2011 AFC Champions League

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

2011 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates12 February – 5 November 2011
Teams36 (from 13 associations)
Final positions
Champions Al-Sadd (2nd title)
Runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Tournament statistics
Matches played117
Goals scored323 (2.76 per match)
Attendance1,264,547 (10,808 per match)
Top scorer(s) Lee Dong-gook
(9 goals)
Best player(s) Lee Dong-gook

Allocation of entries per association

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

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

East Asia
West Asia

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

Entrants per association

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

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

Teams

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

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

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

Schedule

Schedule of dates for 2011 competition.[8]

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

Qualifying play-off
Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off

The draw for the qualifying play-off was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.[9] In order to create balance another draw was held, moving one of the teams (Al-Ain) from the West into the East side of the play-offs.[10]

The two winners from the qualifying play-off (one from West Asia and one from East Asia) advanced to the group stage. All losers from the qualifying play-off entered the 2011 AFC Cup group stage.[11]

West Asia
Team 1  Score  Team 2
Semi-final
Al-Sadd 5–1 Al-Ittihad
Final
Al-Sadd 2–0 Dempo

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

Group stage
Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League group stage

The draw for the group stage was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.[9][12] Clubs from the same country may not be drawn into the same group.[10] The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the knockout stage.[11]

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEP HIL GHA JAZ
1 Sepahan 6 4 1 1 14 5 +9 13[lower-alpha 1] Advance to knockout stage — 1–1 2–0 5–1
2 Al-Hilal 6 4 1 1 11 6 +5 13[lower-alpha 1] 1–2 — 2–0 3–1
3 Al-Gharafa 6 2 1 3 6 7 −1 7 1–0 0–1 — 5–2
4 Al-Jazira 6 0 1 5 7 20 −13 1 1–4 2–3 0–0 —
Source:
Notes:
  1. Tiebreakers: Sepahan and Al-Hilal are ranked by their head-to-head records: Sepahan (4 pts), Al-Hilal (1 pt).

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAD NAS EST PAK
1 Al-Sadd 6 2 4 0 8 6 +2 10 Advance to knockout stage — 1–0 2–2 2–1
2 Al-Nassr 6 2 2 2 10 7 +3 8[lower-alpha 1] 1–1 — 2–1 4–0
3 Esteghlal 6 2 2 2 11 10 +1 8[lower-alpha 1] 1–1 2–1 — 4–2
4 Pakhtakor 6 1 2 3 8 14 −6 5 1–1 2–2 2–1 —
Source:
Notes:
  1. Tiebreakers: Al-Nassr and Esteghlal are also tied on their head-to-head records (3 pts, 0 GD, 3 GF), and so are ranked by their overall goal difference.

Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ITT BUN WAH PER
1 Al-Ittihad Jeddah 6 3 2 1 10 5 +5 11 Advance to knockout stage — 1–1 0–0 3–1
2 Bunyodkor 6 2 3 1 8 6 +2 9 0–1 — 3–2 0–0
3 Al-Wahda 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6 0–3 1–1 — 2–0
4 Persepolis 6 1 2 3 6 11 −5 5 3–2 1–3 1–1 —
Source:

Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ZOB SHA EMI RAY
1 Zob Ahan 6 4 1 1 7 3 +4 13 Advance to knockout stage — 0–1 2–1 1–0
2 Al-Shabab 6 3 2 1 8 4 +4 11 0–0 — 4–1 1–0
3 Emirates 6 2 0 4 6 10 −4 6 0–1 2–1 — 2–0
4 Al-Rayyan 6 1 1 4 4 8 −4 4 1–3 1–1 2–0 —
Source:

Group E
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GAM TIA JEJ MEL
1 Gamba Osaka 6 3 1 2 13 7 +6 10[lower-alpha 1] Advance to knockout stage — 2–0 3–1 5–1
2 Tianjin Teda 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 10[lower-alpha 1] 2–1 — 3–0 1–1
3 Jeju United 6 2 1 3 6 10 −4 7 2–1 0–1 — 1–1
4 Melbourne Victory 6 1 3 2 7 11 −4 6 1–1 2–1 1–2 —
Source:
Notes:
  1. Tiebreakers: Gamba Osaka and Tianjin Teda are ranked by their head-to-head records: Gamba Osaka (3 pts, +1 GD), Tianjin Teda (3 pts, –1 GD).

Group F
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SEO NAG AIN HAN
1 FC Seoul 6 3 2 1 9 4 +5 11 Advance to knockout stage — 0–2 3–0 3–0
2 Nagoya Grampus 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 10 1–1 — 4–0 1–0
3 Al-Ain 6 2 1 3 4 9 −5 7 0–1 3–1 — 1–0
4 Hangzhou Greentown 6 1 2 3 3 6 −3 5 1–1 2–0 0–0 —
Source:

Group G
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JEO CER SHL ARE
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 5 0 1 14 2 +12 15 Advance to knockout stage — 1–0 1–0 6–0
2 Cerezo Osaka 6 4 0 2 11 4 +7 12 1–0 — 4–0 2–1
3 Shandong Luneng 6 2 1 3 9 8 +1 7 1–2 2–0 — 5–0
4 Arema 6 0 1 5 2 22 −20 1 0–4 0–4 1–1 —
Source:

Group H
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SUW KSH SYD SHS
1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 6 3 3 0 12 3 +9 12[lower-alpha 1] Advance to knockout stage — 1–1 3–1 4–0
2 Kashima Antlers 6 3 3 0 9 3 +6 12[lower-alpha 1] 1–1 — 2–1 2–0
3 Sydney FC 6 1 2 3 6 11 −5 5 0–0 0–3 — 1–1
4 Shanghai Shenhua 6 0 2 4 3 13 −10 2 0–3 0–0 2–3 —
Source:
Notes:
  1. Tiebreakers: Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Kashima Antlers are also tied on their head-to-head records (2 pts, 0 GD, 2 GF), and so are ranked by their overall goal difference.

Knockout stage
Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage

Bracket
  Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
                                     
Al-Ittihad 3  
Al-Hilal 1  
  Al-Ittihad 3 0 3  
  FC Seoul 1 1 2  
FC Seoul 3
Kashima Antlers 0  
  Al-Ittihad 2 1 3  
  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3 2 5  
Gamba Osaka 0  
Cerezo Osaka 1  
  Cerezo Osaka 4 1 5
  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3 6 9  
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3
Tianjin Teda 0  
  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 (2)
  Al-Sadd (p) 2 (4)
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2  
Nagoya Grampus 0  
  Suwon Samsung Bluewings (a.e.t.) 1 2 3
  Zob Ahan 1 1 2  
Zob Ahan 4
Al-Nassr 1  
  Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 1 1
  Al-Sadd 2 0 2  
Sepahan 3  
Bunyodkor 1  
  Sepahan 0 2 2
  Al-Sadd [A] 3 1 4  
Al-Sadd 1
Al-Shabab 0  

Round of 16

Based on the results from the group stage, the matchups of the round of 16 were decided as below.[13] Each tie was played as one match, hosted by the winners of each group (Team 1) against the runners-up of another group (Team 2).[10]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Asia
Sepahan 3–1 Bunyodkor
Al-Ittihad 3–1 Al-Hilal
Al-Sadd 1–0 Al-Shabab
Zob Ahan 4–1 Al-Nassr
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Asia
Gamba Osaka 0–1 Cerezo Osaka
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3–0 Tianjin Teda
FC Seoul 3–0 Kashima Antlers
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2–0 Nagoya Grampus

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 June 2011.[14] In this draw, the "country protection" rule was applied: if there are exactly two clubs from the same country, they may not face each other in the quarter-finals; however, if there are more than two clubs from the same country, they may face each other in the quarter-finals.

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Cerezo Osaka 5–9 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4–3 1–6
Al-Ittihad 3–2 FC Seoul 3–1 0–1
Sepahan 2–4 Al-Sadd 0–3[A] 2–1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3–2 Zob Ahan 1–1 2–1 (aet)
Notes
  1. ^
    The AFC Disciplinary Committee decided to award the quarter-final first leg to Al-Sadd against Sepahan as a 3–0 forfeit win after Sepahan were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player. The match originally ended 1–0 to Sepahan.[15]

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

Final
Main article: 2011 AFC Champions League Final

The final of the 2011 AFC Champions League was hosted by one of the finalists, decided by draw.[11] This format was a change from the 2009 and 2010 editions, where the final was played at a neutral venue.[16]

Awards

The following awards were given for the 2011 AFC Champions League:[17]

Top scorers

Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.

Rank Player Club MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 R16 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 0 F 0 Total
1 Lee Dong-Gook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1224 9
2 Eninho Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 21121 7
3 Ha Tae-Gyun Suwon Samsung Bluewings 312 6
4 Bader Al-Mutawa Al-Nassr 1211 5
Farhad Majidi Esteghlal 1121 5
Dejan Damjanović FC Seoul 1121 5
Ibrahima Touré Sepahan 1121 5
8 Yasser Al-Qahtani Al-Hilal 121 4
Abdelmalek Ziaya Al-Ittihad 211 4
Hiroshi Kiyotake Cerezo Osaka 112 4
Takashi Inui Cerezo Osaka 121 4
Rodrigo Pimpão Cerezo Osaka 211 4
Yeom Ki-Hun Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1111 4
Igor Castro Zob Ahan 112 4
Mohammad Ghazi Zob Ahan 1111 4

See also

References
  1. "Criteria for Participation in AFC Club Competitions for 2011–2012 seasons" (PDF). AFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2012.
  2. "12 MAs keen to join ACL". AFC. 30 November 2009.
  3. "Singapore seek to pull out of ACL". AFC. 4 October 2010.
  4. "ACL slots maintained". AFC. 21 November 2010. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012.
  5. "Ad hoc Committee for Professional Clubs". AFC. 27 July 2010.
  6. "ACL, AFCC 2010 teams". AFC. 29 November 2010.
  7. "AFC Competitions Committee". AFC. 23 November 2010.
  8. "AFC Calendar of Competitions 2011" (PDF). AFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010.
  9. "Stage set for ACL, AFC Cup draws". AFC. 6 December 2010.
  10. "AFC Champions League 2011 Draw Mechanism for Play-off Stage & Preliminary Stage (Group & Round of 16)" (PDF). AFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  11. "AFC Champions League 2011 Competitions Regulations" (PDF). AFC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  12. "Mouth-watering matches on the ACL agenda". AFC. 7 December 2010.
  13. "ACL: Juicy encounters in offing". AFC. 12 May 2011.
  14. "Korea challenge for former champions". AFC. 7 June 2011.
  15. AFC Disciplinary Committee sanctions Sepahan
  16. "AFC Competitions Committee decisions". AFC. 31 July 2010.
  17. "Double delight for Lee". The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
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