2008 AFC Champions League

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2008 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates12 March - 12 November 2008
Teams29
Final positions
ChampionsJapan Gamba Osaka (1st title)
Runners-upAustralia Adelaide United
Tournament statistics
Matches played98
Goals scored275 (2.81 per match)
Top scorer(s)Thailand Nantawat Thansopa
(9 goals)
Best player(s)Japan Yasuhito Endō
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 AFC Champions League was the 27th AFC Champions League, the top-level Asian club football tournament, and the 6th under the current AFC Champions League title. It was the last AFC Champions League before the competition expanded to 32 teams.

Format[edit]

Group stage

A total of 28 clubs were divided into seven groups of four, based on region, i.e. East Asian and Southeast Asian clubs were drawn in groups E to G, while the rest were grouped in groups A to D. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against the other three teams in their group, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order:

  • Points earned between the clubs in question
  • Goal difference between the clubs in question
  • Goal difference within the group
  • Goals for within the group

The seven group winners and the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.

Knockout stage

All eight clubs were randomly paired together, with the restriction that clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were played over two legs, home and away; the team with the higher aggregate score was declared the match winner. If the aggregate score could not produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If the two teams were still tied, extra time was played, at the end of which the "away goals rule" was again applied if the scores were tied. If still tied, the game would go to penalties.

Schedule[edit]

Group stage draw - 12 December 2007
  • Group round: 12–19 March, 9–23 April, 7–21 May
Knockout stage draw - 24 May 2008
  • Quarter-finals: 17–24 September
  • Semi-finals: 8–22 October
  • Final: 5 and 12 November

Participating clubs[edit]

Indonesia were initially allocated two entries as per previous years. However, on 12 December 2007, the AFC awarded one to Thailand and the other one to Vietnam because the Indonesian domestic league and cup tournament wouldn't be completed in time for the start of the tournament. Both Thailand and Vietnam therefore effectively recovered the entries they had lost the previous year.

West Asia East Asia
Quarter-finals
Team Qualifying method Team Qualifying method
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds Defending champions
Group Stage
Team Qualifying method Team Qualifying method
Iran Saipa 2006–07 Persian Gulf Cup champions Australia Melbourne Victory 2006–07 A-League premiers &
2007 A-League Grand Final winners
Iran Sepahan 2006–07 Hazfi Cup winners Australia Adelaide United 2006–07 A-League regular season runners-up
Iraq Erbil SC 2006–07 Iraqi Premier League champions China Changchun Yatai 2007 Chinese Super League champions
Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2006–07 Iraqi Premier League runners-up China Beijing Guoan 2007 Chinese Super League runners-up
Kuwait Kuwait SC 2006–07 Kuwaiti Premier League champions Japan Kashima Antlers 2007 J.League Division 1 champions &
2007 Emperor's Cup winners
Kuwait Al Qadisiya 2007 Kuwait Emir Cup winners Japan Gamba Osaka 2006 J.League Division 1 third-place[Note JPN]
Qatar Al Sadd 2006–07 Qatar Stars League champions &
2006–07 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 		South Korea Pohang Steelers 2007 K League champions
Qatar Al-Gharafa 2006–07 Qatar Stars League runners-up South Korea Chunnam Dragons 2007 Korean FA Cup winners
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2006–07 Saudi Premier League champions Thailand Chonburi FC 2007 Thailand Premier League champions
Saudi Arabia Al Ahli 2006–07 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners Thailand Krung Thai Bank FC 2007 Thailand Premier League runners-up
Syria Al-Karamah 2006–07 Syrian Premier League champions &
2006–07 Syrian Cup winners 		Vietnam Bình Dương 2007 V-League champions
Syria Al-Ittihad 2006–07 Syrian Premier League runners-up Vietnam Nam Định 2007 Vietnamese Cup winners
United Arab Emirates Al Wasl 2006–07 UAE Football League champions &
2006–07 UAE President's Cup winners
United Arab Emirates Al Wahda 2006–07 UAE Football League runners-up
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 2007 Uzbek League champions &
2007 Uzbekistan Cup winners
Uzbekistan FC Bunyodkor 2007 Uzbek League runners-up
Notes
  1. ^
    Japan (JPN): 2007 J.League Division 1 runners-up, Urawa Red Diamonds, had already qualified for the AFC Champions League as defending champions.

Group stage[edit]

Group A[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 6 4 1 1 8 2 +6 13
Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 9
Iran Sepahan 6 2 1 3 5 8 −3 7
Syria Al-Ittihad 6 2 0 4 4 8 −4 6
Source: [citation needed]
Sepahan Iran0–2Syria Al-Ittihad
Report Jésus Gomez 21'
Al Agha 87'
Attendance: 15,000
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia1–0Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Magno Alves 80' Report
Attendance: 7,500
Al-Ittihad Syria0–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
Report Magno Alves 78'
Attendance: 41,000
Bunyodkor Uzbekistan2–0Iran Sepahan
Bakayev 61'
Kapadze 80'		 Report
Attendance: 13,000
Al-Ittihad Syria0–2Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Report Hasanov 50'
Kapadze 65'
Attendance: 20,000
Sepahan Iran2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
Seyed Salehi 59'
Aghily 71'		 Report Al-Meshal 89'
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Bunyodkor Uzbekistan1–0Syria Al-Ittihad
Kapadze 29' Report
Attendance: 12,000
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia0–1Iran Sepahan
Report Mohammed 70'
Attendance: 4,000
Al-Ittihad Syria2–1Iran Sepahan
Laurens 61'
Jésus Gomez 64'		 Report Aghily 48'
Attendance: 4,000
Bunyodkor Uzbekistan2–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
Soliev 10'
Djeparov 38'		 Report
Attendance: 13,000
Sepahan Iran1–1Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Ali Mohammadi 2' Report Gochguliev 72'
Attendance: 150
Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia3–0Syria Al-Ittihad
Al-Nemri 30', 50'
Hazazi 42'		 Report
Attendance: 600

Group B[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Iran Saipa 6 3 3 0 7 3 +4 12
Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 6 2 2 2 5 5 0 8
United Arab Emirates Al Wasl 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 7
Kuwait Al Kuwait 6 1 2 3 4 6 −2 5
Source: [citation needed]
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates0–1Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Report Alwan 32'
Attendance: 7,500
Al Kuwait Kuwait1–1Iran Saipa
Ajab 44' Report Zaynadpour 66'
Attendance: 7,000
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Iraq0–0Kuwait Al Kuwait
Report
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Saipa Iran2–0United Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Traoré 45'
Ansarifard 57'		 Report
Attendance: 8,000
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Iraq0–1Iran Saipa
Report Vaziri 45+1'
Attendance: 1,000
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates1–0Kuwait Al Kuwait
Hassan 75' Report
Attendance: 4,622
Saipa Iran1–1Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Rahmati 63' (pen.) Report Ayad 71'
Attendance: 10,000
Al Kuwait Kuwait2–1United Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Ajab 10'
Al Awadhi 42'		 Report Ali 4' (pen.)
Attendance: 1,500
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Iraq1–2United Arab Emirates Al Wasl
Kamel 69' Report Al-Enazi 49'
Oliveira 64'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Tan Hai (China)
Saipa Iran1–0Kuwait Al Kuwait
Rahmati 24' Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Al Wasl United Arab Emirates1–1Iran Saipa
André Dias 90+2' Report Traoré 21'
Attendance: 1,500
Al Kuwait Kuwait1–2Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Ajab 22' Report Kadhim 17'
Abdul-Mohsen 48'
Attendance: 250

Group C[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Syria Al-Karamah 6 3 2 1 8 3 +5 11
United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda 6 2 3 1 6 7 −1 9
Qatar Al-Sadd 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6
Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 6 0 4 2 5 7 −2 4
Source: [citation needed]
Al-Sadd Qatar2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Emerson 6'
Felipe 26'		 Report Val Baiano 73'
Attendance: 6,000
Al-Karamah Syria4–1United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Esmaeel 3'
Chaabo 27', 48'
Al Hamwi 80'		 Report Al Shehhi 83'
Attendance: 30,000
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia1–1Syria Al-Karamah
Al Thagafi 15' Report Al Hamwi 44'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates2–2Qatar Al-Sadd
Pinga 17'
Al Shehhi 85'		 Report Tenorio 44'
Emerson 71'
Attendance: 5,500
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia0–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Report
Attendance: 8,000
Al-Sadd Qatar0–2Syria Al-Karamah
Report Al Hamwi 69'
Jenyat 73'
Attendance: 6,000
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates2–1Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Josiel 35', 84' Report Al Gizani 81'
Attendance: 5,000
Al-Karamah Syria1–0Qatar Al-Sadd
Jenyat 78' Report
Attendance: 25,000
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia2–2Qatar Al-Sadd
Taher Zakaria 28' (o.g.)
Sulimani 42' (pen.)		 Report Gholam 32' (pen.)
Ahmed 50'
Attendance: 1,500
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates1–0Syria Al-Karamah
Al Shehhi 90' Report
Attendance: 6,000
Al-Sadd Qatar0–0United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Report
Attendance: 800
Al-Karamah Syria0–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Report
Attendance: 15,000

Group D[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Kuwait Al Qadisiya 6 3 2 1 8 7 +1 11
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 6 3 2 1 13 6 +7 11
Iraq Erbil 6 2 2 2 8 11 −3 8
Qatar Al-Gharafa 6 0 2 4 3 8 −5 2
Source: [citation needed]
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan0–1Kuwait Al Qadisiya
Report Ajab 90+1'
Attendance: 12,000
Erbil Iraq1–1Qatar Al-Gharafa
Muslim Mubarak 61' Report Araújo 13'
Attendance: 250
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)
Al Qadisiya Kuwait1–1Iraq Erbil
Al Salama 81' Alwan 28' (pen.)
Al-Gharafa Qatar2–2Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Mahmoud 57'
Araújo 65'		 Report Aliqulov 68'
F. Tadjiyev 78'
Attendance: 2,000
Al Qadisiya Kuwait1–0Qatar Al-Gharafa
Ajab 62' Report
Attendance: 5,000
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan2–0Iraq Erbil
Kholmatov 47'
Geynrikh 52' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)
Al-Gharafa Qatar0–1Kuwait Al Qadisiya
Report Al-Mutwa 89'
Attendance: 1,000
Erbil Iraq1–5Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Sabah 19' Report Siamand 38' (o.g.)
Kuziboyev 69'
Marković 73'
Geynrikh 81'
Kholmatov 90+3'
Attendance: 180
Al Qadisiya Kuwait2–2Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Ajab 20'
Al Salama 45' (pen.)		 Report Ahmedov 36'
Z. Tadjiyev 81'
Attendance: 18000
Al-Gharafa Qatar0–1Iraq Erbil
Report Alwan 29'
Attendance: 200
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan2–0Qatar Al-Gharafa
Z. Tadjiyev 19'
Ahmedov 88' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Erbil Iraq4–2Kuwait Al Qadisiya
Salah 52', 70', 79'
Alwan 89'		 Report Al Shammari 23'
Al-Kandri 34'
Attendance: 120

Group E[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Australia Adelaide United 6 4 2 0 9 2 +7 14
China Changchun Yatai 6 3 3 0 10 3 +7 12
South Korea Pohang Steelers 6 1 2 3 6 7 −1 5
Vietnam Bình Dương 6 0 1 5 4 17 −13 1
Source: [citation needed]
Changchun Yatai China2–1Vietnam Bình Dương
Du Zhenyu 4'
Cui Wei 70'		 Report Nguyễn Anh Đức 53'
Attendance: 10,000
Pohang Steelers South Korea0–2Australia Adelaide United
Report Cornthwaite 3'
Djite 59'
Attendance: 8,436
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Bình Dương Vietnam1–4South Korea Pohang Steelers
Robson 11' (pen.) Report Denilson 49' (pen.), 58' (pen.)
Kim Jae-sung 56'
Choi Hyo-jin 64'
Attendance: 12,000
Adelaide United Australia0–0China Changchun Yatai
Report
Attendance: 10,510
Changchun Yatai China1–0South Korea Pohang Steelers
Dah Zadi 86' Report
Attendance: 18,000
Adelaide United Australia4–1Vietnam Bình Dương
Pantelis 56'
Dodd 58', 62'
Diego 77'		 Report Phạm Minh Đức 65'
Attendance: 13,802
Pohang Steelers South Korea2–2China Changchun Yatai
Hwang Jae-won 64'
Hwang Jin-sung 90'		 Report Wang Dong 35'
Du Zhenyu 70'
Attendance: 5,468
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Bình Dương Vietnam0–5China Changchun Yatai
Report Wang Bo 2', 37'
Dah Zadi 13'
Yan Feng 78'
Caballero 90' (pen.)
Attendance: 4,000
Pohang Steelers South Korea0–0Vietnam Bình Dương
Report
Attendance: 4,571

Group F[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Japan Kashima Antlers 6 5 0 1 28 3 +25 15
China Beijing Guoan 6 4 0 2 14 9 +5 12
Thailand Krung Thai Bank 6 2 1 3 20 27 −7 7
Vietnam Nam Định 6 0 1 5 4 27 −23 1
Source: [citation needed]
Krung Thai Bank Thailand1–9Japan Kashima Antlers
Kone 64' Report Tashiro 15', 50'
Iwamasa 21'
Nozawa 34', 90+2'
Marquinhos 47', 69', 71'
Sasaki 73'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Nam Dinh Vietnam1–3China Beijing Guoan
Lê Văn Duyệt 14' Report Yan Xiangchuang 57', 90+1'
Du Wenhui 60'
Attendance: 600
Kashima Antlers Japan6–0Vietnam Nam Dinh
Motoyama 25', 48'
Marquinhos 58', 67'
Tashiro 73'
Danilo 90+2'		 Report
Attendance: 7,087
Beijing Guoan China4–2Thailand Krung Thai Bank
Du Wenhui 39', 73'
Martínez 51', 75'		 Report Thansopa 58'
Pichitchotirat 63'
Attendance: 14,000
Kashima Antlers Japan1–0China Beijing Guoan
Danilo 52' Report
Attendance: 6,487
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Krung Thai Bank Thailand9–1Vietnam Nam Dinh
Kone 4', 44', 90+1', 90+2'
Thansopa 8', 46', 59'
Choeichiu 64'
Wongsuparuk 70'		 Report Trần Đức Dương 64'
Attendance: 500
Beijing Guoan China1–0Japan Kashima Antlers
Tiago 41' Report
Attendance: 16,000
Nam Dinh Vietnam2–2Thailand Krung Thai Bank
Hoàng Ngọc Linh 2', 47' Report Thansopa 21'
Choeichiu 90'
Attendance: 2,000
Kashima Antlers Japan8–1Thailand Krung Thai Bank
Iwamasa 19'
Koroki 21'
Tashiro 45'
Nozawa 46', 66'
Ogasawara 50'
Danilo 74', 83'		 Report Pichitchotirat 90'
Attendance: 5,540
Beijing Guoan China3–0Vietnam Nam Dinh
Guo Hui 14' (pen.)
Yang Hao 32', 78'		 Report
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Kadhum Auda (Iraq)
Krung Thai Bank Thailand5–3China Beijing Guoan
Thansopa 10', 44', 49', 69' (pen.)
Pichitchotirat 27'		 Report Tiago 67' (pen.), 70', 77' (pen.)
Attendance: 400
Nam Dinh Vietnam0–4Japan Kashima Antlers
Report Tashiro 27'
Koroki 47'
Motoyama 75'
Danilo 87'
Attendance: 1,200
Notes

Group G[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Japan Gamba Osaka 6 4 2 0 14 8 +6 14
Australia Melbourne Victory 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7
South Korea Chunnam Dragons 6 1 3 2 8 10 −2 6
Thailand Chonburi 6 1 2 3 7 10 −3 5
Source: [citation needed]
Melbourne Victory Australia2–0South Korea Chunnam Dragons
Muscat 28' (pen.)
Vargas 66'		 Report
Attendance: 24,656
Gamba Osaka Japan1–1Thailand Chonburi
Lucas 90+4' Report Sunthornpit 59'
Attendance: 7,000
Chunnam Dragons South Korea3–4Japan Gamba Osaka
Simões 4'
Kim Tae-su 27', 60' (pen.)		 Report Futagawa 30'
Bando 53', 75'
Yasuda 58'
Attendance: 3,000
Chonburi Thailand3–1Australia Melbourne Victory
Ney Fabiano 45'
Baga 79', 90+5'		 Report Allsopp 57'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kadhum Auda (Iraq)
Chunnam Dragons South Korea1–0Thailand Chonburi
Simões 90' Report
Attendance: 500
Melbourne Victory Australia3–4Japan Gamba Osaka
Allsopp 4', 65'
Vargas 41'		 Report Futagawa 31'
Baré 38'
Yamaguchi 68'
Lucas 89'
Attendance: 26,857
Chonburi Thailand2–2South Korea Chunnam Dragons
On-Mo 56'
Jinta 88'		 Report Jeong Jun-yeon 5'
Kim Myung-woon 48'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Tan Hai (China)
Chunnam Dragons South Korea1–1Australia Melbourne Victory
Ko Ki-gu 37' Report Pondeljak 4'
Attendance: 3,000
Chonburi Thailand0–2Japan Gamba Osaka
Report Yamazaki 64'
Lucas 76'
Attendance: 10,000
Melbourne Victory Australia3–1Thailand Chonburi
Muscat 56'
Thompson 65'
Hernández 77'		 Report Ney Fabiano 55'
Attendance: 14,558
Gamba Osaka Japan1–1South Korea Chunnam Dragons
Futagawa 75' Report Yoo Hong-youl 86' (pen.)
Attendance: 7,160
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Notes

Knock-out stage[edit]

Main article: 2008 AFC Champions League knockout stage

Bracket[edit]

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
               
1 Syria Al-Karamah 1 0 1
8 Japan Gamba Osaka 2 2 4
Japan Gamba Osaka 1 3 4
Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 1 1 2
4 Kuwait Al Qadisiya 3 0 3
5 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds (2007 Champion) 2 2 4
Japan Gamba Osaka 3 2 5
Australia Adelaide United 0 0 0
3 Japan Kashima Antlers 1 0 1
6 Australia Adelaide United 1 1 2
Australia Adelaide United 3 0 3
Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 0 1 1
2 Iran Saipa 2 1 3
7 Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 2 5 7

Quarter-finals[edit]

The first leg matches were played on 17 September, and the second leg matches were played on 24 September 2008.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Al-Karamah Syria 1–4 Japan Gamba Osaka 1–2 0–2
Al Qadisiya Kuwait 3–4 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds
(2007 Champion) 		3–2 0–2
Kashima Antlers Japan 1–2 Australia Adelaide United 1–1 0–1
Saipa Iran 3–7 Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 2–2 1–5

Semi-finals[edit]

The first leg matches were played on 8 October, and the second leg matches were played on 22 October 2008.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Gamba Osaka Japan 4–2 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 1–1 3–1
Adelaide United Australia 3–1 Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 3–0 0–1

Final[edit]

Main article: 2008 AFC Champions League Final

The first and second legs of the final were played on 5 and 12 November 2008, respectively.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Gamba Osaka Japan 5–0 Australia Adelaide United 3–0 2–0

Top scorers[edit]

The top scorers from the 2008 AFC Champions League are as follows:

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Thailand Nantawat Thansopa Thailand Krung Thai Bank 9
2 Brazil Lucas Japan Gamba Osaka 6
3 Brazil Marquinhos Japan Kashima Antlers 5
Japan Masato Yamazaki Japan Gamba Osaka
Ivory Coast Kone Kassim Thailand Krung Thai Bank
Japan Yuzo Tashiro Japan Kashima Antlers
Brazil Danilo Japan Kashima Antlers
8 Japan Takuya Nozawa Japan Kashima Antlers 4
Brazil Tiago China Beijing Guoan
Chile Villanueva Uzbekistan Bunyodkor
Brazil Diego Walsh Australia Adelaide United

Fair Play Award[edit]

Japan Gamba Osaka

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]