AFC Champions League 2009

AFC Champions League 2009
Cup winners	Pohang Steelers
Beginning	March 10, 2009
The End	November 7, 2009
Teams	32
Games	114
Gates	356  (ø 3.12 per game)
spectator	1378134  (ø 12,089 per game)
Top scorer	Leandro (10 goals)
← AFC Champions League 2008 AFC Champions League 2010 →

The AFC Champions League 2009 was the 28th edition of the highest continental competition in Asia, which was held for the seventh time under its current name. The winner of the competition qualified for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup .

qualification

A total of 38 teams took part in the 2009 AFC Champions League. After the qualifying round ended, 31 teams and the defending champion from the previous year took part in the main round.

Eligible Countries

In contrast to the UEFA Champions League , for example , only associations that meet the AFC criteria are eligible to participate .

Qualifying round: (8 teams)

• One team each from the United Arab Emirates , Indonesia , Singapore , Thailand , India , Vietnam      
• plus the finalists of the AFC Cup 2008

The losers of the qualifying rounds play in the AFC Cup 2008 .

Group stage: (32 teams)

• 2 winners of the qualification

The following are directly qualified:

• four teams each from Japan , PR China , Iran , South Korea and Saudi Arabia     
• three teams each from the United Arab Emirates 
• two teams each from Australia , Uzbekistan and Qatar   
• one team each from Indonesia 

Qualified teams

Qualifying round

East asia society Qualification eligibility  PSMS Medan Indonesia Super League 2007/08 runner-up  FC Singapore Armed Forces S. League 2008 champions  FC Provincial Electricity Authority Thai Premier League 2008 champions  FC Binh Duong V-League 2008 champion

West asia society Qualification eligibility  Al-Sharjah UAE League 2007/08 3rd place  Dempo SC I-League 2007/08 champion

AFC Cup qualifiers society Qualification eligibility  Muharraq Club AFC Cup 2008 winner  Safa SC Beirut AFC Cup 2008 finalist

* The associations of the finalists of the AFC Cup 2008 did not meet the AFC entry criteria. Both clubs were transferred to the AFC Cup.

Group stage

East Asia (Groups EH) society Qualification eligibility  Kashima Antlers J. League 2008 champions  Gamba Osaka Emperor's Cup 2008 winner  Kawasaki Frontale J. League 2008 runner-up  Nagoya Grampus Eight J. League 2008 3rd place  Shandong Luneng Taishan Chinese Super League 2008 champions  Shanghai Shenhua Chinese Super League 2008 runner-up  Beijing Guoan Chinese Super League 2008 3rd place  Tianjin Teda Chinese Super League 2008 4th place  Newcastle United Jets A-League 2007/08 champions  Central Coast Mariners A-League 2007/08 Championship  Suwon Samsung Bluewings K-League 2008 champions  Pohang Steelers Korean FA Cup 2008 winner  FC Seoul K-League 2008 runner-up  Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i K-League 2008 3rd place  Sriwijaya FC Indonesia Super League 2007/08 champions  FC Singapore Armed Forces East Asia qualification winner

West Asia (groups AD) society Qualification eligibility  Persepolis Tehran Iranian Pro League 2007/08 champion  Esteghlal Tehran Hazfi Cup 2008-09 winner  Sepahan Isfahan Iranian Pro League 2007/08 runner-up  Saba Qom Iranian Pro League 2007/08 3rd place  Al-Hilal Saudi Professional League 2007/08 champion  Al-Shabab King Cup of Champions 2007/2008 winner  Al-Ittihad Saudi Professional League 2007/08 runner-up  Al-Ettifaq Saudi Professional League 2007/08 4th place  Al Shabab UAE League 2007/08 champions  Al-Ahli UAE President Cup 2007/08 winner  Al-Jazira Club UAE League 2007/08 runners-up  Bunyodkor Tashkent Uzbek Professional Football League 2008 champions  Pakhtakor Tashkent Uzbek Professional Football League 2008 runner-up  Al-Gharafa Qatar Stars League 2007/08 champions  Umm-Salal SC Emir of Qatar Cup 2008 winner  Al-Sharjah West Asia qualification winner

Qualifying round results

	Result
West Asia final
Al-Sharjah	3-0	Dempo SC
Semi-finals East Asia
FC Provincial Electricity Authority	1: 4 a.d.	FC Singapore Armed Forces
FC Binh Duong	without a fight *	PSMS Medan
Final East Asia
FC Singapore Armed Forces	2: 1	PSMS Medan

* FC Binh Duong was originally eligible to qualify for the 2009 AFC Champions League, but was unable to meet the required AFC Champions League criteria. PSMS Medan was automatically one lap ahead.

mode

Group stage

In the group stage, 32 teams played in eight groups, each with four teams in league mode (first and second leg). The teams were divided according to geographical aspects. Teams from West and Central Asia played in groups A to D, teams from East and Southeast Asia competed in groups E to G. The first two of the group qualified for the final round of the last 16. The tournament was played with the three-point rule .

Final round

The quarter-finals have been drawn, but two teams from one country cannot meet directly. The teams played the tournament winner in the knockout system with a return game, whereby the away goals rule applied. The tournament winner qualified for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

game schedule

• Qualifiers February 18 and February 25
• Group stage: 10./11. March 17th / 18th March, 7./8. April, 21./22. April, 5th / 6th May, 19./20. May
• Round of 16: May 27 (West Asia), June 24 (East Asia)
• Quarter-finals: September 23 or September 24, September 30
• Semi-finals: October 21, October 28
• Finale: November 6th or November 7th

Group stage

Group A

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Al-Hilal  6th  4th  2  0 010: 400  +6 14th  2.  Pakhtakor Tashkent  6th  4th  1  1 009: 500  +4 13  3.  Saba Qom  6th  1  2  3 007: 900  −2 05  4th  Al-Ahli  6th  0  1  5 006:140  −8 01

HIL AHL PAH SAB Al-Hilal 2: 1 2-0 1: 1 Al-Ahli 1: 3 1: 2 3: 5 Pakhtakor 1: 1 2-0 2: 1 Saba Qom 0: 1 0-0 0: 2

Group B

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Persepolis Tehran  4th  2  1  1 005: 600  −1 07th  2.  Al-Shabab  4th  2  1  1 004: 200  +2 07th  3.  Al-Gharafa  4th  1  0  3 007: 800  −1 03  4th  Al-Sharjah *  0  0  0  0 000-000  ± 0 00

GHA SHB PRS SHA * Al-Gharafa 1: 3 5: 1 - Shabab - 0-0 5-0 Persepolis 3: 1 - 3: 1 Sharjah 0: 2 1: 3 -

* Al-Sharjah withdrew from the Champions League after 4 match days. The club had to pay a fine of $ 413,000 to the AFC and was banned from any AFC competition in 2010.

Group C

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Al-Ittihad  6th  3  3  0 014: 400 +10 12  2.  Umm-Salal  6th  2  2  2 006:140  −8 08th  3.  Al-Jazira  6th  0  5  1 006: 700  −1 05  4th  Esteghlal  6th  0  4th  2 006: 800  −2 04th

ITT JAZ EST UMS Al-Ittihad 1: 1 2: 1 7-0 Al-Jazira 0-0 2: 2 0: 1 Esteghlal 1: 1 1: 1 1: 1 Umm-Salal 1: 3 2: 2 1-0

Group D

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Al-Ettifaq  6th  4th  0  2 015: 800  +7 12  2.  Bunyodkor  6th  2  2  2 005: 900  −4 08th  3.  Sepahan  6th  2  1  3 009: 700  +2 07th  4th  Al Shabab  6th  2  1  3 006:110  −5 07th

ETT SHB BUN SEP Al-Ettifaq 4: 1 4-0 2: 1 Al Shabab 1: 4 2-0 2: 1 Bunyodkor 2: 1 0-0 2: 2 Sepahan 3-0 2-0 0: 1

Group E

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Nagoya Grampus  6th  3  3  0 010: 400  +6 12  2.  Newcastle Jets  6th  3  1  2 006: 500  +1 10  3.  Ulsan Hyundai  6th  2  0  4th 004:100  −6 06th  4th  Beijing Guoan  6th  1  2  3 004: 500  −1 05

AT NAG NEW ULS Beijing Guoan 1: 1 2-0 0: 1 Nagoya Grampus 0-0 1: 1 4: 1 Newcastle Jets 2: 1 0: 1 2-0 Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 1: 3 0: 1

Group F.

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Gamba Osaka  6th  5  0  1 017: 400 +13 15th  2.  FC Seoul  6th  3  1  2 014:110  +3 10  3.  Shandong Luneng Taishan  6th  2  1  3 010: 900  +1 07th  4th  Sriwijaya  6th  1  0  5 007:240 −17 03

OSA SEO SHA SRI Gamba Osaka 1: 2 3-0 5-0 FC Seoul 2: 4 1: 1 5: 1 Shandong Luneng Taishan 0: 1 2-0 5-0 Sriwijaya 0: 3 2: 4 4: 2

Group G

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Kashima Antlers  6th  4th  1  1 016: 600 +10 13  2.  Suwon Bluewings  6th  4th  0  2 012: 800  +4 12  3.  Shanghai Shenhua  6th  2  2  2 009: 800  +1 08th  4th  SAFFC  6th  0  1  5 004:190 −15 01

CHEESE SAF SHA SUW Kashima Antlers 5-0 2-0 3-0 SAFFC 1: 4 1: 1 0: 2 Shanghai Shenhua 1: 1 4: 1 2: 1 Suwon Bluewings 4: 1 3: 1 2: 1

Group H.

Pl. society Sp. S. U N Gates Diff. Points  1.  Pohang Steelers  6th  3  3  0 007: 300  +4 12  2.  Kawasaki Frontale  6th  3  1  2 010: 700  +3 10  3.  Tianjin Teda  6th  2  2  2 006: 500  +1 08th  4th  Central Coast Mariners  6th  0  2  4th 005:130  −8 02

CCM KAW POH TIA CC Mariners 0: 5 0-0 0: 1 Kawasaki Frontale 2: 1 0: 2 1-0 Pohang Steelers 3: 2 1: 1 1-0 Tianjin Teda 2: 2 3: 1 0-0

Final round

Round of 16

	Result
West asia
Al-Hilal	0: 0 (3: 4 on perk)	Umm-Salal
Persepolis Tehran	0: 1	Bunyodkor Tashkent
Al-Ettifaq	1: 2	Pakhtakor Tashkent
Al-Ittihad	2: 1	Al-Shabab
East asia
Nagoya Grampus	2: 1	Suwon Bluewings
Gamba Osaka	2: 3	Kawasaki Frontale
Kashima Antlers	2: 2 (4: 5 on account)	FC Seoul
Pohang Steelers	6-0	Newcastle Jets

Quarter finals

	total		First leg	Return leg
Umm-Salal	4: 3	FC Seoul	3: 2	1: 1
Kawasaki Frontale	3: 4	Nagoya Grampus	2: 1	1: 3
Pakhtakor Tashkent	1: 5	Al-Ittihad	1: 1	0: 4
Bunyodkor Tashkent	4: 5	Pohang Steelers	3: 1	1: 4 a.d.

Semifinals

	total		First leg	Return leg
Al-Ittihad	8: 3	Nagoya Grampus	6: 2	2: 1
Pohang Steelers	4: 1	Umm-Salal	2-0	2: 1

final

Al-Ittihad		Pohang Steelers
	final Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in Tokyo ( Olympic Stadium ) Result: 1: 2 (0: 0) Spectators: 25,743 Referee: Matthew Breeze ( Australia )   Match report
	Mabruk Zayid - Rida Tukar , Obaid Alshamrani (64th Luciano Leguizamón ), Saleh Al-Saqri , Hamad al-Muntaschari - Manaf Abushgeer , Ahmed Hadid , Saud Kariri , Mohammad Nur - Hicham Aboucherouane , Amine Chermiti Trainer: Gabriel Calderón	Shin Hwa-yong - Choi Hyo-jin , Kim Jung-kyum (75th Park Hee-chul ), Hwang Jae-won , Kim Hyung-il - Kim Tae-su , Kim Jae-sung , Shin Hyung-min - Stevica Ristić (71st Song Chang-ho ), Denilson (90th + 3 Namgung Thu ), No Byung-jun Trainer: Sérgio Farias
	1: 2 Mohammad Nur (74.)	0: 1 No Byung-jun (57th) 0: 2 Kim Hyung-il (67th)
	Mohammad Nur (50.)	Kim Jae-sung (29th), Shin Hyung-min (39th), No Byung-jun (90th + 1 '), Song Chang-ho (90th + 1')

Best goal scorers

rank	player	club	Gates
1	Leandro	Gamba Osaka	10
2	Prince Tagoe	al-Ettifaq	8th
3	Denílson Martins Nascimento	Pohang Steelers	7th
4th	Nasser Al-Shamrani	Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia)	6th
5	Araújo	al-Gharafa Sports Club	5
	Hicham Aboucherouane	Ittihad FC	5
	Dejan Damjanović	FC Seoul	5
	Yoshizumi Ogawa	Nagoya Grampus	5
	Mohammad Nur	Ittihad FC	5
	Renatinho	Kawasaki Frontale	5
	Zainitdin Tadjiyev	Paxtakor Tashkent	5

Web links

• Official website for the competition ( Memento from June 27, 2009 in the Internet Archive )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ AFC Professional League Project ( Memento from February 23, 2012 on WebCite )
2. ^ Sharjah SC withdraw from ACL. In: UzDaily.com. Uzbekistan Press and Information Agency, May 4, 2009, accessed January 13, 2014 . 
3. ↑ UAE: Sharjah Hit With Heavy Ban After ACL Withdrawal. The verdict is in ... In: Goal.com. AFC Executive Committee, July 15, 2009, accessed January 13, 2014 . 
4. ↑ weltfussball.de: Top goal scorers of the 2009 season