2011 AFC Champions League

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

• Already participating: Australia, China PR, Indonesia, Japan, Korea Republic
• Keen to participate: Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand
• Withdrew: Singapore^[3]
• Disqualified: Vietnam^[4]

West Asia

• Already participating: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan
• Keen to participate: Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Tajikistan, Yemen, India

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]

More information Member Association, Clubs ...

West Asia Member Association Clubs Spots Group stage Play-off AFC Cup Saudi Arabia 14 4 0 0 Iran 18 4 0 0 UAE 12 3 1 0 Qatar 12 2 1 0 Uzbekistan 14 2 0 2 India 14 0 1 1 Iraq 36 0 0 3 Jordan 12 0 0 2 Oman 12 0 0 2 Yemen 14 0 0 2 Pakistan 16 0 0 0 Palestine 22 0 0 0 Tajikistan 10 0 0 0 Meet the criteria Do not meet the criteria

East Asia Member Association Clubs Spots Group stage Play-off AFC Cup Japan 18 4 0 0 Korea Republic 15* 4 0 0 China PR 16 4 0 0 Australia 9+1** 2 0 0 Indonesia 18 1 1 1 Thailand 18 0 1 1 Vietnam 14 0 0 2 Singapore 12 0 0 1 Malaysia 14 0 0 0 Myanmar 12 0 0 0 * One of the K-League clubs, Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, is unable to qualify for the ACL because the team is not a commercial entity and their players are not professionally contracted.[4] ** One of the A-League clubs, Wellington Phoenix, is based in New Zealand, an OFC member country. They are unable to qualify for the ACL.[5]

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

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

More information Group stage direct entrants: West Asia (Groups A–D), Team ...

Group stage direct entrants: West Asia (Groups A–D) Team Qualifying method App* Last App Sepahan 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup champions 7th 2010 Persepolis 2009–10 Hazfi Cup winners 3rd 2009 Zob Ahan 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup runners-up 3rd 2010 Esteghlal 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup 3rd place 4th 2010 Al-Hilal 2009–10 Saudi Professional League champions 7th 2010 Al-Ittihad Jeddah 2009–10 Saudi Professional League runners-up 2010 King Cup of Champions winners 7th 2010 Al-Nassr 2009–10 Saudi Professional League 3rd place 1st none Al-Shabab 2009–10 Saudi Professional League 4th place 6th 2010 Al-Wahda 2009–10 UAE Premier League champions 6th 2010 Emirates 2009–10 UAE President's Cup winners 1st none Al-Jazira 2009–10 UAE Premier League runners-up 3rd 2010 Al-Gharafa 2009–10 Qatar Stars League champions 6th 2010 Al-Rayyan 2010 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 3rd 2007 Bunyodkor 2010 Uzbek League champions 2010 Uzbekistan Cup winners 4th 2010 Pakhtakor 2010 Uzbek League runners-up 9th 2010

Group stage direct entrants: East Asia (Groups E–H) Team Qualifying method App* Last App Nagoya Grampus 2010 J. League Division 1 champions 2nd 2009 Kashima Antlers 2010 Emperor's Cup winners 5th 2010 Gamba Osaka 2010 J. League Division 1 runners-up 5th 2010 Cerezo Osaka 2010 J. League Division 1 3rd place 1st none Shandong Luneng Taishan 2010 Chinese Super League champions 5th 2010 Tianjin Teda 2010 Chinese Super League runners-up 2nd 2009 Shanghai Shenhua 2010 Chinese Super League 3rd place 6th 2009 Hangzhou Greentown 2010 Chinese Super League 4th place 1st none FC Seoul 2010 K-League champions 2nd 2009 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2010 Korean FA Cup winners 4th 2010 Jeju United 2010 K-League runners-up 1st none Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2010 K-League 3rd place 5th 2010 Sydney FC 2009–10 A-League premiers 2010 A-League Grand Final winners 2nd 2007 Melbourne Victory 2009–10 A-League regular season runners-up 3rd 2010 Arema 2009–10 Indonesia Super League champions 2nd 2007

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* 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.

More information Qualifying play-off participants: West Asia, Team ...

Qualifying play-off participants: West Asia Team Qualifying method App* Last App Dempo 2009–10 I-League champions 2nd 2009 Al-Ain 2009–10 UAE Premier League 3rd place 7th 2010 Al-Ittihad 2010 AFC Cup winners 5th 2008 Al-Sadd 2009–10 Qatar Stars League runners-up 8th 2010

Qualifying play-off participants: East Asia Team Qualifying method App* Last App Sriwijaya 2010 Piala Indonesia winners 3rd 2010 Muangthong United 2010 Thai Premier League champions 2nd 2010

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Schedule of dates for 2011 competition.^[8]

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

More information Team 1, Score ...

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

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East Asia

More information Team 1, Score ...

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

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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

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		SEP	HIL	GHA	JAZ
1	Sepahan	6	4	1	1	14	5	+9	13[a]	Advance to knockout stage		—	1–1	2–0	5–1
2	Al-Hilal	6	4	1	1	11	6	+5	13[a]			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	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. Tiebreakers: Sepahan and Al-Hilal are ranked by their head-to-head records: Sepahan (4 pts), Al-Hilal (1 pt).

Group B

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	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[a]			1–1	—	2–1	4–0
3	Esteghlal	6	2	2	2	11	10	+1	8[a]			1–1	2–1	—	4–2
4	Pakhtakor	6	1	2	3	8	14	−6	5			1–1	2–2	2–1	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}
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

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	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	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Group D

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	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	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Group E

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		GAM	TIA	JEJ	MEL
1	Gamba Osaka	6	3	1	2	13	7	+6	10[a]	Advance to knockout stage		—	2–0	3–1	5–1
2	Tianjin Teda	6	3	1	2	8	6	+2	10[a]			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	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}
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

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	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	—

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Source: Stats.The-AFC.com

Group G

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	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	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Group H

More information Pos, Pld ...

Pos	Team v t e	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[a]	Advance to knockout stage		—	1–1	3–1	4–0
2	Kashima Antlers	6	3	3	0	9	3	+6	12[a]			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	—

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Source: ^{[citation needed]}
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.

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

• Most Valuable Player Award: Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
• Top Scorer: Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
• Fair Play Award: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.

More information Rank, Player ...

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				1	2			2	4				9
2	Eninho	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors							2		1	1	2	1	7
3	Ha Tae-Gyun	Suwon Samsung Bluewings		3			1	2							6
4	Bader Al-Mutawa	Al-Nassr	1				2	1	1						5
	Farhad Majidi	Esteghlal	1		1		2	1							5
	Dejan Damjanović	FC Seoul	1	1			2		1						5
	Ibrahima Touré	Sepahan	1	1				2	1						5
8	Yasser Al-Qahtani	Al-Hilal			1	2		1							4
	Abdelmalek Ziaya	Al-Ittihad	2		1				1						4
	Hiroshi Kiyotake	Cerezo Osaka					1	1		2					4
	Takashi Inui	Cerezo Osaka			1		2	1							4
	Rodrigo Pimpão	Cerezo Osaka	2				1	1							4
	Yeom Ki-Hun	Suwon Samsung Bluewings			1	1	1		1						4
	Igor Castro	Zob Ahan	1		1				2						4
	Mohammad Ghazi	Zob Ahan					1		1	1	1				4

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• 2011 AFC Cup
• 2011 AFC President's Cup