The 2009 AFC Cup was the sixth season of the AFC Cup, a competition among clubs from member nations of the Asian Football Confederation.
With the Asian Football Confederation reviewed the format of the AFC Champions League and made significant changes to way the competition is run, the teams that qualified for the AFC Cup is also from different countries compared to the previous editions.
Allocation of entries per association A total of 32 clubs will participate in the 2009 AFC Cup. Below is the qualification scheme for the 2009 AFC Cup.
2 teams to qualify from each of the following associations: Hong Kong Iraq Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Oman Syria Yemen 1 team to qualify from each of the following associations: Bahrain India Singapore Thailand Uzbekistan Vietnam 3 teams which did not satisfy the criteria to participate in the 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs (so each association had one additional team to qualify): Bahrain Lebanon Vietnam 3 losers from AFC Champions League 2009 qualifying play-offs
Participating Countries in Region Following are the 2009 AFC Cup Participants.AFC PRO-LEAGUE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ASSESSMENT CHARTS West AsiaTeamQualifying method Al-Muharraq1 2008 AFC Cup winners2007–08 Bahraini Premier League winners2008 Bahraini King's Cup winners Busaiteen 2007–08 Bahraini Premier League runners-up Mohun Bagan AC 2008 Indian Federation Cup winners Arbil 2007–08 Iraqi Premier League champions Al-Zawraa 2007–08 Iraqi Premier League runners-up Al-Wihdat 2007–08 Jordan League champions Al-Faisaly 2007-08 Jordan FA Cup winners Al-Kuwait 2007–08 Kuwaiti Premier League champions Al-Arabi 2008 Kuwait Emir Cup winners Safa1 2008 AFC Cup runners-up Al-Ahed 2007–08 Lebanese Premier League champions Al-Mabarrah 2007–08 Lebanese FA Cup winners Al-Orouba 2007–08 Omani League champions Al-Suwaiq 2008 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners Al-Karamah 2007–08 Syrian Premier League champions2007-08 Syrian Cup winners Al-Majd 2007–08 Syrian Premier League runners-up Neftchi Farg'ona 2008 Uzbek League 3rd place Al-Hilal Al-Sahili 2007–08 Yemeni League champions Al-Tilal 2007 Yemeni President Cup winners Dempo 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losersEast Asia TeamQualifying method South China 2007–08 Hong Kong First Division League champions Eastern 2007 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield winners Kedah FA 2007–08 Super League Malaysia champions2008 Malaysia FA Cup winners Johor FC 2007–08 Super League Malaysia 3rd place Club Valencia 2008 Dhivehi League champions VB Sports Club 2008 Maldives FA Cup winners Home United 2008 S.League 3rd place Chonburi 2008 Thailand Premier League runners-up Binh Duong1 2008 V-League champions Hanoi ACB 2007–08 Vietnamese Cup winners PSMS Medan 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers PEA 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers
1 These clubs had qualified for the 2009 AFC Champions League, but were removed as their nations did not meet AFC Criteria.
Round and draw dates DateMatch12 JanuaryDraw for group stage10 MarchGroup stage Matchday 117 MarchGroup stage Matchday 27 AprilGroup stage Matchday 321 AprilGroup stage Matchday 45 MayGroup stage Matchday 519 MayGroup stage Matchday 626 MayRound of 16, West AsiaDateEvent23 JuneRound of 16, East Asia29 JuneDraw for remaining rounds15 SeptemberQuarter-finals 1st leg30 SeptemberQuarter-finals 2nd leg15 OctoberSemi-finals 1st leg21 OctoberSemi-finals 2nd leg3 NovemberFinalOne-off Final for AFC Cup 2009 – The-AFC.com
Group stage
The draw for the group stage was held on 12 January 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Each club plays double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. 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 will qualify for the next round.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Knockout stage
Round of 16 The draw for the round of 16 of the 2009 AFC Cup was held on 12 January 2009, along with the draw for the group stage. The Western Asia matches were played on 26 May, while the Eastern Asia matches were played on 23 June.
!colspan="3"|West Asia
!colspan="3"|East Asia
Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals and the remaining knockout rounds took place at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 29 June 2009 starting 7:30 pm. The first leg matches were played on 15 September, with the second leg matches played on 30 September.
Semi-finals The first leg matches were played on 15 October, with the second leg matches played on 21 October.
Final
The 2009 AFC Cup Final was played on 3 November at the home ground of Al Kuwait.
AFC Cup 2009 WinnersAl KuwaitFirst Title
Statistics
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Club Total 1 Robert Akaruye Busaiteen 2 2 1 2 1 8 Mohamad Hamwi Al-Karamah 1 2 1 1 3 8 Jehad Al Hussain Al-Kuwait 3 1 1 3 8 Huỳnh Kesley Alves Binh Duong 1 1 1 1 4 8 5 Cacá South China 1 1 2 2 1 7 6 Mohamed Koné Chonburi 1 1 1 3 6 Alisher Halikov Neftchi Farg'ona 1 1 1 3 6 8 Mo'ayyad Abu Keshek Al-Faisaly 2 1 1 1 5 Mohd Azrul Ahmad Kedah 1 3 1 5 Ranty Martins Soleye Dempo 1 2 2 5 Firas Al Khatib Al-Arabi 1 1 2 1 5 Pipob On-Mo Chonburi 1 1 2 1 5 Nguyễn Vũ Phong Binh Duong 1 2 1 1 5
References