Battery during the group stage, stunned two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals and edged out Kuwait League champions Al Qadisiya in the last four.
Jeonbuk struggled in their domestic league in 2006 but enjoyed an excellent run on the continental stage, eliminating J.League
The Koreans grabbed the advantage in the first leg as second-half goals by Yeom Ki-hun and Botti gave them a 2-0 victory at Jeonju
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World Cup Stadium. Yeom, who had recovered from injuries sustained in a car crash just four months earlier, capped an excellent performance by curling in the opening goal after 59 minutes and Brazilian playmaker Botti netted the second in stoppage time, stabbing the ball home after Al Karama ‘keeper Mosab Balhous could only parry a low cross by Chung Jung-kwan. Needing two goals to rescue the tie, Al Karama dominated the first half of the return match at Khaled Bin Al Waleed Stadium with Fabio Santos, Iyad Mando, Mohamad Al Hamwi and Mohanad Ibrahim all going close. As half time approached, Jeonbuk nearly extended their lead but Chung Jung-kwan failed to make a solid enough connection with Lim You-Hwan’s low cross. Al Karama opened the scoring in the 54th
minute when Ibrahim unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area which beat Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae and cannoned off both posts before Mando slammed the ball into the net. Six minutes later Al Karama levelled the aggregate score when Bilal Abduldaim made his way down the right flank before finding Ibrahim, who caught Kwoun off guard with his shot from a tight angle that looped over the keeper and into the net. The hosts could have claimed victory with Mando forcing a double save out of Kwoun in the 79th minute and substitute Ahmed Al Omeir sending his effort wide with four minutes remaining. They would rue those missed opportunities when Chung broke down the right in the dying minute before crossing towards Ze Carlo, who peeled away from his marker to head into an empty net.
AFC Champions League 2006 - Final
Final 01/11/06 08/11/06
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 3-2 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
Semi-finals 27/09/06 18/10/06
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 3 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 6-4 on aggregate
HT: 1-2 HT: 0-2
27/09/06 18/10/06
Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Al Karama win 1-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
Quarter-finals
First Leg 01/11/06 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors ………………….2 (Yeom Ki-hun 59, Botti 90+1) Al Karama ……………………………………..0 Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju
Second Leg 08/11/06 Al Karama ……………………………………2 (Iyad Mando 54, Mohanad Ibrahim 60) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors …………………..1 (Ze Carlo 88) Khaled bin Al Walid Stadium, Homs Chung Jung-kwan and Ze Carlo celebrate during Jeonbuk’s 2-0 win in the first leg of the final.
Knockout Stage results
13/09/06 20/09/06
Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 0 Al Karama (SYR) 4 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0 aet FT: 2-0 Al Karama win 4-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
13/09/06 20/09/06
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-1
13/09/06 20/09/06
Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 3 Al Qadisiya win 5-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1
13/09/06 20/09/06
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 6 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (KOR) 1 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i win 7-0 on aggregate
HT: 3-0 HT: 0-0
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors win 3-2 on aggregate Al Ittihad received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions
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Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Qadisiya
6
3
2
1
9
11
11
Pakhtakor
6
3
1
2
11
7
Al Ittihad
6
2
2
2
6
7
Foolad
6
1
1
4
8
9
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Ain
6
4
1
1
10
6
13
10
Al Hilal
6
3
1
2
12
7
7
Mash’al
6
2
2
2
7
4
Al Mina’a
6
0
2
4
6
Group F
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
6
4
1
1
11
5
13
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i
2
2
0
0
3
0
6
10
Dalian Shide
6
4
0
2
7
6
12
Tokyo Verdy 1969
2
0
0
2
0
3
11
8
Gamba Osaka
6
3
1
2
26
7
10
11
2
Da Nang
6
0
0
6
1
27
HT: 1-0 HT: 3-0
08/03/06 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 0 Mash’al (UZB) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
08/03/06 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 2 Da Nang (VIE) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1
22/03/06 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Foolad (IRN) 0 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
22/03/06 Al Hilal (KSA) 3 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1 Mash’al (UZB) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 1
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1
22/03/06 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 15 Da Nang (VIE) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 0
HT: 6-0 HT: 1-0
12/04/06 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Foolad (IRN) 0
HT: 1-1 HT: 2-0
12/04/06 Al Hilal (KSA) 5 Mash’al (UZB) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1
HT: 2-0 HT: 2-1
12/04/06 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 3 Dalian Shide (CHN) 0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 Da Nang (VIE) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-0
26/04/06 Foolad (IRN) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
26/04/06 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Mash’al (UZB) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
26/04/06 Da Nang (VIE) 0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
03/05/06 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Foolad (IRN) 0
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-0
03/05/06 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Mash’al (UZB) 2 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-1
03/05/06 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Da Nang (VIE) 0
HT: 0-1
17/05/06 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 3 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Da Nang (VIE) 1 Gamba Osaka (JPN) 5
HT: 0-0
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-1
17/05/06 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Mash’al (UZB) 1 Al Mina’a (IRQ) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 1
Group C
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-0
Group D
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Karama
6
4
0
2
10
11
12
Saba Battery
6
3
1
2
13
8
Al Wahda
6
2
1
3
14
Al Gharafa
6
2
0
4
11
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Shabab
6
4
1
1
9
6
13
Shanghai Shenhua
2
2
0
0
7
3
6
10
Al Sadd
6
4
1
1
13
5
13
Gach Dong Tam Long An
2
0
0
2
3
7
15
7
Al Quwa Al Jawiya
6
2
0
4
5
9
6
14
6
Al Arabi
6
1
0
5
5
12
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-1
08/03/06 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
22/03/06 Saba Battery (IRN) 1 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0
22/03/06 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 4 Al Arabi (KUW) 1
HT: 0-2 HT: 1-0
12/04/06 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Al Shabab (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
26/04/06 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 3 Al Quwa Al Jawiya 0 (IRQ)
HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
03/05/06 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 3
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-2
17/05/06 Al Arabi (KUW) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 2 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-1
03/05/06 Saba Battery (IRN) 4 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 4 Al Karama (SYR) 2
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-2
17/05/06 Al Gharafa (QAT) 5 Al Wahda (UAE) 3 Al Karama (SYR) 1 Saba Battery (IRN) 0
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-0
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Arema Malang (IDN) and Thai Tobacco Monopoly (THA) were disqualified for failing to comply with the competition’s Player Registration rules.
0
08/03/06 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 3 Dong Tam (VIE) 1
HT: 2-0
03/05/06 Dong Tam (VIE) 2 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 4
HT: 1-1
3
08/03/06 Al Gharafa (QAT) 0 Saba Battery (IRN) 2 Al Karama (SYR) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-2
HT: 1-0
Group G
D
26/04/06 Al Karama (SYR) 3 Al Gharafa (QAT) 1 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Saba Battery (IRN) 4
03/05/06 Ulsan Horang-i (KOR) 1 Tokyo Verdy (KOR) 0
HT: 0-3
W
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-0
HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0
P
12/04/06 Saba Battery (IRN) 2 Al Wahda (UAE) 2 Al Gharafa (QAT) 4 Al Karama (SYR) 0
0
08/03/06 Tokyo Verdy (JPN) 0 Ulsan Horang-i (KOR) 2
0
08/03/06 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Foolad (IRN) 6 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 0
17/05/06 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Qadisiya (KUW) 2 Foolad (IRN) 1 Al Ittihad (SYR) 2
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Group E
P
Persipura Jayapura (IDN) and Provincial Electricity Authority (THA) were disqualified for failing to comply with the competition’s Player Registration rules.
Al Shabab finished ahead of Al Sadd due to better record in head-tohead meetings.
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Yeom Ki-hun (left) celebrates with Jeonbuk teammate Kim Hyueng-bum after scoring the opening goal in the first leg of the final.
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Ittihad tighten grip
Jubilant scenes on the victory podium in Jeddah after Al Ittihad successfully defended their AFC Champions League crown in 2005.
Al Ittihad, of Saudi Arabia, confirmed their status as Asia’s top club when they won the AFC Champions League for a second year running thanks to a 4-2 win over Al Ain, of the United Arab Emirates, to wrap up a 5-3 aggregate win.
Although Al Ain, winners of this competition in 2003, pulled one back courtesy of a Shebab Ahmed penalty 10 minutes after the restart, the side from Jeddah reasserted their supremacy a minute later through JosephDesire Job, later sent off.
Having drawn the first leg in Al Ain 1-1, Al Ittihad were fast out of the blocks in the return match, storming into a 2-0 lead at the break thanks to a second-minute strike from Mohamed Kallon and a Mohammed Noor header on 33 minutes .
Ahmed Dokhi completed the rout with 22 minutes left on the clock before Luis Tejada pulled one back for the visitors in added time. The win meant a US$500,000 pay day for Anghel Iordanescu’s side for winning the competition and, more importantly, a place
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at the FIFA Club World Championship 2005 in Japan. With the game barely two minutes old, Al Ittihad, conquerors of Shandong Luneng in the quarter-finals and Busan I’Park in the semis, gave their fans reason to raise the roof when Kallon, formerly of Inter Milan and Monaco, placed a free-kick over the Al Ain wall and past Abdulla Mutaz into the top lefthand corner of the net. Al Ain’s defence was at fault for Al Ittihad’s second goal, which came on 33 minutes. Tcheco, one of five players in the Al Ittihad starting 11 who played in the 2004 AFC Champions League final, floated a free-kick into the danger area from the left and an unchallenged Noor, later named Man of the Match, planted a header wide of Mutaz’s right hand into the net to send the Al Ittihad faithful into raptures.
Al Ain got the start to the second half they needed when skipper Fahad Ali was tripped in the box by Tcecho. Singaporean referee Shamsul Maidan pointed to the spot and Shebab stepped up and sent Mabrouk Zaid the wrong way to give Milan Macala’s side hope with 35 minutes left to play. Amazingly, though, their joy lasted just 60 seconds as Alberto Blanco and Ali Msarri both failed to make contact with Tcheco’s free-kick from the right and Job, on loan from Middlesbrough, was on hand at the near post to head his first goal for the Saudis. On 68 minutes, any hopes the visitors had of finding a way back into the game was snuffed out when Dokhi, overlapping down the right, fired the ball across Mutaz and into the far corner of the net. Tejada’s late effort was no more than a consolation prize for the vanquished men in purple.
AFC Champions League 2005 - Final
Final 26/10/05 05/11/05
Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Ittihad win 5-3 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-0
Semi-finals 28/09/05 12/10/05
Al Ain (UAE) 6 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 0 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 0 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Ain win 6-0 on aggregate
HT: 4-0 HT: 0-0
28/09/05 12/10/05
Busan I’Park (KOR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 5 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Busan I’Park (KOR) 0 Al Ittihad win 7-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
Quarter-finals
First Leg 26/10/05 Al Ain ……………………………………1 (Ali Msarri 50) Al Ittihad …………………………………1 (Mohamed Kallon 85) Tahnon Bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain
Second Leg 05/11/05 Al Ittihad ………………………………..4 (Mohamed Kallon 2, Mohammed Noor 33, Joseph-Desire Job 57, Ahmed Dokhi 69) Al Ain ……………………………………2 (Shehab Ahmed 55-pen, Luis Tejada 90) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah Al Ittihad’s Osama Al Harbi battling for possession against Al Ain in the first leg of the final.
Knockout Stage results
14/09/05 21/09/05
Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 1 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 3 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 aet FT: 2-1 Shenzhen Jianlibao win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-1
14/09/05 21/09/05
Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 7 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Al Ittihad win 8-3 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-1
14/09/05 21/09/05
Busan I’Park (KOR) 3 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Busan I’Park (KOR) 2 Busan I’Park win 5-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
14/09/05 21/09/05
Al Ain (UAE) 1 Pas (IRN) 1 Pas (IRN) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Aggregate score 4-4. Al Ain win on away goals
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
Al Ittihad win 5-3 on aggregate Al Ittihad received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions
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Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Pas
6
5
1
0
12
4
16
Al Salmiya
6
3
0
3
8
9
Al Rayyan
6
2
1
3
6
Al Shorta
6
0
2
4
2
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Ain
6
4
1
1
13
6
13
9
Sepahan
6
3
2
1
10
6
7
7
Al Shabab
6
3
1
2
7
8
2
Al Wahda
6
0
0
6
5
09/03/05 Pas (IRN) 2 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Al Salmiya (KUW) 3 Al Shorta (IRQ) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
15/03/05 Al Shorta (IRQ) 1 Pas (IRN) 1
HT: 1-0
16/03/05 Al Rayyan (QAT)2 Al Salmiya (KUW) 1
06/04/05 Al Rayyan (QAT) 2 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 Pas (IRN) 5 Al Salmiya (KUW) 1
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
19/04/05 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0
20/04/05 Al Salmiya (KUW) 0 Pas (IRN) 1
HT: 0-0
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Shenzhen Jianlibao
6
4
1
1
9
3
13
Shandong Luneng
6
6
0
0
15
2
18
11
Suwon Bluewings
6
4
1
1
14
3
13
Yokohama F.Marinos
6
4
0
2
10
4
12
7
10
Jubilo Iwata
6
3
0
3
11
4
9
PSM Makassar
6
1
1
4
4
14
4
16
0
Hoang Anh Gia Lai
6
0
0
6
1
25
0
BEC Tero Sasana
6
0
1
5
3
12
1
09/03/05 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Al Wahda (SYR) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
09/03/05 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 1 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 0 HT: 0-0 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 1 Suwon Samsung HT: 0-2 Bluewings (KOR) 5
09/03/05 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1 HT: 0-0 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 0 Shandong Luneng HT: 0-0 (CHN) 1
16/03/05 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Wahda (SYR) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 2
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
16/03/05 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 6 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 HT: 2-0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 (KOR) Shenzhen HT: 0-0 Jianlibao (CHN) 0
16/03/05 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 2 HT: 0-1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 HT: 1-0
06/04/05 Al Wahda (SYR) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Al Shabab (KSA) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 2-0
06/04/05 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 0 Suwon Samsung Bluewings HT: 0-0 (KOR) 1 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 5 Hoang Anh Gia Lai HT: 2-0 (VIE) 1
06/04/05 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 1 HT: 0-0 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 1 Yokohama F.Marinos HT: 0-2 (JPN) 2
20/04/05 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Wahda (SYR) 0 Al Shabab (KSA) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 0
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-0
20/04/05 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 2 Jubilo Iwata HT: 0-1 (JPN) 1 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) HT: 0-0 2
20/04/05 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 2 BEC Tero Sasana HT: 1-0 (THA) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 6 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1 HT: 4-0
11/05/05 Al Wahda (SYR) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Sepahan (IRN) 1 Al Shabab (KSA) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
25/05/05 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Sepahan (IRN) 2 Al Shabab (KSA) 3 Al Wahda (SYR) 1
HT: 2-0 HT: 2-0
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-0
Group C
11/05/05 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 6 Hoang Anh Gia HT: 4-0 Lai 0 (VIE) Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 3 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 0 HT: 0-0 25/05/05 Shenzhen Jianlibao (CHN) 1 Suwon Samsung HT: 1-0 Bluewings (KOR) 0 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 1 HT: 0-1 Shenzhen Jianlibao finished ahead of Suwon Bluewings due to better record in head-to-head meetings.
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Sadd
6
4
0
2
8
6
12
Neftchi
6
3
0
3
8
7
Al Kuwait
6
2
1
3
5
Al Ahli
6
2
1
3
8
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Ahli
6
5
0
1
18
5
15
Busan I’Park
6
6
0
0
25
0
18
9
Pakhtakor
6
3
0
3
9
8
9
Krung Thai Bank
6
3
0
3
5
9
9
6
7
Al Zawra’a
6
2
1
3
6
13
7
Persebaya Surabaya
6
1
1
4
2
10
4
10
7
Al Jaish
6
1
1
4
7
14
4
Binh Dinh
6
1
1
4
2
15
4
09/03/05 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 0
HT: 0-0 HT: 1-0
16/03/05 Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 0 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
20/04/05 Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Al Kuwait (KUW) 3 Al Sadd (QAT) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 2
HT: 1-2 HT: 1-2
11/05/05 Al Kuwait (KUW) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 0 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 1
25/05/05 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Neftchi (UZB) v Al Ahli (UAE)
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
HT: 1-0 Void*
*Neftchi were awarded a 3-0 victory after Al Ahli refused to play in Uzbekistan, citing security concerns
11/05/05 PSM Makassar (IDN) 2 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 2 HT: 0-1 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 2 Yokohama F.Marinos HT: 1-1 (JPN) 1 25/05/05 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 Shandong Luneng (CHN) 4 HT: 0-2 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 3 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 HT: 0-0
Group G
Group D
P
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W
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
25/05/05 Al Salmiya (KUW) 2 Al Rayyan (QAT) 0 Pas (IRN) 1 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0
Group F
P
HT: 1-0
11/05/05 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0 Al Salmiya (KUW) 1 Al Rayyan (QAT) 1 Pas (IRN) 2
156
Group E
P
08/03/05 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Ahli (KSA) 2
HT: 1-2
09/03/05 Al Jaish (SYR) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2
HT: 0-2
16/03/05 Al Ahli (KSA) 3 Al Jaish (SYR) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 2
HT: 2-0 HT: 0-1
05/04/05 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Jaish (SYR) 5
HT: 0-2
06/04/05 Al Ahli (KSA) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0
HT: 0-0
20/04/05 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 1 Al Jaish (SYR) 0 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
11/05/05 Al Ahli (KSA) 5 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 4 Al Jaish (SYR) 1
HT: 3-1 HT: 0-0
24/05/05 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0
HT: 0-0
25/05/05 Al Jaish (SYR) 0 Al Ahli (KSA) 4
HT: 0-2
09/03/05 Busan I’Park (KOR) 8 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Persebaya Surabaya (IDN) 1 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2
HT: 3-0 HT: 0-1
16/03/05 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Persebaya Surabaya (IDN) 0 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Busan I’Park (KOR) 2
HT: 0-0 HT:0-1
06/04/05 Binh Dinh (VIE) 1 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2 Busan I’Park (KOR) 4 Persebaya Surabaya (IDN) 0
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
20/04/05 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Binh Dinh (VIE) 1 Persebaya Surabaya (IDN) 0 Busan I’Park (KOR) 3
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-2
11/05/05 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Busan I’Park (KOR) 4 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 Persebaya Surabaya 0 (IDN)
HT: 0-3 HT: 1-0
25/05/05 Busan I’Park (KOR) 4 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Persebaya Surabaya (IDN) 1 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0
HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
Persebaya finished third due to better record in head-to-head meetings against Binh Dinh.
Al Ittihad swept aside China’s Shandong Luneng 8-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
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Al Ittihad netted an outstanding 20 goals in six knockout stage games during their run to the title in 2005.
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Ittihad comeback stuns Seongnam
Al Ittihad produced a remarkable 5-0 win over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in Korea to lift the AFC Champions League title for the first time in 2004.
Al Ittihad won the AFC Champions League 2004 in what must surely rank as one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of Asian club football.
have predicted such an outcome for the six-time Saudi league champions after the first leg in Jeddah, which the K-League champions won 3-1.
Trailing 3-1 from the home leg in Jeddah against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, the Tigers scored five unanswered goals in the second leg in front of a full house in Korea to win Asia’s most prestigious knockout tournament 6-3 on aggregate.
Cha Kyung-bok’s side took the lead in the first leg through Denis Laktionov on 27 minutes but Tomaslav Ivic’s team equalised a minute later through Redha Tukar. But goals from Kim Do-hoon, his ninth of the campaign, on 81 minutes, and a Jang Hak-young effort in the last minute of the game left the winners of the 1995 Asian Club Championship and 1996 Asian Super Cup
Few, except perhaps the hundred or so Al Ittihad fans who travelled to Korea, would
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very much in the driving seat ahead of the return game in Korea a week later.
his side in the opening exchanges of the second half.
Al Ittihad’s chances of overturning the deficit were further dented when Ivic was dismissed and replaced by his inexperienced assistant Dragan Talajic, whose first game in charge turned out to be one that will go down in the annals of the games.
Having absorbed Seongnam’s early pressure, Al Ittihad went ahead on aggregate for the first time with a magnificent goal on the counterattack in the 55th minute. Manaf Abushgeer was released down the left by Idris and his low cross eluded a crowd of players before finding skipper Mohammad Noor who slid in at the far post.
The visitors weathered an early storm and then took the lead on 27 minutes when Redha Tukar rose high above Park Woo-hyun in the Seongnam defence to head home. Seongnam responded with their best spell of the and had good chances to put themselves back in the driving seat but Al Ittihad doubled their lead just before the break when Tcheco’s lofted free-kick fell to Hamzah Idris who prodded the ball home from close range. The goal came at a crucial time for Dragan Talajic’s side and self-belief coursed through
The Koreans left large gaps at the back and they were cruelly exposed again in the 78th minute as Noor scored the killer fourth goal on yet another lethal counter-attack. The visitors capped an amazing night five minutes into added time as Abushgeer turned defender Kim Sung-il on the left of the Seongnam box before curling the ball past the hapless Seongnam keeper to round off a comeback few thought possible.
First Leg 24/11/04 Al Ittihad ……………………………........…1 (Redha Tukar 28) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma…………….… 3 (Denis Laktionov 27, Kim Do-hoon 81, Jang Hak-young 90) Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah
Second Leg 01/12/04 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma …………..…..0 Al Ittihad ……………………………..……..5 (Redha Tukar 27, Hamzah Idris 45, Mohammed Noor 55, 78, Manaf Abushgeer 90) Seongnam Sports Complex, Seongnam
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Final 24/11/04 01/12/04
Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 3 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 5 Al Ittihad win 6-3 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-2
Semi-finals 20/10/04 27/10/04
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 2-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
20/10/04 27/10/04
Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Ittihad win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0
Quarter-finals
AFC Champions League 2004 - Final
Al Ittihad’s players rejoice after Manaf Abushgeer (right) completed the scoring in the second leg of the final.
Knockout Stage results
Al Ittihad win 6-3 on aggregate
14/09/04 21/09/04
Al Ain (UAE) 0 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 1 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 4 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Chonbuk Hyundai Motors win 5-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
14/09/04 21/09/04
Dalian Shide (CHN) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 1 Dalian Shide (CHN) 0 Al Ittihad win 2-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
15/09/04 22/09/04
Al Wahda (UAE) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 4 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor win 5-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-0
15/09/04 22/09/04
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 6 Sharjah (UAE) 0 Sharjah (UAE) 2 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR) 5 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma win 11-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-3
Al Ain received a bye into the Knockout Stage as defending champions
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Group Stage results Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Pakhtakor
4
2
1
1
3
1
7
Zob Ahan
4
1
2
1
4
5
Qatar SC
4
0
3
1
3
Riffa
0
0
0
0
0
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Wahda
4
1
3
0
3
0
6
5
Al Sadd
4
1
2
1
1
1
4
3
Al Quwa Al Jawiya
4
1
1
2
1
0
0
Al Qadisiya
0
0
0
0
0
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Chonbuk Hyundai Motors
6
4
0
2
14
5
12
Dalian Shide
6
5
0
1
11
5
15
5
Jubilo Iwata
6
4
0
2
14
11
12
Krung Thai Bank
6
2
1
3
8
11
7
4
4
Shanghai Shenhua
6
3
0
3
7
9
9
Hoang Anh Gia Lai
6
2
1
3
10
10
7
0
0
BEC Tero Sasana
6
1
0
5
6
16
3
PSM Makassar
6
2
0
4
9
12
6
HT: 0-0
11/02/04 Al Wahda (UAE) 0 Al Sadd (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0
25/02/04 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Qatar SC (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0
25/02/04 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0
HT: 0-0
HT: 1-0
21/04/04 Qatar SC (QAT) 0 Zob Ahan (IRN) 0
HT: 0-0
05/05/04 Pakhtakor (UZB) 2 Zob Ahan (IRN) 0
HT: 1-0
19/05/04 Qatar SC (QAT) 0 Al Pakhtakor (UZB) 0
HT: 0-0
06/04/04 Al Wahda 3 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0
HT: 2-0
20/04/04 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 0 Al Wahda 0
HT: 0-0
05/05/04 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Al Wahda 0
HT: 0-0
18/05/04 Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 0
HT: 0-0
Riffa (BHR) withdrew from competition. All results for matches involving Riffa declared null and void.
Al Qadisiya (KUW) expelled from competition. All results for matches involving Al Qadisiya declared null and void.
Group C
Group D
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Sharjah
4
3
1
0
10
4
10
Al Hilal
4
2
1
1
6
6
Al Shorta
4
0
0
4
3
9
10/02/04 Sharjah (UAE) 2 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0
HT: 0-1
25/02/04 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 3 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 0 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
11/02/04 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 5 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1
HT: 3-0
06/04/04 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1
HT: 1-1
24/02/04 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0
HT: 2-0
07/04/04 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 4 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0
HT: 1-0
25/02/04 PSM Makassar (IDN) 2 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2
HT: 1-3
20/04/04 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 4
HT: 0-1
06/04/04 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1
HT: 0-0
22/04/04 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 3 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2
HT: 2-2
07/04/04 PSM Makassar (IDN) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1
HT: 0-1
05/05/04 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 0
HT: 0-0
21/04/04 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 2 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 2 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 PSM Makassar (IDN) 1
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-1
12/05/04 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 4
HT: 0-1
04/05/04 Dalian Shide (CHN) 3 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1
HT: 1-1
19/05/04 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 0 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 2 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 3
HT: 0-0
05/05/04 PSM Makassar (IDN) 3 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 0
HT: 1-0
18/05/04 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 1 PSM Makassar (IDN) 2 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE) 3 Dalian Shide (CHN) 1
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
HT: 1-2
Chonbuk Hyundai Motors finished ahead of Jubilo Iwata due to better record in head-to-head meetings between the two teams
Group G L
F
A
Pts
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Ittihad
6
4
1
1
14
4
13
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
6
5
0
1
24
4
15
7
Sepahan
6
4
1
1
15
10
13
Yokohama F.Marinos
6
5
0
1
19
3
15
0
Al Arabi
6
2
2
2
8
10
8
Persik Kediri
6
1
1
4
5
27
4
Neftchi
6
0
0
6
5
18
0
Binh Dinh
6
0
1
5
3
17
1
06/04/04 Al Shorta (IRQ) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 2
HT: 0-1
21/04/04 Al Hilal (KSA) 2 Al Shorta (IRQ) 0
HT: 1-0
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10/02/04 Krung Thai Bank (THA) 0 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2
D
HT: 0-0
HT: 2-2
HT: 1-1
Al Ahli (BHR) withdrew from the competition without playing a game.
HT: 1-0 HT: 1-0
W
HT: 0-0
18/05/04 Sharjah (UAE) 5 Al Hilal (KSA) 2
11/02/04 Chonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 Jubilo Iwata (JPN) 2 BEC Tero Sasana (THA) 4 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1
P
25/02/04 Al Hilal (KSA) 0 Sharjah (UAE) 0
04/05/04 Al Shorta (IRQ) 2 Sharjah (UAE) 3
Group F
P
11/02/04 Zob Ahan (IRN) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 0
06/04/04 Zob Ahan (IRN) 3 Qatar SC (QAT) 3
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Group E
P
10/02/04 Sepahan (IRN) 4 Neftchi (UZB) 0
HT: 1-0
10/02/04 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 3
HT: 0-2
11/02/04 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2 Al Arabi (KUW) 0
HT: 1-0
11/02/04 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 2
HT: 0-2
24/02/04 Neftchi (UZB)1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 2 Sepahan (IRN) 2
HT: 0-2 HT: 0-1
24/02/04 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 4 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0
HT: 2-0
25/02/04 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 2 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0
HT: 1-0
07/04/04 Binh Dinh (VIE) 2 Persik Kediri (IDN) 2 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 1 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 2
HT: 2-1 HT: 1-1
21/04/04 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 0 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 1
HT: 1-0
05/05/04 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 6 Binh Dinh (VIE) 0
HT: 2-0
11/05/04 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 15 Persik Kediri (IDN) 0
HT: 7-0
19/05/04 Persik Kediri (IDN) 1 Yokohama F.Marinos (JPN) 4 Binh Dinh (VIE) 1 Seongnam Chunma (KOR) 3
HT: 0-4 HT: 1-2
07/04/04 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Ittihad (KSA) 2
HT: 1-0
20/04/04 Al Ittihad (KSA) 4 Sepahan (IRN) 0
HT: 3-0
21/04/04 Al Arabi (KUW) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 2
HT: 1-0
04/05/04 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 0 Al Ittihad (KSA) 0
HT: 1-2 HT: 0-0
18/05/04 Sepahan (IRN) 3 Al Arabi (KUW) 1 Al Ittihad (KSA) 3 Neftchi (UZB) 0
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
26/05/04 Neftchi (UZB) 1 Al Arabi (KUW) 2
HT: 0-0
Al Ittihad finished ahead of Sepahan due to better record in head-to-head meetings between the two teams
HT: 0-0
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma finished ahead of Yokohama F.Marinos on goal difference
Al Ittihad midfielder Redha Tukar (right) celebrates after scoring during his side’s run to the final.
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Redha Tukar won the MVP title in 2004 after playing a key role in Al Ittihad’s victorious campaign.
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Al Ain claim historic first
Al Ain were crowned the inaugural AFC Champions League winners in 2003 after downing Thailand’s BEC Tero Sasana 2-1 on aggregate in the final.
Al Ain won the inaugural AFC Champions League, beating Thai side BEC Tero Sasana 2-1 on aggregate. Bruno Metsu’s side won the first leg 2-0 thanks to a goal five minutes before halftime from skipper Salem Jawhar and a Mohammed Omar effort 15 minutes from full time. Despite losing the second leg in Bangkok by a single goal, Al Ain held on to become the first side from the United Arab Emirates to win an Asian club title. BEC Tero gave their all in the second leg at the Supachalasai Stadium, but a penalty converted by Therdsak Chaiman in the 60th minute was not enough to wrench the trophy
from Al Ain’s grasp. For the Thais, it was a case of so near yet so far as Attapol Puspakom’s side took the lead 15 minutes into the second and then had what looked like a perfectly legitimate headed goal seven minutes later ruled out. The goal would have put the two sides level on aggregate. It was Al Ain who had the first chance of the second leg, giant French defender Kadjo Afanou heading a flicked-on corner against an upright after just five minutes. The near-miss was Al Ain’s only real chance for the next 40 minutes, although the visitors nearly stole a first-half lead they did not deserve when Faisal Ali found himself in space down the right. His first touch took him
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into the box, but he shot straight at the legs of BEC Tero and Thai national keeper Phansa Meetsattham.
Thonglao free down the left. The midfielder cut in from the left and, as he entered the box, was felled by Humaid Fakher. The referee pointed straight to the spot. Therdsak composed himself and sent the keeper the wrong way.
In between, BEC Tero dominated large periods, with midfielder Therdsak Chaiman, the Emirates MVP of the final, at the heart of his side’s best moves. It was always going to be difficult for the home side to maintain the prodigious work rate of the first half and, as BEC Tero began to tire, so Al Ain began to exploit the wide open spaces of the Rajamangala playing surface.
The goal lifted BEC Tero and the home supporters, who raised the roof on 66 minutes when Pherartat Phoruandee rose to meet Therdsak’s deep corner to angle a header across the line. BEC Tero joy was short-lived, however, as the referee immediately blew for an infringement, presumably on Al Ain keeper Waleed.
The first chance of the second half fell to Faisal Ali on 50 minutes but his left-foot scissor key was tipped around the post by Phansa.
In the last 10 minutes, BEC Tero opted for hopeful long balls. But, try as they did, it was not enough and Al Ain held on to claim an historic win and the US$500,000 winners’ purse.
Ten minutes later, BEC Tero were ahead on the night. Therdsak, picking the ball up on the half-way line, shrugged off the attentions of his marker before setting Datsakorn
Knockout Stage results Final 03/10/03 11/10/03
Al Ain (UAE) 2 BEC Tero Sesana (Tha) 0 BEC Tero Sesana (Tha) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 0 Al Ain win 2-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
Semi-finals 09/04/03 30/08/03
Al Ain (UAE) 4 Dalian Shide (CHN) 2 Dalian Shide (CHN) 4 Al Ain (UAE) 3 Al Ain win 7-6 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
09/04/03 22/04/03
BEC Tero Sesana (Tha) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 BEC Tero Sesana (Tha) 0 BEC Tero Sasana win 3-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
AFC Champions League 2002/3 - Final
First Leg 03/10/03 Al Ain …………………………......…...........2 (Salam Jawhar 40, Mohammed Omar 75) BEC Tero Sasana …………...................…0 Tahnon bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain
Second Leg 11/10/03 BEC Tero Sasana ……………................…1 (Therdsak Chaiman 60-pen) Al Ain ………………………….................….0 Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok Al Ain win 2-1 on aggregate Joyous Al Ain fans cheering on their team during the 2003 AFC Champions League final.
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Group Stage results
Preliminary Round Results – West Asia
Group A
Group B
P
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
BEC Tero Sasana
3
2
1
0
6
3
7
Taejon Citizen
3
2
0
1
3
3
Shanghai Shenhua
3
1
0
2
6
Kashima Antlers
3
0
1
2
5
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Dalian Shide
3
2
1
0
10
2
7
6
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
3
2
0
1
9
4
6
7
3
Shimizu S-Pulse
3
1
1
2
8
2
4
7
1
Osotspa
3
0
0
3
1
20
0
10/03/03 Shanghai (CHN) 1 Taejon (KOR) 2 Kashima (JPN) 2 BEC Tero (THA) 2
HT: 0-2 HT: 1-0
12/03/03 Kashima (JPN) 3 Shanghai (CHN) 4 Taejon (KOR) 0 BEC Tero (THA) 2
HT: 1-3 HT: 0-1
14/03/03 BEC Tero (THA) 2 Shanghai (CHN) 1 Taejon (KOR) 1 Kashima (JPN) 0
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
All games played in Bangkok, THA
09/03/03 Seongnam (KOR) 6 Osotspa (THA) 0 Shimizu (JPN) 0 Dalian (CHN) 0
15/03/03 Dalian (CHN) 3 Seongnam (KOR) 1 Osotspa (THA) 0 Shimizu (JPN) 7
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-2
13/11/02 27/11/02
13/11/02 26/11/02
--/--/---/--/--
Al Jaish (SYR) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Jaish (SYR) 1 aet FT: 1-1 Aggregate score 2-2. Al Sadd win 4-1 on penalties
Third Qualifying Round HT: 0-1 HT: 1-1
Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pakthakor win 4-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Neftchi (UZB) 0 Neftchi (UZB) 2 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Aggregate score 2-2. Esteghlal win on away goals
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
Al Arabi (KUW) v Nisa (TKM) Nisa (TKM) v Al Arabi (KUW) Al Arabi withdrew. Nisa advance
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Al Ain
3
3
0
0
6
1
9
Al Sadd
3
1
0
2
4
5
Esteghlal
3
1
0
2
5
7
Al Hilal
3
1
0
2
4
6
12/03/03 Al Ain (UAE) 2 Al Sadd (QAT) 0 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Hilal (KSA) 3
15/03/03 Al Hilal (KSA) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 3 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Al Ain (UAE) 3
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
Pakhtakor
3
3
0
0
7
0
9
3
Pirouzi
3
2
0
1
5
2
6
3
Al Talaba
3
1
0
2
3
4
3
3
Nisa
3
0
0
3
1
10
0
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-1
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
09/03/03 Nisa (TKM) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Talaba (IRQ) 0 Pirouzi (IRN) 1
12/03/03 Al Talaba (IRQ) 3 Nisa (TKM) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pirouzi (IRN) 0
15/03/03 Nisa (TKM) 1 Pirouzi (IRN) 4 Al Talaba (IRQ) 0 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3
All games played in Tashkent, UZB
Al Ittihad (SYR) 1 Al Arabi 1 (KUW) Al Arabi 1 (KUW) 4 Al Ittihad (SYR) 0 Al Arabi win 5-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-1
09/10/02 23/10/02
Al Ahli (UAE) 3 Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Al Ahli (KSA) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Ahli (UAE) win 5-4 on aggregate
HT: 2-1 HT: 2-0
09/10/02 24/10/02
Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Faisaly (JOR) 0 Al Faisaly (JOR) 0 Esteghlal (IRN) 1 Esteghlal win 3-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-1
09/10/02 25/10/02
Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Zawra’a (IRQ) 1 Al Sadd (QAT) 2 aet FT: 1-1 Al Sadd win 3-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-1 HT: 1-1
10/10/02 25/10/02
Al Etehad (QAT) 4 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Etehad (QAT) 0 Pakthakor win 6-4 on aggregate
HT: 2-1 HT: 0-0
--/--/---/--/--
Al Jaish (SYR) v Regar-Tadaz (TJK) Regar-Tadaz (TJK) v Al Jaish (SYR) Regar-Tadaz suspended by AFC. Al Jaish advance
Second Qualifying Round
P
HT: 0-1 HT: 1-0
08/10/02 23/10/02
HT: 2-0
Nisa (TKM) received a bye into Fourth Qualifying Round
Group D
P
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HT: 0-0 HT: 1-2
12/11/02 27/11/02
All games played in Dalian, CHN
09/03/03 Al Sadd (QAT) 1 Esteghlal (IRN) 2 Al Ain (UAE) 1 Al Hilal (KSA) 0
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HT: 3-0 HT: 0-0
12/03/03 Shimizu (JPN) 1 Seongnam (KOR) 2 Osotspa (THA) 1 Dalian (CHN) 7
Group C
All games played in Al Ain, UAE
Fourth Qualifying Round
P
Al Ansar (LIB) 1 Al Faisaly (JOR) 0 Al Faisaly (JOR) 3 Al Ansar (LIB) 0 Al Faisaly win 3-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 3-0
11/09/02 24/09/02
Al Ahli (UAE) 2 Al Kuwait (KUW) 0 Al Kuwait (KUW) 3 Al Ahli (UAE) 1 Aggregate score 3-3. Al Ahli (UAE) win on away goals
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
11/09/02 25/09/02
Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) 0 Al Ahli Sana’a (YEM) 2 Al Ahli Sana’a (YEM) 2 Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) 0 Al Ahli Sana’a win 4-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 2-0
11/09/02 27/09/02
Pakhtakor (UZB) 3 Al Wihdat (JOR) 0 Al Wihdat (JOR) 3 Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 Pakthakor win 4-3 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
--/--/---/--/--
Al Sadd (QAT) v Kopetdag (TKM Kopetdag (TKM) v Al Sadd (QAT) Kopetdag withdrew.. Al Sadd advance
--/--/---/--/--
Al Ittihad (SYR) v Khudjand (TJK) Khudjand (TJK) v Al Ittihad (SYR) Khudjand suspended by AFC. Al Ittihad advance
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-0
HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
First Qualifying Round
10/09/02 25/09/02
13/08/02 28/08/02
Al Wihdat (JOR) 3 Al Nejmeh (LIB) 2 Al Nejmeh (LIB) 0 Al Wihdat (JOR) 0 Al Nejmeh win 3-2 on aggregate
--/--/---/--/--
Al Nasr (OMA) v Al Ansar (LEB) Al Ansar (LEB) v Al Nasr (OMA) Al Nasr withdrew. Al Ansar advance
--/--/---/--/--
Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) v Al Aqsa (PAL) Al Aqsa (PAL) v Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn (KGZ) Al Aqsa withdrew. Jashtyk-Ak-Atlyn advance
HT: 1-1 HT: 0-0
HT: 0-1 HT: 0-2
Al Jaish (SYR) advance after withdrawal of Bahrain representative. Al Quds (PAL) withdrew
Al Ittihad (SYR), Al Kuwait (KUW) and Kopetdag (TKM) received byes into Second Qualifying Round.
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Preliminary Round Results – East Asia Third Qualifying Round
Second Qualifying Round
12/11/02 26/11/02
Churchill Brothers (IND) 1 Osotspa (THA) 1 Osotspa (THA) 6 Churchill Brothers (IND) 3 Osotspa win 7-4 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 2-1
06/10/02 23/10/02
Geylang United (SIN) 3 DPMM 0 (BRU) 0 DPMM (KUW) 0 Geylang United (SIN) 4 Geylang United win 7-0 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-1
12/11/02 27/11/02
South China (HKG) 0 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 5 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 3 South China (HKG) 1 Shimizu S-Pulse win 8-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-2 HT: 0-0
08/10/02 23/10/02
South China (HKG) 2 Home United (SIN) 1 Home United (SIN) 1 South China (HKG) 1 South China win 3-2 on aggregate
HT: 2-0 HT: 1-0
13/11/02 26/11/02
Taejon Citizen (KOR) 6 Mohun Bagan (IND) 0 Mohun Bagan (IND) 2 Taejon Citizen (KOR) 1 Taejon Citizen win 8-1 on aggregate
HT: 4-0 HT: 0-1
08/10/02 23/10/02
Petrokimia Putra (IDN) 3 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 5 Petrokimia Putra (IDN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua win 6-4 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 3-1
13/11/02 27/11/02
Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 3 Geylang United (SIN) 0 Geylang United (SIN) 1 Shanghai Shenhua (CHN) 2 Shanghai Shenhua win 5-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-2
09/10/02 22/10/02
Persita Tangerang (IDN) 0 Osotspa (THA) 1 Osotspa (THA) 0 Persita Tangerang (IDN) 0 Osotspa win 1-0 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
09/10/02 22/10/02
Mohun Bagan (IND) 2 Valencia (MDV) 2 Valencia (MDV) 0 Mohun Bagan (IND) 3 Mohun Bagan win 5-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 2-2
09/10/02 23/10/02
Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 7 New Radiant (MDV) 0 New Radiant (MDV) 0 Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN) 0 Shimizu S-Pulse win 7-0 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
09/10/02 23/10/02
Monte Carlo (MAC) 1Taejon Citizen (KOR) 5 Taejon Citizen (KOR)3 Monte Carlo (MAC) 0 Taejon Citizen win 8-1 on aggregate
HT: 1-4 HT: 1-0
11/10/02 25/10/02
Churchill Brothers (IND) 2 Saigon Port (MDV) 0 Saigon Port (MDV) 1 Churchill Brothers (IND) 0 Churchill Brothers win 2-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-0 HT: 0-0
First Qualifying Round 10/09/02 22/09/02
Air Force (SRI) 1 New Radiant (MDV) 1 New Radiant (MDV) 2 Air Force (SRI) 1 aet FT: 1-1 New Radiant win 3-2 on aggregate
HT: 1-0 HT: 0-0
11/09/02 22/09/02
Saunders SC (SRI) 0 Mohun Bagan (IND) 2 Mohun Bagan (IND) 5 Saunders SC (SRI) 1 Mohun Bagan win 7-1 on aggregate
HT: 0-1 HT: 4-1
Monte Carlo (MAC), DPMM (BRU), Petrokimia Putra (IDN), Home United (SIN), Persita Tangerang (IDN) and Churchil Brothers (IND) received byes into Second Qualifying Round. There were only three Qualifying Rounds in the East Asia zone
ROLL OF HONOUR
Al Ain celebrating after their 2-0 win over BEC Tero Sasana in the first leg of the final.
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AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Roll of Honour AFC Champions League Year
Winners
Runners-Up
2010
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
Zobahan (IRN)
2009
Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Al Ittihad (KSA)
2008
Gamba Osaka (JPN)
Adelaide United (AUS)
2007
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)
Sepahan (IRN)
2006
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
Al Karamah (SYR)
2005
Al Ittihad (KSA)
Al Ain (UAE)
2004
Al Ittihad (KSA)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
2002/03
Al Ain (UAE)
BEC Tero Sasana (THA)
Year
Winners
Runners-Up
2010
Al Ittihad (SYR)
Al Qadisiya (KUW)
2009
Al Kuwait (KUW)
Al Karamah (SYR)
2008
Muharraq (BHR)
Safa (LIB)
2007
Shabab Al Ordun (JOR)
Al Faisaly (JOR)
2006
Al Faisaly (JOR)
Muharraq (BHR)
2005
Al Faisaly (JOR)
Al Nejmeh (LIB)
2004
Al Jaish (SYR)
Al Wahda (SYR)
2002/03
Al Ain (UAE)
BEC Tero Sasana (THA)
Year
Winners
Runners-Up
2002
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
Al Hilal (KSA)
2001
Suwon Bluewings (KOR)
Al Shabab (KSA)
2000
Al Hilal (KSA)
Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN)
1999
Jubilo Iwata (JPN)
Al Ittihad (KSA)
1998
Al Nasr (KSA)
Pohang Steelers (KOR)
1997
Al Hilal (KSA)
Pohang Steelers (KOR)
1996
Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
Bellmare Hiratsuka (JPN)
1995
Yokohama Flugels (JPN)
Thai Farmers Bank (THA)
AFC Cup
Asian Super Cup
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Asian Club Championship Year
Winners
Runners-Up
2001/02
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR)
Anyang LG Cheetahs (KOR)
2000/01
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR)
Jubilo Iwata (JPN)
1999/00
Al Hilal (KSA)
Jubilo Iwata (JPN)
1998/99
Jubilo Iwata (JPN)
Esteghlal (IRN)
1997/98
Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Dalian Wanda (CHN)
1996/97
Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
1995
Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)
Al Nassr (KSA)
1994
Thai Farmers Bank (THA)
Al Arabi (QAT)
1993
Thai Farmers Bank (THA)
Oman Club (OMN)
1992
Pas (IRN)
Al Shabab (KSA)
1991
Al Hilal (KSA)
Esteghlal (IRN)
1990
Esteghlal (IRN)
Liaoning (CHN)
1989
Liaoning (CHN)
Nissan (JPN)
1988
Al Saad (QAT)
Al Rasheed (IRQ)
1987
Yomiuri (JPN)
Al Hilal (KSA)
1986
Furukawa (JPN)
Al Hilal (KSA)
1985
Daewoo Royals (KOR)
Al Ahli (KSA)
1972-84
NO COMPETITION
1971
Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
Al Shorta (IRQ)
1970
Taj Club (IRN)
Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR)
1969
Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
Yangzee (KOR)
1968
NO COMPETITION
1967
Hapoel Tel Aviv (ISR)
Selangor (MAS)
Year
Winners
Runners-Up
2001/02
Al Hilal (KSA)
Chonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)
2000/01
Al Shabab (KSA)
Dalian Shide (CHN)
1999/00
Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN)
Al Zawra'a (IRQ)
1998/99
Al Ittihad (KSA)
Chunnam Dragons (KOR)
1997/98
Al Nasr (KSA)
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR)
1996
Al Hilal (KSA)
Nagoya Grampus Eight (JPN)
1995
Bellmare Hiratsuka (JPN)
Al Talaba (IRQ)
1994
Yokohama Flugels (JPN)
Al Shaab (UAE)
1993
Al Qadisiya (KSA)
South China (HKG)
1992
Yokohama Marinos (JPN)
Pirouzi (IRN)
1991
Nissan (JPN)
Al Nasr (KSA)
1990
Pirouzi (IRN)
Al Muharraq (BHR)
Asian Cup Winners’ Cup
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USEFUL CONTACTS
AFC Champions League: Official Media Guide 2011
Useful Contacts ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION AFC House, Jalan 1/155B Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 8994 3388 (Hunting Line) Fax - +603-8994-4970 E-mail: media@the-afc.com Website: www.the-afc.com
Member Associations
AUSTRALIA
CHINA
INDIA
INDONESIA
Football Federation Australia (FFA) Level 7, 26 College Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia Tel: +61 2 8354 5555 Fax: +61 2 8354 5590 E-mail: info@footballaustralia.com.au Website: www.footballaustralia.com.au
All India Football Federation (AIFF) Football House, Sector 19, Dwarka NEW DELHI 110075 Tel: +91-11/2804 1430 Fax: +91-11/2804 1434 E-mail: alb@sancharnet.in Website: www.the-aiff.com
IRAN
IR Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) No. 2/2 Third St, Seoul Ave,Tehran 19958-73591, Iran Tel: +98 21 8821 3308 Fax: +98 21 8821 3302 E-mail: info@iriff.ir Website: www.iriff.ir
KOREA REPUBLIC
Korea Football Association (KFA) 1-131 Sinmunno, 2-ga, Jongno-Gu, Seoul 110-062, Korea Republic Tel: +82 2 733 6764 Fax: +82 2 735 2755 E-mail: kfainfo@kfa.or.kr Website: www.kfa.or.kr
Football Association of the People’s Republic of China (CFA) Building A, Dongjiudasha, Xizhaosi Street, Chongwen District, Beijing,100061, China PR Tel: +86 10 5929 1031 Fax: +86 10 5929 0309 E-mail: leechen3000@yahoo.com.cn Website: www.fa.org.cn (Chinese only)
Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Gelora Bung Karno, Pintu X-XI, Senayan P.O. Box 2305, JAKARTA 10023 Tel: +62-21/570 4762 Fax: +62-21/573 4386 E-mail: pssi@pssi-online.com Website: www.pssi-online.com
JAPAN
Japan Football Association (JFA) JFA House, Football Ave, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo 113-8311, Japan Tel: +81 3 3830 2004 Fax: +81 3 3830 2005 Website: www.jfa.or.jp
QATAR
Qatar Football Association (QFA) 7th Floor, QNOC Building,West Bay, PO Box 5333, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 494 4411 Fax: +974 494 4414 E-mail: info@qfa.com.qa Website: www.qfa.com.qa
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Member Associations
SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Al Mather Quarter, Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Street, PO Box 5844, Riyadh 11432, Saudi Arabia Tel: +966 1 482 2240 Fax: +966 1 482 1215
THAILAND
Football Association of Thailand (FAT) National Stadium, Gate 3, Rama 1 Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330,Thailand Tel: +66 2 216 4691 Fax: +66 2 215 4494 Website: www.fat.or.th
SINGAPORE
Football Association of Singapore (FAS) 100 Tyrwhitt Road 207542 SINGAPORE Tel: +65/6348 3477 Fax: +65/6392 1194 E-mail: www.fas.org.sg Website: info@fas.org.sg
UAE
United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAEFA) P.O. Box 916, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Emirates Tel: +971 2 444 5600 Fax: +971 2 444 8558 E-mail: uaefa@uae-football.org.ae Website: www.uaefootball.org
UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan Football Federation (UFF) Massiv Almazar, Furkat Street 15/1, Tashkent 700 003, Uzbekistan Tel: +998 71 144 1684 Fax: +998 71 144 1683 E-mail: info@uzfootball.com Website: www.uzfootball.com
For more information relating to the commercial and broadcast rights of the AFC Champions League, please contact any of the offices below. Marketing enquiries: Simon Thompson s.thompson@worldsportgroup.com.hk Tel: +852 23308292 Broadcast enquiries: Mayank Atreya m.atreya@worldsportgroup.com.sg Tel: +65 68262688
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SINGAPORE 8 Shenton Way, #30-01 Temasek Tower, Singapore 068811 Tel: +65 6826 2688 | Fax: +65 6826 2680 HONG KONG Suite 2505, 25F, Great Eagle Centre 23 Harbour Road,Wanchai Hongkong SAR, China Tel: +852 2330 8292 | Fax: +852 2572 9187 BEIRUT President Elias Sarkis Avenue, Parktower Suites Bifurcation, Bloc B, 2nd Floor, Ashrafieh, Lebanon Tel: +961 1 210 100 | Fax: +961 1 210 200
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