2004 AFC Champions League

The 2004 AFC Champions League was the 23rd edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 2nd edition under the current AFC Champions League title. The title was won by Al-Ittihad who defeated Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the final.

Al Ain were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the quarter-finals.

Format 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 fellow three group members, a total of six matches each. Clubs received three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order: Points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams; Goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams; Goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams; Goal difference in all group matches; Goals scored in all group matches;

The seven group winners along with the defending champion (Al Ain) advanced to the quarter-finals.

Knockout stage An open draw was held for the knockout stage; teams from the same group or the same association could not be drawn against each other. Each tie is played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time and penalty shoot-outs were used to decide the winner if necessary.

Teams For this year the competition was restricted to clubs from countries considered 'mature' in the 'Vision Asia' paper of AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam, with clubs from 'developing' countries entering the newly created AFC Cup and 'emerging' nations to enter the AFC President's Cup from 2005 onwards.

Mature countries

Developing countries

Emerging countries

Qualified Teams West AsiaEast AsiaQuarter FinalsTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method Al Ain2002–03 AFC Champions League championsGroup StageTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method Riffa2002–03 Bahraini Premier League champions Shanghai Shenhua2003 Chinese Jia-A League champions Al-Ahli2003 King's Cup winners Dalian Shide2002 Chinese Jia-A League champions Sepahan2002–03 Iran Pro League champions Persik Kediri2003 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions Zob Ahan2002–03 Hazfi Cup winners PSM Makassar2003 Liga Indonesia Premier Division runners-up Al-ShortaChosen by the Iraq Football Association Yokohama F. Marinos2003 J.League Division 1 champions Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya Júbilo Iwata2003 Emperor's Cup winners Al Qadisiya2002–03 Kuwaiti Premier League champions2003 Kuwait Emir Cup winners Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma2003 K League champions Al-Arabi2002–03 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2003 Korean FA Cup winners Qatar SC2002–03 Qatar Stars League champions Krung Thai Bank2002–03 Thai League champions Al Sadd2002–03 Emir of Qatar Cup winners BEC-Tero Sasana2002–03 Thai League runners-up Al-Ittihad2002–03 Saudi Premier League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai2003 V-League champions Al Hilal2003 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners Binh Dinh 2003 Vietnamese Cup winners Al-Wahda2002–03 UAE Football League runners-up Sharjah2002–03 UAE President's Cup winners Pakhtakor2003 Uzbek League champions2003 Uzbekistan Cup winners Neftchi Fergana2003 Uzbek League runners-up Notes

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Knock-out stage Bracket

Quarter-finals The first legs were played on 14 and 15 September, and the second legs were played on 21 and 22 September 2004.

Matches

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won 5–1 on aggregate.

Al-Ittihad won 2–1 on aggregate.

Pakhtakor won 5–1 on aggregate.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma won 11–2 on aggregate.

Semifinals The first legs were played on 19 and 20 October, and the second legs were played on 26 and 27 October 2004.

Matches

Al-Ittihad won 4–3 on aggregate.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma won 2–0 on aggregate.

Final The first leg was played on 24 November, and the second leg was played on 1 December 2004.

Matches

Al-Ittihad won 6–3 on aggregate.

2004 AFC Champions League

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