The 2009 AFC Champions League was the 28th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 7th under the current AFC Champions League title. The final was held at the National Stadium in Tokyo on 7 November 2009, with Pohang Steelers defeating Al-Ittihad and securing a record-breaking third title. As winners, Pohang Steelers, qualified as the AFC's representative at the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The Champions League featured a number of changes to its structure this season. Qualifying rounds were introduced, with both finalists of the previous years AFC Cup automatically earning a place in the qualifiers. The group stage was expanded from 28 to 32 teams. The first and second-placed teams in each group advanced to the knockout stage, which now included a Round of 16. The final was played as a single-legged tie at a neutral venue. The defending champions no longer received a bye to the knockout stage, nor did they automatically qualify for the tournament.
Each team was allowed to field a maximum of four foreign players this season, one of whom had to be from an AFC Member Association.
Gamba Osaka were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Kawasaki Frontale in the Round of 16.
Qualification A total of 35 teams participated in the 2009 AFC Champions League.
AFC assessment ranking
+West AsiaPosMemberAssociationPoints(total 500)ClubsSpotsGroup stagePlay-offAFC Cup4 Saudi Arabia36512400 5 UAE35612310 7 Iran340184009 Uzbekistan28916201 10 Qatar2701020013 India20210011
Meet the criteria Do not meet the criteria
+East AsiaPosMemberAssociationPoints(total 500)ClubsSpotsGroup stagePlay-offAFC Cup1 Japan47018400 2 Korea Republic441144003 China PR431164006 Australia3437+1†2008 Indonesia29618110 11 Singapore2791201112 Thailand2211601114 Vietnam19114002 † One of the A-League clubs, Wellington Phoenix, is based in New Zealand, an OFC member country, therefore not being eligible to compete in the ACL.
Allocation of entries
Below is the qualification scheme for the 2009 AFC Champions League:
Qualifying play-off: (5 teams) United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, India each have 1 team qualify Group stage: (32 teams) 2 qualifying play-off entries 4 teams qualified: Japan, China, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia 3 teams qualified: United Arab Emirates 2 teams qualified: Australia, Uzbekistan, Qatar 1 team qualified: Indonesia
Teams In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League. TH means title holders. Entry roundTeamsWest AsiaEast AsiaGroup stage Al-Hilal2007–08 Saudi Premier League champions5th Gamba OsakaTH2008 AFC Champions League champions 2008–09 Emperor's Cup winners3rd Al-Shabab2008 King Cup of Champions winners4th Kashima Antlers2008 J. League Division 1 champions3rd Al-Ittihad2007–08 Saudi Premier League runners-up5th Kawasaki Frontale2008 J. League Division 1 runners-up2nd Al-Ettifaq2007–08 Saudi Premier League fourth place1st Nagoya Grampus2008 J. League Division 1 third place1st Al-Shabab2007–08 UAE Football League champions1st2008 K-League champions2nd Al-Ahli2007–08 UAE President Cup winners3rd Pohang Steelers2008 Korean FA Cup winners2nd Al-Jazira2007–08 UAE Football League runners-up1st FC Seoul2008 K-League runners-up1st Pirozi2007–08 Persian Gulf Cup champions2nd Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i2008 K-League third place2nd Esteghlal2007–08 Hazfi Cup winners Super cup 2007 iran2nd 2008 Chinese Super League champions3rd Sepahan2007–08 Persian Gulf Cup runners-up5th Shanghai Shenhua2008 Chinese Super League runners-up5th 2007–08 Persian Gulf Cup third place2nd Beijing Guoan2008 Chinese Super League third place2nd Bunyodkor2008 Uzbek League champions2008 Uzbekistan Cup winners2nd Tianjin Teda2008 Chinese Super League fourth place1st Pakhtakor2008 Uzbek League runners-up7th Central Coast Mariners2007–08 A-League premiers1st Al-Gharafa2007–08 Qatar Stars League champions4th Newcastle United Jets2008 A-League Grand Final winners1st Umm-Salal2008 Emir of Qatar Cup winners1st Sriwijaya2007–08 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions1stQualifying play-off Sharjah2007–08 UAE Football League fourth place2nd PSMS Medan2007–08 Liga Indonesia Premier Division runners-up1st Dempo2007–08 I-League champions1st Singapore Armed Forces2008 S.League champions1st 2008 AFC Cup winners1st PEA2008 Thailand Premier League champions1st 2008 AFC Cup runners-up1st 2008 V-League champions2nd Notes.
Schedule StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond legQualifying play-offPreliminary round18 December 200818 February 2009Play-off round25 February 2009Group stageMatchday 17 January 200910–11 March 2009Matchday 217–18 March 2009Matchday 37–8 April 2009Matchday 421–22 April 2009Matchday 55–6 May 2009Matchday 619–20 May 2009Knockout stageRound of 16No draw27 May and 24 June 2009Quarter-finals29 June 200923–24 September 200930 September 2009Semi-finals21 October 200928 October 2009Final7 November 2009 at National Stadium, Tokyo Notes
Qualifying play-off
Preliminary round
Play-off round
Group stage
The draw for the group stage was held on 7 January 2009 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Each team had been numbered from 1 to 4, the numbers determine the order of the fixtures. Match Day 1: 1 vs 4, 3 vs 2 Match Day 2: 2 vs 1, 4 vs 3 Match Day 3: 1 vs 3, 4 vs 2 Match Day 4: 3 vs 1, 2 vs 4 Match Day 5: 4 vs 1, 2 vs 3 Match Day 6: 1 vs 2, 3 vs 4
Clubs receive 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked according to points and tie breakers are in following order: Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply) Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply) Goal difference in all the group matches; Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches; Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play; Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches; (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for each direct red card, 4 points for each yellow card followed by a direct red card) Drawing of lots.
Winners and runners-up of each group qualified for the next round.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Knockout stage
Bracket
Round of 16 The draw for the round of 16 of the 2009 AFC Champions League was held on 7 January 2009, along with the draw for the group stage. The West Asian matches were played on 26 and 27 May. The East Asian matches were played on 24 June.
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals and the remaining knockout rounds took place at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 29 June 2009. The first leg matches were played on 23–24 September, with the second leg matches were played on 30 September.
Semi-finals The first leg matches were played on 21 October, with the second leg matches were played on 28 October 2009.
Final
The 2009 AFC Champions League Final was played on 7 November at National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan.
Top scorers Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.
Rank Player Club Total 1 Leandro Gamba Osaka 1 3 2 1 1 2 10 2 Prince Tagoe Al-Ettifaq 2 3 2 1 8 3 Denilson Pohang Steelers 3 1 1 2 7 4 Nasser Al-Shamrani Al-Shabab 1 1 3 1 6 5 Mohammed Noor Al-Ittihad 1 3 1 5 Yoshizumi Ogawa Nagoya Grampus 1 2 1 1 5 Hicham Aboucherouane Al-Ittihad 1 1 1 1 1 5 Dejan Damjanović FC Seoul 3 1 1 5 Renatinho Kawasaki Frontale 1 1 1 1 1 5 Zaynitdin Tadjiyev Pakhtakor 1 1 1 1 1 5 Araújo Al-Gharafa 1 1 3 5 See also 2009 AFC Cup 2009 AFC President's Cup 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
References
External links AFC Champions League Official Page