Bunyodkor’s FYROM striker Stevica Ristik will miss the opening AFC Champions League campaign as Luiz Felipe Scolari has opted for the Brazilians.

Ristik played a key role in Pohang Steelers’ continental victory in 2009. He was also the scorer of the match-winner against Bunyodkor in the quarter-final.

The 27-year-old Stevo and Brazilian Edson Ramos have been left out by Scolari as he picked up Rivaldo, Denilson and Joao Victor to fill up the quota of three non-Asian players.

Singapore Armed Forces have beaten Muangthong United of Thailand 4-3 on penalties to progress to the AFC Champions League group stage for the second successive year.

Al Wahda coach Josef Hickersberger was pleased to see his side secure their place in the 2010 AFC Champions League following a 5-2 play-off win over Churchill Brothers on Saturday.

United will face Singapore Armed Forces for a place in the 2010 AFC Champions League after the Thai side overcame nine-man Da Nang 3-0 at Chi Long Stadium.

Adelaide United FC has announced its squad for the upcoming AFC Champions League 2010, which kicks off in under a month, the club submitting a list of 25 for its historic third appearance in the prestigious Asian club competition.

AFC Champions League ever-presents Pakhtakor have appointed Montenegro’s Miodrag Radulovic as their new head coach on Sunday.

The AFC Champions League 2010 will begin on February 23, with 32 of Asia’s most successful clubs competing for the title and a spot in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

Melbourne Victory became the first team to qualify for Asia’s premier club competition when it won the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 Premiership in January this year.

The 2010 AFC Champions League draw was held on Monday with the cards throwing up a host of intriguing and mouth-watering clashes in Asia’s premier club competition.

Defending champions Pohang Steelers, 2009 runners-up Al Ittihad and former champions Gamba Osaka, Jeonbuk Motors and Al Ain were all given difficult assignments for the 2010 competition, which promises to be the best and most exciting yet.

Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United were handed tough opponents when the 2010 AFC Champions League draw was made in Kuala Lumpur on Monday night.

A-League champions Melbourne have been cast in Group E with Korea Republic’s Seongnam, China’s Beijing Guoan and Kawasaki Frontale of Japan.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma qualified for the 2010 Asian Champions League by defeating Chunnam Dragons 1-0 in the second round of the K-League’s championship play-off series.

The AFC Champions League has come in for critical acclaim from none other than the newest owners of the title – Pohang Steelers.
The continental competition was completely revamped this year on professional lines with the axe falling on all those countries which failed to meet the relevant criteria.
And, the results were there for all to see: a manifold increase in the prize money, top-quality matches, and soaring attendances.
Now Pohang coach Sergio Farias has put his stamp of approval on the competition and its rising standards.
Farias said: “For this competition, the …

The AFC has announced the names of 8 clubs eligible to compete in the play-offs for the 2010 AFC Champions League.

However, participation is conditional on the teams fulfilling AFC criteria for professionalism, including clubs being registered as commercial entities. Other requirements include having a minimum number of players under professional contracts, encouraging youth development and the use of a home stadium with a minimum capacity of 3,000 seats.

The draw for the AFC Champions League 2010 will be held on 7 December 2009.

The draw takes place at 4pm Malaysia time at the AFC House here.