2008 AFC Champions League

2008 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates12 March - 12 November 2008
Teams29
Final positions
ChampionsGamba Osaka (1st title)
Runners-upAdelaide United
Tournament statistics
Matches played98
Goals scored275 (2.81 per match)
Top scorer(s)Nantawat Thansopa
(9 goals)
Best player(s)Yasuhito Endō
← 2007
2009 →

The 2008 AFC Champions League was the 27th AFC Champions League, the top-level Asian club football tournament, and the 6th under the current AFC Champions League title. It was the last AFC Champions League before the competition expanded to 32 teams.

Format

Group stage

A total of 28 clubs were divided into seven 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 the other three teams in their group, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points 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 difference between the clubs in question
  • Goal difference within the group
  • Goals for within the group

The seven group winners and the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.

Knockout stage

All eight clubs were randomly paired together, with the restriction that clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were played over two legs, home and away; the team with the higher aggregate score was declared the match winner. If the aggregate score could not produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If the two teams were still tied, extra time was played, at the end of which the "away goals rule" was again applied if the scores were tied. If still tied, the game would go to penalties.

Schedule

Group stage draw - 12 December 2007
  • Group round: 12–19 March, 9–23 April, 7–21 May
Knockout stage draw - 24 May 2008
  • Quarter-finals: 17–24 September
  • Semi-finals: 8–22 October
  • Final: 5 and 12 November

Participating clubs

Indonesia were initially allocated two entries as per previous years. However, on 12 December 2007, the AFC awarded one to Thailand and the other one to Vietnam because the Indonesian domestic league and cup tournament wouldn't be completed in time for the start of the tournament. Both Thailand and Vietnam therefore effectively recovered the entries they had lost the previous year.

West Asia East Asia
Quarter-finals
Team Qualifying method Team Qualifying method
Urawa Red Diamonds Defending champions
Group Stage
Team Qualifying method Team Qualifying method
Saipa 2006–07 Persian Gulf Cup champions Melbourne Victory 2006–07 A-League premiers &
2007 A-League Grand Final winners
Sepahan 2006–07 Hazfi Cup winners Adelaide United 2006–07 A-League regular season runners-up
Erbil SC 2006–07 Iraqi Premier League champions Changchun Yatai 2007 Chinese Super League champions
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 2006–07 Iraqi Premier League runners-up Beijing Guoan 2007 Chinese Super League runners-up
Kuwait SC 2006–07 Kuwaiti Premier League champions Kashima Antlers 2007 J.League Division 1 champions &
2007 Emperor's Cup winners
Al Qadisiya 2007 Kuwait Emir Cup winners Gamba Osaka 2007 J.League Division 1 third-place
Al Sadd 2006–07 Qatar Stars League champions &
2006–07 Emir of Qatar Cup winners 		Pohang Steelers 2007 K League champions
Al-Gharafa 2006–07 Qatar Stars League runners-up Chunnam Dragons 2007 Korean FA Cup winners
Al-Ittihad 2006–07 Saudi Premier League champions Chonburi FC 2007 Thailand Premier League champions
Al Ahli 2006–07 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners Krung Thai Bank FC 2007 Thailand Premier League runners-up
Al-Karamah 2006–07 Syrian Premier League champions &
2006–07 Syrian Cup winners 		Bình Dương 2007 V-League champions
Al-Ittihad 2006–07 Syrian Premier League runners-up Nam Định 2007 Vietnamese Cup winners
Al Wasl 2006–07 UAE Football League champions &
2006–07 UAE President's Cup winners
Al Wahda 2006–07 UAE Football League runners-up
Pakhtakor 2007 Uzbek League champions &
2007 Uzbekistan Cup winners
FC Bunyodkor 2007 Uzbek League runners-up
Notes
  1. ^
    Japan (JPN): 2007 J.League Division 1 runners-up, Urawa Red Diamonds, had already qualified for the AFC Champions League as defending champions.

Group stage

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Bunyodkor 6 4 1 1 8 2 +6 13
Al-Ittihad 6 3 0 3 6 5 +1 9
Sepahan 6 2 1 3 5 8 −3 7
Al-Ittihad 6 2 0 4 4 8 −4 6
Source: [citation needed]
Sepahan 0–2 Al-Ittihad
Report Jésus Gomez 21'
Al Agha 87'
Attendance: 15,000
Al-Ittihad 1–0 Bunyodkor
Magno Alves 80' Report
Attendance: 7,500
Al-Ittihad 0–1 Al-Ittihad
Report Magno Alves 78'
Attendance: 41,000
Bunyodkor 2–0 Sepahan
Bakayev 61'
Kapadze 80'		 Report
Attendance: 13,000
Al-Ittihad 0–2 Bunyodkor
Report Hasanov 50'
Kapadze 65'
Attendance: 20,000
Sepahan 2–1 Al-Ittihad
Seyed Salehi 59'
Aghily 71'		 Report Al-Meshal 89'
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Bunyodkor 1–0 Al-Ittihad
Kapadze 29' Report
Attendance: 12,000
Al-Ittihad 0–1 Sepahan
Report Mohammed 70'
Attendance: 4,000
Al-Ittihad 2–1 Sepahan
Laurens 61'
Jésus Gomez 64'		 Report Aghily 48'
Attendance: 4,000
Bunyodkor 2–0 Al-Ittihad
Soliev 10'
Djeparov 38'		 Report
Attendance: 13,000
Sepahan 1–1 Bunyodkor
Ali Mohammadi 2' Report Gochguliev 72'
Attendance: 150
Al-Ittihad 3–0 Al-Ittihad
Al-Nemri 30', 50'
Hazazi 42'		 Report
Attendance: 600

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Saipa 6 3 3 0 7 3 +4 12
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 6 2 2 2 5 5 0 8
Al Wasl 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 7
Al Kuwait 6 1 2 3 4 6 −2 5
Source: [citation needed]
Al Wasl 0–1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Report Alwan 32'
Attendance: 7,500
Al Kuwait 1–1 Saipa
Ajab 44' Report Zaynadpour 66'
Attendance: 7,000
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 0–0 Al Kuwait
Report
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Saipa 2–0 Al Wasl
Traoré 45'
Ansarifard 57'		 Report
Attendance: 8,000
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 0–1 Saipa
Report Vaziri 45+1'
Attendance: 1,000
Al Wasl 1–0 Al Kuwait
Hassan 75' Report
Attendance: 4,622
Saipa 1–1 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Rahmati 63' (pen.) Report Ayad 71'
Attendance: 10,000
Al Kuwait 2–1 Al Wasl
Ajab 10'
Al Awadhi 42'		 Report Ali 4' (pen.)
Attendance: 1,500
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1–2 Al Wasl
Kamil 69' Report Al-Enazi 49'
Oliveira 64'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Tan Hai (China)
Saipa 1–0 Al Kuwait
Rahmati 24' Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Al Wasl 1–1 Saipa
André Dias 90+2' Report Traoré 21'
Attendance: 1,500
Al Kuwait 1–2 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Ajab 22' Report Kadhim 17'
Abdul-Mohsen 48'
Attendance: 250

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Al-Karamah 6 3 2 1 8 3 +5 11
Al-Wahda 6 2 3 1 6 7 −1 9
Al-Sadd 6 1 3 2 6 8 −2 6
Al-Ahli 6 0 4 2 5 7 −2 4
Source: [citation needed]
Al-Sadd 2–1 Al-Ahli
Emerson 6'
Felipe 26'		 Report Val Baiano 73'
Attendance: 6,000
Al-Karamah 4–1 Al-Wahda
Esmaeel 3'
Chaabo 27', 48'
Al Hamwi 80'		 Report Al Shehhi 83'
Attendance: 30,000
Al-Ahli 1–1 Al-Karamah
Al Thagafi 15' Report Al Hamwi 44'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Al-Wahda 2–2 Al-Sadd
Pinga 17'
Al Shehhi 85'		 Report Tenorio 44'
Emerson 71'
Attendance: 5,500
Al-Ahli 0–0 Al-Wahda
Report
Attendance: 8,000
Al-Sadd 0–2 Al-Karamah
Report Al Hamwi 69'
Jenyat 73'
Attendance: 6,000
Al-Wahda 2–1 Al-Ahli
Josiel 35', 84' Report Al Gizani 81'
Attendance: 5,000
Al-Karamah 1–0 Al-Sadd
Jenyat 78' Report
Attendance: 25,000
Al-Ahli 2–2 Al-Sadd
Taher Zakaria 28' (o.g.)
Sulimani 42' (pen.)		 Report Gholam 32' (pen.)
Ahmed 50'
Attendance: 1,500
Al-Wahda 1–0 Al-Karamah
Al Shehhi 90' Report
Attendance: 6,000
Al-Sadd 0–0 Al-Wahda
Report
Attendance: 800
Al-Karamah 0–0 Al-Ahli
Report
Attendance: 15,000

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Al Qadisiya 6 3 2 1 8 7 +1 11
Pakhtakor 6 3 2 1 13 6 +7 11
Erbil 6 2 2 2 8 11 −3 8
Al-Gharafa 6 0 2 4 3 8 −5 2
Source: [citation needed]
Pakhtakor 0–1 Al Qadisiya
Report Ajab 90+1'
Attendance: 12,000
Erbil 1–1 Al-Gharafa
Muslim Mubarak 61' Report Araújo 13'
Attendance: 250
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)
Al Qadisiya 1–1 Erbil
Al Salama 81' Alwan 28' (pen.)
Al-Gharafa 2–2 Pakhtakor
Mahmoud 57'
Araújo 65'		 Report Aliqulov 68'
F. Tadjiyev 78'
Attendance: 2,000
Al Qadisiya 1–0 Al-Gharafa
Ajab 62' Report
Attendance: 5,000
Pakhtakor 2–0 Erbil
Kholmatov 47'
Geynrikh 52' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)
Al-Gharafa 0–1 Al Qadisiya
Report Al-Mutwa 89'
Attendance: 1,000
Erbil 1–5 Pakhtakor
Sabah 19' Report Siamand 38' (o.g.)
Kuziboyev 69'
Marković 73'
Geynrikh 81'
Kholmatov 90+3'
Attendance: 180
Al Qadisiya 2–2 Pakhtakor
Ajab 20'
Al Salama 45' (pen.)		 Report Ahmedov 36'
Z. Tadjiyev 81'
Attendance: 18000
Al-Gharafa 0–1 Erbil
Report Alwan 29'
Attendance: 200
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Pakhtakor 2–0 Al-Gharafa
Z. Tadjiyev 19'
Ahmedov 88' (pen.)		 Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Erbil 4–2 Al Qadisiya
Salah 52', 70', 79'
Alwan 89'		 Report Al Shammari 23'
Al-Kandri 34'
Attendance: 120

Group E

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Adelaide United 6 4 2 0 9 2 +7 14
Changchun Yatai 6 3 3 0 10 3 +7 12
Pohang Steelers 6 1 2 3 6 7 −1 5
Bình Dương 6 0 1 5 4 17 −13 1
Source: [citation needed]
Changchun Yatai 2–1 Bình Dương
Du Zhenyu 4'
Cui Wei 70'		 Report Nguyễn Anh Đức 53'
Attendance: 10,000
Pohang Steelers 0–2 Adelaide United
Report Cornthwaite 3'
Djite 59'
Attendance: 8,436
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Bình Dương 1–4 Pohang Steelers
Robson 11' (pen.) Report Denilson 49' (pen.), 58' (pen.)
Kim Jae-sung 56'
Choi Hyo-jin 64'
Attendance: 12,000
Adelaide United 0–0 Changchun Yatai
Report
Attendance: 10,510
Changchun Yatai 1–0 Pohang Steelers
Dah Zadi 86' Report
Attendance: 18,000
Adelaide United 4–1 Bình Dương
Pantelis 56'
Dodd 58', 62'
Diego 77'		 Report Phạm Minh Đức 65'
Attendance: 13,802
Pohang Steelers 2–2 Changchun Yatai
Hwang Jae-won 64'
Hwang Jin-sung 90'		 Report Wang Dong 35'
Du Zhenyu 70'
Attendance: 5,468
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Bình Dương 0–5 Changchun Yatai
Report Wang Bo 2', 37'
Dah Zadi 13'
Yan Feng 78'
Caballero 90' (pen.)
Attendance: 4,000
Pohang Steelers 0–0 Bình Dương
Report
Attendance: 4,571

Group F

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Kashima Antlers 6 5 0 1 28 3 +25 15
Beijing Guoan 6 4 0 2 14 9 +5 12
Krung Thai Bank 6 2 1 3 20 27 −7 7
Nam Định 6 0 1 5 4 27 −23 1
Source: [citation needed]
Krung Thai Bank 1–9 Kashima Antlers
Kone 64' Report Tashiro 15', 50'
Iwamasa 21'
Nozawa 34', 90+2'
Marquinhos 47', 69', 71'
Sasaki 73'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Nam Dinh 1–3 Beijing Guoan
Lê Văn Duyệt 14' Report Yan Xiangchuang 57', 90+1'
Du Wenhui 60'
Attendance: 600
Kashima Antlers 6–0 Nam Dinh
Motoyama 25', 48'
Marquinhos 58', 67'
Tashiro 73'
Danilo 90+2'		 Report
Attendance: 7,087
Beijing Guoan 4–2 Krung Thai Bank
Du Wenhui 39', 73'
Martínez 51', 75'		 Report Thansopa 58'
Pichitchotirat 63'
Attendance: 14,000
Kashima Antlers 1–0 Beijing Guoan
Danilo 52' Report
Attendance: 6,487
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Krung Thai Bank 9–1 Nam Dinh
Kone 4', 44', 90+1', 90+2'
Thansopa 8', 46', 59'
Choeichiu 64'
Wongsuparuk 70'		 Report Trần Đức Dương 64'
Attendance: 500
Beijing Guoan 1–0 Kashima Antlers
Tiago 41' Report
Attendance: 16,000
Nam Dinh 2–2 Krung Thai Bank
Hoàng Ngọc Linh 2', 47' Report Thansopa 21'
Choeichiu 90'
Attendance: 2,000
Kashima Antlers 8–1 Krung Thai Bank
Iwamasa 19'
Koroki 21'
Tashiro 45'
Nozawa 46', 66'
Ogasawara 50'
Danilo 74', 83'		 Report Pichitchotirat 90'
Attendance: 5,540
Beijing Guoan 3–0 Nam Dinh
Guo Hui 14' (pen.)
Yang Hao 32', 78'		 Report
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Kadhum Auda (Iraq)
Krung Thai Bank 5–3 Beijing Guoan
Thansopa 10', 44', 49', 69' (pen.)
Pichitchotirat 27'		 Report Tiago 67' (pen.), 70', 77' (pen.)
Attendance: 400
Nam Dinh 0–4 Kashima Antlers
Report Tashiro 27'
Koroki 47'
Motoyama 75'
Danilo 87'
Attendance: 1,200
Notes

Group G

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Gamba Osaka 6 4 2 0 14 8 +6 14
Melbourne Victory 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7
Chunnam Dragons 6 1 3 2 8 10 −2 6
Chonburi 6 1 2 3 7 10 −3 5
Source: [citation needed]
Melbourne Victory 2–0 Chunnam Dragons
Muscat 28' (pen.)
Vargas 66'		 Report
Attendance: 24,656
Gamba Osaka 1–1 Chonburi
Lucas 90+4' Report Sunthornpit 59'
Attendance: 7,000
Chunnam Dragons 3–4 Gamba Osaka
Simões 4'
Kim Tae-su 27', 60' (pen.)		 Report Futagawa 30'
Bando 53', 75'
Yasuda 58'
Attendance: 3,000
Chonburi 3–1 Melbourne Victory
Ney Fabiano 45'
Baga 79', 90+5'		 Report Allsopp 57'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Kadhum Auda (Iraq)
Chunnam Dragons 1–0 Chonburi
Simões 90' Report
Attendance: 500
Melbourne Victory 3–4 Gamba Osaka
Allsopp 4', 65'
Vargas 41'		 Report Futagawa 31'
Baré 38'
Yamaguchi 68'
Lucas 89'
Attendance: 26,857
Chonburi 2–2 Chunnam Dragons
On-Mo 56'
Jinta 88'		 Report Jeong Jun-yeon 5'
Kim Myung-woon 48'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Tan Hai (China)
Chunnam Dragons 1–1 Melbourne Victory
Ko Ki-gu 37' Report Pondeljak 4'
Attendance: 3,000
Chonburi 0–2 Gamba Osaka
Report Yamazaki 64'
Lucas 76'
Attendance: 10,000
Melbourne Victory 3–1 Chonburi
Muscat 56'
Thompson 65'
Hernández 77'		 Report Ney Fabiano 55'
Attendance: 14,558
Gamba Osaka 1–1 Chunnam Dragons
Futagawa 75' Report Yoo Hong-youl 86' (pen.)
Attendance: 7,160
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Notes

Knock-out stage

Main article: 2008 AFC Champions League knockout stage

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
               
1 Al-Karamah 1 0 1
8 Gamba Osaka 2 2 4
Gamba Osaka 1 3 4
Urawa Red Diamonds 1 1 2
4 Al Qadisiya 3 0 3
5 Urawa Red Diamonds (2007 Champion) 2 2 4
Gamba Osaka 3 2 5
Adelaide United 0 0 0
3 Kashima Antlers 1 0 1
6 Adelaide United 1 1 2
Adelaide United 3 0 3
Bunyodkor 0 1 1
2 Saipa 2 1 3
7 Bunyodkor 2 5 7

Quarter-finals

The first leg matches were played on 17 September, and the second leg matches were played on 24 September 2008.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Al-Karamah 1–4 Gamba Osaka 1–2 0–2
Al Qadisiya 3–4 Urawa Red Diamonds
(2007 Champion) 		3–2 0–2
Kashima Antlers 1–2 Adelaide United 1–1 0–1
Saipa 3–7 Bunyodkor 2–2 1–5

Semi-finals

The first leg matches were played on 8 October, and the second leg matches were played on 22 October 2008.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Gamba Osaka 4–2 Urawa Red Diamonds 1–1 3–1
Adelaide United 3–1 Bunyodkor 3–0 0–1

Final

Main article: 2008 AFC Champions League Final

The first and second legs of the final were played on 5 and 12 November 2008, respectively.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Gamba Osaka 5–0 Adelaide United 3–0 2–0

Top scorers

The top scorers from the 2008 AFC Champions League are as follows:

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Nantawat Thansopa Krung Thai Bank 9
2 Lucas Gamba Osaka 6
3 Marquinhos Kashima Antlers 5
Masato Yamazaki Gamba Osaka
Kone Kassim Krung Thai Bank
Yuzo Tashiro Kashima Antlers
Danilo Kashima Antlers
8 Takuya Nozawa Kashima Antlers 4
Tiago Beijing Guoan
Villanueva Bunyodkor
Diego Walsh Adelaide United

Fair Play Award

Gamba Osaka

See also

References