The 2005 AFC Champions League was the 24th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 3rd edition under the current AFC Champions League title. The championship was retained by the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad with a 5–3 aggregate victory over Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates. Following a 1–1 draw at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Ain in the first leg, Al-Ittihad recorded a 4–2 victory at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to lift the trophy for the second consecutive season. They also qualified for the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup.
Format Group Stage A total of 28 clubs were divided into 7 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 6 matches each. Clubs received 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts 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 Differential between the clubs in question Goals For between the clubs in question Points earned within the group Goal Differential within the group Goals For within the group
The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.
Knockout Round All 8 clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were conducted in 2 legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the match winner. If the aggregate score couldn't produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where "away goals rule" still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.
Teams Syria were promoted to 'mature' status (after both their representatives had reached the 2004 AFC Cup final) while Bahrain were excluded from AFC competitions for 2005 following the withdrawal of both their Champions' League entrants in 2004.
Qualified Teams West AsiaEast AsiaQuarter FinalsTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method Al-IttihadDefending championsGroup StageTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method PAS Tehran2003–04 Iran Pro League champions Shenzhen Jianlibao2004 Chinese Super League champions Sepahan2003–04 Hazfi Cup winners Shandong Luneng Taishan2004 Chinese FA Cup winners Al-Zawraa2003–04 Iraqi Premier League Central Group 1 play-off winner Persebaya Surabaya2004 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions Al-Shorta2003–04 Iraqi Premier League Central Group 2 play-off winner PSM Makassar2004 Liga Indonesia Premier Division runners-up Al-Salmiya2003–04 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up Yokohama F. Marinos2004 J.League Division 1 champions Kuwait SC2004 Kuwait Emir Cup runners-up Júbilo Iwata2003 Emperor's Cup winners Al Sadd2003–04 Qatar Stars League champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings2004 K League champions Al-Rayyan2003–04 Emir of Qatar Cup winners Pusan i.cons2004 Korean FA Cup winners Al Shabab2003–04 Saudi Premier League champions Krung Thai Bank2003–04 Thai League champions Al Ahli2004 Saudi Crown Prince Cup runners-up BEC-Tero Sasana2003–04 Thai League runners-up Al-Wahda2003–04 Syrian Premier League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai2004 V-League champions Al-Jaish 2003–04 Syrian Cup winners Binh Dinh 2004 Vietnamese Cup winners Al Ain2003–04 UAE Football League champions Al-Ahli2003–04 UAE President's Cup winners Pakhtakor2004 Uzbek League champions &2004 Uzbekistan Cup winners Neftchi Fergana2004 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
First leg
Second leg
Shenzhen Jianlibao won 4–3 on aggregate.
4–4 on aggregate, Al Ain won on away goals.
Busan IPark won 5–1 on aggregate.
Al-Ittihad won 8–3 on aggregate.
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Al Ain won 6–0 on aggregate.
Al-Ittihad won 7–0 on aggregate.
Final
First leg
Second leg
Al-Ittihad won 5–3 on aggregate.
See also 2005 FIFA Club World Championship
References
External links AFC Champions League 2005 Official Page (English) AFC Champions League 2005 at RSSSF.com