22-05-2012
AL JAZIRA (UAE) v AL AHLI (KSA)
- Stadium: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

22-05-2012
FOOLAD SEPAHAN (IRN) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN)
- Stadium: Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan City

23-05-2012
AL ITTIHAD (KSA) v PERSEPOLIS FC (PIROOZI ATHLETIC) (IRN)
- Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Jeddah

23-05-2012
AL HILAL (KSA)v BANIYAS (UAE)
- Stadium: Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh

29-05-2012 00:00
ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS)v NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN)
- Stadium: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

29-05-2012
SEONGNAM ILHWA CHUNMA (KOR)v BUNYODKOR (UZB)
- Stadium: Tancheon Sports Complex, Seongnam

30-05-2012
ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR)v KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN)
- Stadium: Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, Ulsan

30-05-2012
GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE (CHN)v FC TOKYO (JPN)
- Stadium: Guangzhou Tianhe Sport Center, Guangzhou

GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) v ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) (0 – 2) (FT)
BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) v BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) (1 – 1) (FT)
ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) v FC TOKYO (JPN) (1 – 0) (FT)
BUNYODKOR (UZB) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR) (1 – 0) (FT)

NASAF (UZB) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN) (0 – 2) (FT)
AL RAYYAN (QAT) v AL JAZIRA (UAE) (3 – 4) (FT)
BANIYAS (UAE) v PAKHTAKOR (UZB) (2 – 0) (FT)
AL ITTIHAD (KSA) v AL ARABI (QAT) (3 – 2) (FT)

FT – TIANJIN TEDA (CHN) v SEONGNAM ILHWA CHUNMA (KOR) (0 – 3)
FT – BURIRAM UNITED (THA) v GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE (CHN) (1 – 2)
FT – NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) v CENTRAL COAST (AUS) (3 – 0)
FT – JEONBUK MOTORS (KOR) v KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN) (0 – 2)
FT – LEKHWIYA (QAT) v AL NASR (UAE) (1 – 2)
FT – SEPAHAN (IRN) v AL AHLI (KSA) (2 – 1)
FT – AL HILAL (KSA) v AL GHARAFA (QAT) (2 – 1)
FT – AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) v PIROOZI ATHLETIC (IRN) (1 – 3)

16 May 2012 NASAF (UZB) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN)
16 May 2012 AL RAYYAN (QAT) v AL JAZIRA (UAE)
16 May 2012 BANIYAS (UAE) v PAKHTAKOR (UZB)
16 May 2012 AL ITTIHAD (KSA) v AL ARABI (QAT)
16 May 2012 BUNYODKOR (UZB) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR)
16 May 2012 GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) v ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS)
16 May 2012 BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) v BEIJING GUOAN (CHN)
16 May 2012 ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) v FC TOKYO (JPN)

Day 2 Games:
ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) v BUNYODKOR (UZB) (0 – 0) (FT)
POHANG STEELERS (KOR) v GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) (2 – 0) (FT)
FC TOKYO v BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) (4 – 2) (FT)
BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) v ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) (2 – 3) (FT)

AL JAZIRA (UAE) v NASAF (UZB) (4 – 1) (FT)
ESTEGHLAL (IRN) v AL RAYYAN (QAT) (3 – 0) (FT)
AL ARABI (QAT) v BANIYAS (UAE) (0 – 4) (FT)
PAKHTAKOR (UZB) v AL ITTIHAD (KSA) (1 – 2) (FT)

Games for 1 May 2012
PIROOZI ATHLETIC (IRN) v AL HILAL (KSA) (0 – 1)
GUANGZHOU EVERGDE (CHN) v JEONBUK MOTORS (KOR) (1 – 3) (FT)
SEONGNAM CHUNMA (KOR) v NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) (1 – 1) (FT)
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (AUS) v TIANJIN TEDA (CHN) (5 – 1) (FT)
KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN) v BURIRAM UNITED (THA) (1 – 0) (FT)
AL AHLI (KSA) v LEKHWIYA (QAT) (3 – 0) (FT)
AL NASR (UAE) v SEPAHAN (IRN) (0 – 3) (FT)
AL GHARAFA (QAT) v AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) (2 – 1) (FT)

Games for 18 April 2012

BUNYODKOR (UZB) v GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) (3- 2) (FT)
ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR) (1 – 0) (FT)
NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) v TIANJIN TEDA (CHN) (0 – 0) (FT)
SEONGNAM CHUNMA (KOR) v CENTRAL COAST (AUS) (5 – 0) (FT)
NASAF (UZB) v AL RAYYAN (QAT) (0 – 1) (FT)
AL JAZIRA (UAE) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN) (1 – 1) (FT)
LEKHWIYA (QAT) v SEPAHAN (IRN) (1 – 0) (FT)
AL AHLI (KSA) v AL NASR (UAE) (3 – 1) (FT)

Games for 17 April 2012
BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) v ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) (1 – 2) (FT)
JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) v BURIRAM UNITED (THA) (3 – 2) (FT)
FC TOKYO v BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) (3 – 0) (FT)
GUANGZHOU EVERGRE (CHN) v KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN) (3 – 1) (FT)
BANIYAS (UAE) v AL ITTIHAD (KSA) (0 – 0) (FT)
AL ARABI (QAT) v PAKHTAKOR (UZB) (0 – 1) (FT)
AL HILAL (KSA) v AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) (2 – 2 ) (FT)
PIROOZI ATHLETIC (IRN) v AL GHARAFA (QAT) (1 – 1) (FT)

18 Apr 2012 NASAF (UZB) v AL RAYYAN (QAT)
18 Apr 2012 AL JAZIRA (UAE) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN)
18 Apr 2012 LEKHWIYA (QAT) v SEPAHAN (IRN)
18 Apr 2012 AL AHLI (KSA) v AL NASR (UAE)
18 Apr 2012 BUNYODKOR (UZB) v GAMBA OSAKA (JPN)
18 Apr 2012 ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR)
18 Apr 2012 NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) v TIANJIN TEDA (CHN)
18 Apr 2012 SEONGNAM CHUNMA (KOR) v CENTRAL COAST (AUS)

Games for 4 April 2012:
BURIRAM UNITED (THA) v JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) (0 – 2) (FT)
KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN) v GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE (CHN) (0 – 0) (FT)
AL ITTIHAD (KSA) v BANIYAS (UAE) (1 – 0) (FT)
PAKHTAKOR (UZB) v AL ARABI (QAT) (3 – 1) (FT)
AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) v AL HILAL (KSA) (1 – 1) (FT)
AL GHARAFA (QAT) v PIROOZI ATHLETIC (IRN) (0 – 3) (FT)
ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) v BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) (1 – 1) (FT)
BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) v FC TOKYO (1 – 1) (FT)

Games for 3 April 2012:
AL RAYYAN (QAT) v NASAF (UZB) (3 – 1) (FT)
ESTEGHLAL (IRN) v AL JAZIRA (UAE) (1 – 2) (FT)
SEPAHAN (IRN) v LEKHWIYA (QAT) (2 – 1) (FT)
AL NASR (UAE) v AL AHLI (KSA) (1 – 2) (FT)
GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) v BUNYODKOR (UZB) (3 – 1) (FT)
POHANG STEELERS (KOR) v ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) (1 – 0) (FT)
TIANJIN TEDA (CHN) v NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) (0 – 3) (FT)
CENTRAL COAST (AUS) v SEONGNAM ILHWA CHUNMA (KOR) (1 – 1) (FT)

Games Played 21/3:
CENTRAL COAST (AUS) v NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) (1 – 1) (FT)
SEONGNAM CHUNMA (KOR) v TIANJIN TEDA (CHN) (1 – 1) (FT)
KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN) v JEONBUK MOTORS (KOR) (5 – 1) (FT)
GUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE (CHN) v BURIRAM UNITED (THA) (1 – 2) (FT)
AL AHLI (KSA) v SEPAHAN (IRN) (1 – 1) (FT)
AL NASR (UAE) v LEKHWIYA (QAT) (2 – 1) (FT)
AL GHARAFA (QAT) v AL-HILAL (FSA) (3 – 3) (FT)
PERSEPOLIS FC (IRN) v Al SHABAB (UAE) (6 – 1) (FT)

Games Played 20/3:

BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) v BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) (1 – 1) (FT)
POHANG STEELERS (KOR) v BUNYODKOR (UZB) (0 – 2)(FT)
FC TOKYO v ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) (2 – 2) (FT)
ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) v GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) (2 – 0) (FT)

PAKHTAKOR (UZB) v BANIYAS (UAE) (1 – 1) (FT)
AL ARABI (QAT) v AL ITTIHAD (KSA) (1 – 3) (FT)
AL JAZIRA (UAE) v AL RAYYAN (QAT) (3 – 2) (FT)
ESTEGHLAL (IRN) v NASAF (UZB) (0 – 0) (FT)

Games played 7 March 2012:

Jeonbuk Motors (KOR) 1 – 5 Guangzhou FC (CHN)
Nagoya (JPN) 2 – 2 Seongnam Ilhwa (KOR)
Buriram United (THA) 3 – 2 Kashiwa (JPN)
Nasaf Qarshi (UZB) 2 – 4 Al-Jazira (UAE)
Tianjin Teda (CHN) 0 – 0 C. Coast Marin. (AUS)
Sepahan FC (IRN) 1 – 0 Al-Nasr SC (UAE)
Lekhwiya SC (QAT) 1 – 0 Al-Ahli Jeddah (KSA)
Al Shabab Dubai (UAE) 0 – 0 Al-Gharafa (QAT)
Al-Hilal (KSA) 1 – 1 Persepolis FC (IRN)

Games Played 6 March 2012:

Brisbane Roar (AUS) 0 – 2 FC Tokyo (JPN)
Gamba Osaka (JPN) 0 – 3 Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 2 – 1 Beijing Guoan (CHN)
FC Bunyodkor (UZB) 1 – 2 Adelaide Utd FC (AUS)
Nasaf Qarshi (UZB) -:- Al-Jazira (UAE) Postponed
Baniyas SC (UAE) 2 – 0 Al-Arabi SC (QAT)
Al-Rayyan SC (QAT) 0 – 1 Esteghlal FC (IRN)
Al-Ittihad (KSA) 4 – 0 Pakhtakor (UZB)

For the first time since Australia’s move into Asia, we have three teams representing us on the continental stage: Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United

With Adelaide being the only Australian team to have made an impact in this tournament, many will be interested to see how the A-League’s best teams from the 2010-11 season stack up against the competition.

Group E sees Adelaide along with Gamba Osaka of Japan, Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan and either the Pohang Steelers of South Korea or Chonburi of Thiland.

This provides a re-match of both the 2008 Champions League Final and a game from the FIFA Club World Cup later that year between Adelaide and Gamba, with Gamba winning the two legged final as well as their later meeting.

Gamba managed to finish third in the league in the most recent season, as well as reching the round of 16 of the champions league, which included a win and a draw against Melbourne Victory.

Bunyodkor are an anomaly to be competing in this group, with the Uzbekistan teams normally participating in the western part of the draw. They won the Uzbek League last season, and were also semi-finalists of the 2008 Champions League when they were knocked out by… wait for it, Adelaide in the semi-final three goals to one.

The two other sides that may fill the last spot (Chonburri and Pohang) are also well known to Australian audiences. If Pohang make it through, it will mean that all three of the teams in the group came up against Adelaide in the 2008 edition, with United recording twin victories at home and away to finish top of the group. The Steelers finished third in the 2011 K-League, and did not participate in the Champions League.

Chonburri finished second in their 2011 domestic season. Whilst they have a great domestic record, they really haven’t been able to compete with the best in Asia to date. Coming up with Pohang will certainly be a test for them.

Favourites for the this group are Gamba Osaka and Bunyodkor. Adelaide may pull some surprises but they haven’t been able to earn the wins they have required domestically this season.

The 2012 Asian Champions League season is just on a month away and we are at the business end of the play-offs. These are the games coming up over the course of February that will determine the final places for the 2012 Group Stage.

10 February 2012 17:15
ESTEGHLAL (IRN) v ZOBAHAN (IRN) Azadi Stadium

18 February 2012 15:30
POHANG STEELERS (KOR) v CHONBURI FOOTBALL CLUB (THA) Pohang Steelyard

18 February 2012 20:00
AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) v NEFTCHI (UZB) Al Maktoum Stadium

18 February 2012
Winner ACL Play-off West W v AL ETTIFAQ (KSA)

The draw for the Group Stage of the 2012 AFC Champions League took place at AFC House on Tuesday, with Asia’s premier club tournament set to set new standards next year thanks to a boost in prize money and a burgeoning interest from fans and media.

AFC Champions League 2012 – Group Stage
Group A

A1. Al Rayyan (QAT)

A2. Al Jazira (UAE)

A3. Nasaf (UZB)

A4. ACL Playoff West: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

Group B
B1. Al Ittihad (KSA)

B2. Al Arabi (QAT)

B3. Baniyas (UAE)

B4. Pakhtakor (UZB)

Group C
C1. Sepahan (IRN)

C2. Al Ahli (KSA)

C3. Lekhwiya (QAT)

C4. Al Nasr (UAE)

Group D
D1. ACL Playoff West: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

D2. Piroozi (IRN)

D3. Al Hilal (KSA)

D4. Al Gharafa (QAT)

Group E
E1. Gamba Osaka (JPN)

E2. ACL Playoff East: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

E3. Bunyodkor (UZB)

E4. ACL Playoff East: winner 1 or 2 (TBC)

Group F
F1. Ulsan Hyundai (KOR)

F2. Emperor’s Cup winner (JPN)

F3. Brisbane Roar (AUS)

F4. Beijing Guoan (CHN)

Group G
G1. Tianjin Teda (CHN)

G2. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (KOR)

G3. Nagoya Grampus (JPN)

G4. Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Group H
H1. League champions (THA)

H2. Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN)

H3. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR)

H4. Kashiwa Reysol (JPN)

AFC Champions League 2012 – Playoffs

East Zone – 18/02/12

Pohang Steelers (KOR) v FA Cup winners (THA)

West Zone – 11/02/12 – Round 1

Esteghlal (IRN) v Zob Ahan (IRN)

18/02/12 – Round 2

Al Shabab (UAE) v Neftchi (UZB)

Round 1 winner (TBC) v Al Ettifaq (KSA)

Nadir Belhadj converted the winning penalty as Al Sadd lifted the 2011 AFC Champions League trophy following a dramatic final with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Korea.

The final was played in front of over 41,000 spectators in Korea with Al Sadd scoring a victory only after extra time was over and penalties where the deciding factor.

Jeonbuk had the first attempt to get into the lead just minutes into the game when Eninho sent through a dipping shot from over 30 meters out only to be stopped by man of the match keeper and Al Sadd keeper, Saqr.

Mamadou Niang also fired a powerful shot in a few minutes later.

With 17 minutes played, Jeonbuk took the lead when Eninho was brought down just outside the box. Eninho took the free kick himself and fired home a brilliant opener into the far side of Saqr’s net.

It didn’t however take Al Sadd to level the game. Al Sadd’s Keita flighted a cross towards Khalfan Ibrahim on the edge of the six-yard box and as the midfielder jumped with Sim, the defender flicked the ball past Kim Min-sik in the Jeonbuk goal leveling the final.

Eninho came close to getting Jeonbuk the lead again in the 57th minute. Having already scored enterprising goals from corners in previous encounters he tried the set piece again but Saqr managed to tip the cross against the bar.

Against the run of play, Al Sadd then took the lead in the 63rd minute when a low cross from the left picked out Keita and the striker showed great ball control to fire the shot into the bottom corner from just inside the box.

The Qatari’s then tried to slow the game down with many unsportsman like antics which began to sour the game. Jeonbuk however never lost site of the goal and came agonisingly close soon after. Kim Dong-chan met Eninho’s in-swinging corner with a header that came back off the far post and the midfielder’s subsequent overhead kick was cleared off the line before Jeong blazed over from inside the area.

Jeonbuk then made some changes bringing in fresh legs. Lee Dong-gook replaced Luiz Henrique.

Kim Dong-chan pulled a low shot wide of Saqr’s goal with 10 minutes remaining before the Al Sadd keeper did brilliantly to push Jeong’s low drive from 12 yards through a crowd of players onto the post with three minutes to go.

It was do or die as the minutes ticked away. Jeonbuk pushed many players forward searching for the equaliser. Eninho’s corner from the right in the final minutes of regular time was headed in from close range at the back post by substitute Lee Sung-hyun as the stadium erupted and the game went into extra time.

Lee Dong-gook was presented with many opportunities to win the game for Jeonbuk which in any other game he would have normally taken. In the 101st minute he wasted a great opportunity with a miskick unmarked in front of goal.

Jeong headed Eninho’s cross off target two minutes into the second period of extra time before Saqr denied him with a fantastic save with seven minutes to go. Saqr was Al Sadd’s saviour and best player by far.

Jeobuk control the extra time period but even the woodwork was on the side of Al Sadd. An Eninho corner hit an Al Sadd defender but bounced off the base of the post.

Afif was sent off in the dieing stage of the second half (he deserved to be sent off earlier for an elbow), but Al Sadd held on for penalties.

After the first three spot-kicks all found the back of the net, Kim Dong-chan blasted straight at Saqr before Lee Jang-soo calmly strode up but sidefooted his penalty against the underside of the bar.

Saqr denied Park, Ibrahim Majed blasted into the corner and Kim Sang-sik scored before Belhadj displayed fine composure to fire home the winning penalty.

Congratulations to Al Sadd for winning the 2011 AFC Asian Champions League.

After leading 2 – 1 in the second half of regular time, Jeonbuk equalised with minutes remaining. Extra time was dominated by Jeonbuk who had many chances including hits to the woodwork. However Al Sadd keeper played a great final and was outstanding during the penalty shout out which Al Sadd won 4 – 2.

Congratulations Al Sadd once again.

LIVE! – Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors V Al Sadd 2 – 2 (120′ FT)
Penalties: 2 – 4

Al Sadd 2011 AFC Champions League Champions

Yes, it is finally here. The 2011 AFC Asian Champions League Final will be played this Saturday evening 5 November 2011 in Korea, between the two best teams this season in Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Al Sadd. The game kicks off 7pm Korean time.

JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) V AL SADD (QAT) (9PM AEST)

Round Two (Return Leg)

FT – Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic) v Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) (2 – 1) (5 – 3 Aggregate)
FT – Al Sadd (Qatar) v Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic) (0 – 1) (2 – 1 Aggregate)
Round One of the AFC Semi Finals
Suwon Bluewings (Korea Republic) v Al Sadd (Qatar) (0 – 2) (FT)
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) v Jeonbuk Motors (Korea Republic) (2 – 3) (FT)

LIVE! – QF1 – JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) – CEREZO OSAKA (JPN) (6 – 1) (FT) Aggregate (9 – 5)

LIVE! – QF2 – FC SEOUL (KOR)-AL ITTIHAD (KSA) (1 – 0) (FT) Aggregate (2 – 3)

LIVE! – QF3 – AL SADD (QAT)-FOOLAD MOBAREKEH SEPAHAN (IRN) (1 – 2) (FT) Aggregate (4 – 2)

LIVE! – QF4 – ZOBAHAN (IRN)-SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR) (1 – 2) (FT) Aggregate (2 – 3)

QF1 – CEREZO OSAKA (JPN)-JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) (4 – 3) (FT)

QF4 – SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR)-ZOBAHAN (IRN) (1 – 1) (FT)

QF2 – AL ITTIHAD (KSA)-FC SEOUL (KOR) (3 – 1) (FT)

QF3 – FOOLAD MOBAREKEH SEPAHAN (IRN)-AL SADD (QAT) (1 – 0) (FT)

Whilst we are still over a month away from round 1 of the 2011 Asian Champions League Quarter Finals, I wanted to review what each of the 8 quarter finalists was up to domestically as we approach the elimination games.

Al Ittihad
Al Ittihad are currently between seasons so we will need to reflect on how they performed during the 2010/11 season which concluded in May. Al Ittihad finished second in the Saudi First Division. First position went to Saudi heavy weights Al Hilal. Al Ittihad finished in second position with 51 points which came from 13 wins, 12 draws and 1 loss.

FC Seoul
FC Seoul is currently sitting mid table in the K League. In 6th position after 19 games and with 30 points in the 2011 season, FC Seoul have 8 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses. In actual fact they are only 4 points away from 2nd position which is Pohang, so the current season is turning out to be a good one for them at the moment and places them in a very strong position in order to reach the semi finals.

Their results for the last three rounds have been as follows:

23/07/11  FC Seoul 4 – 1 Gwangju
17/07/11  Pohang Steelers 1 – 2 FC Seoul
9/07/11  FC Seoul 3 – 2 Sangju Sangmu

With FC Seoul currently half way through their season, their match fitness will be a telling factor in the results of these games. An away draw will set them up for a strong home finish in the return leg.