2010 AFC Champions League

The preliminary qualification scheme for the AFC 2010 was released in 2008.^[2] A total of 38 clubs were due to participate in the 2010 AFC Champions League (eventually reduced to 37).

AFC assessment ranking

West Asia

Pos	Member Association	Points (total 500)	Clubs	Spots
				Group stage	Play-off	AFC Cup
4	Saudi Arabia	365	12	4	0	0
5	UAE	356	12	3	1	0
7	Iran	340	18	4	0	0
9	Uzbekistan	289	16	2	0	1
10	Qatar	270	10	2	0	0
13	India	202	10	0	1	1

	Meet the criteria
	Do not meet the criteria

East Asia

Pos	Member Association	Points (total 500)	Clubs	Spots
				Group stage	Play-off	AFC Cup
1	Japan	470	18	4	0	0
2	Korea Republic	441	14	4	0	0
3	China PR	431	16	4	0	0
6	Australia	343	7+1†	2	0	0
8	Indonesia	296	18	1	1	0
11	Singapore	279	12	0	1	1
12	Thailand	221	16	0	1	1
14	Vietnam	191	14	0	0	2

^† One of the A-League clubs, Wellington Phoenix, is based in New Zealand, an OFC member country, therefore not being eligible to compete in the ACL.

Allocation of entries

Qualifying play-off (8 teams)

• United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Vietnam each have 1 team qualify
• 2009 AFC Cup finalists

However, Al Kuwait, the 2009 AFC Cup winners, were removed as their league did not meet the Champions League criteria.

Group stage (32 teams)

• 2 qualifying play-off winners
• 4 teams qualified: Iran, China PR, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia
• 3 teams qualified: United Arab Emirates
• 2 teams qualified: Australia, Uzbekistan, Qatar
• 1 team qualified: Indonesia

In the following table, the number of appearances and last appearance count only those since the 2002–03 season (including qualifying rounds), when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League. TH means title holders.

West Asia (Groups A–D)
Team	Qualifying method	App*	Last App
Esteghlal	2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup champions	3rd	2009
Zob Ahan	2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup runners-up 2008–09 Hazfi Cup winners	2nd	2004
Mes Kerman	2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup 3rd place	1st	none
Sepahan	2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup 4th place	6th	2009
Al-Ittihad	2008–09 Saudi Professional League champions	6th	2009
Al-Shabab	2009 King Cup of Champions winners	5th	2009
Al-Hilal	2008–09 Saudi Professional League runners-up	6th	2009
Al-Ahli	2008–09 Saudi Professional League 3rd place	4th	2008
Al-Ahli	2008–09 UAE Pro-League champions	4th	2009
Al-Ain	2008–09 UAE Presidents Cup winners	6th	2007
Al-Jazira	2008–09 UAE Pro-League runners-up	2nd	2009
Al-Gharafa	2008–09 Qatar Stars League champions 2009 Emir of Qatar Cup winners	5th	2009
Al-Sadd	2008–09 Qatar Stars League runners-up	7th	2008
Bunyodkor	2009 Uzbek League champions	3rd	2009
Pakhtakor	2009 Uzbekistani Cup winners	8th	2009
Qualifying play-off participants
Churchill Brothers	2008–09 I-League champions	2nd	2002–03
Al-Karamah	2009 AFC Cup runners-up	4th	2008
Al-Wahda	2008–09 UAE Pro-League 4th place	5th	2008

East Asia (Groups E–H)
Team	Qualifying method	App*	Last App
Beijing Guoan	2009 Chinese Super League champions	3rd	2009
Changchun Yatai	2009 Chinese Super League runners-up	2nd	2008
Henan Jianye	2009 Chinese Super League 3rd place	1st	none
Shandong Luneng Taishan	2009 Chinese Super League 4th place	4th	2009
Kashima Antlers	2009 J. League Division 1 champions	4th	2009
Kawasaki Frontale	2009 J. League Division 1 runners-up	3rd	2009
Gamba Osaka	2009 J. League Division 1 3rd place 2009–10 Emperor's Cup winners	4th	2009
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	2009 J. League Division 1 4th place	1st	none
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	2009 K-League champions	4th	2007
Suwon Samsung Bluewings	2009 Korean FA Cup winners	3rd	2009
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	2009 K-League runners-up	4th	2007
Pohang SteelersTH	2009 K-League 3rd place	3rd	2009
Melbourne Victory	2008–09 A-League premiers 2009 A-League Grand Final winners	2nd	2008
Adelaide United	2008–09 A-League regular season runners-up	3rd	2008
Persipura Jayapura	2008–09 Indonesia Super League champions	1st	none
Qualifying play-off participants
Sriwijaya	2008–09 Copa Indonesia winners	2nd	2009
Singapore Armed Forces	2009 S.League champions	2nd	2009
Muangthong United	2009 Thai Premier League champions	1st	none
Đà Nẵng	2009 V-League champions	2nd	2006

* Number of appearances (including qualifying rounds) since the 2002/03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League

The ACL 2010 schedule was released on 17 July 2009.^[3] It will have the same format as the 2009 AFC Champions League.

The teams have been divided into two zones. East has four teams while West has three after AFC Cup champions Kuwait SC's failure to fulfil the criteria set by AFC to compete in the play-offs.^[5] The draw for the qualifying play-off was held on 7 December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[6] All losers from the qualifying play-off will enter the 2010 AFC Cup.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
West Asia Semi-final
Al-Karamah	0–1	Al-Wahda
West Asia Final
Al-Wahda	5–2	Churchill Brothers
East Asia Semi-finals
Singapore Armed Forces	3–0	Sriwijaya
SHB Đà Nẵng	0–3	Muangthong United
East Asia Final
Singapore Armed Forces	0–0 (aet)(4–3p)	Muangthong United

The draw for the group stage was held on 7 December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[6]

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:

1. Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply)
3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply)
4. Goal difference in all the group matches;
5. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
6. Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
7. 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)
8. Drawing of lots.

Winners and runners-up of each group will qualify for the next round.

Group A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		GHA	EST	AHL	JAZ
1	Al-Gharafa	6	4	1	1	11	9	+2	13	Advance to knockout stage		—	1–1	3–2	4–2
2	Esteghlal	6	3	2	1	9	5	+4	11			3–0	—	2–1	0–0
3	Al-Ahli	6	2	0	4	11	9	+2	6			0–1	1–2	—	5–1
4	Al-Jazira	6	1	1	4	6	14	−8	4			1–2	2–1	0–2	—

Group B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ZOB	BUN	ITT	WAH
1	Zob Ahan	6	4	1	1	8	3	+5	13	Advance to knockout stage		—	3–0	1–0	1–0
2	Bunyodkor	6	3	1	2	10	7	+3	10			0–1	—	3–0	4–1
3	Al-Ittihad Jeddah	6	2	2	2	9	7	+2	8			2–2	1–1	—	4–0
4	Al-Wahda	6	1	0	5	3	13	−10	3			1–0	1–2	0–2	—

Group C

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		SHB	PAK	SEP	AIN
1	Al-Shabab	6	3	1	2	10	8	+2	10	Advance to knockout stage		—	2–1	1–1	3–2
2	Pakhtakor	6	3	0	3	8	10	−2	9			1–3	—	2–1	3–2
3	Sepahan	6	2	2	2	5	5	0	8			1–0	2–0	—	0–0
4	Al-Ain	6	2	1	3	8	8	0	7			2–1	0–1	2–0	—

Group D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		HIL	MES	SAD	AHL
1	Al-Hilal	6	3	2	1	11	7	+4	11	Advance to knockout stage		—	3–1	0–0	1–1
2	Mes Kerman	6	3	0	3	13	13	0	9			3–1	—	3–1	4–2
3	Al-Sadd	6	2	2	2	12	9	+3	8			0–3	4–1	—	2–2
4	Al-Ahli	6	1	2	3	9	16	−7	5			2–3	2–1	0–5	—

Group E

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		SEO	BEI	KAW	MEL
1	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	6	5	0	1	11	6	+5	15	Advance to knockout stage		—	3–1	2–0	3–2
2	Beijing Guoan	6	3	1	2	7	5	+2	10			0–1	—	2–0	1–0
3	Kawasaki Frontale	6	2	0	4	8	8	0	6			3–0	1–3	—	4–0
4	Melbourne Victory	6	1	1	4	3	10	−7	4			0–2	0–0	1–0	—

Group F

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		KAS	JEO	CHA	JAY
1	Kashima Antlers	6	6	0	0	14	3	+11	18	Advance to knockout stage		—	2–1	1–0	5–0
2	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	6	4	0	2	17	6	+11	12			1–2	—	1–0	8–0
3	Changchun Yatai	6	1	0	5	10	7	+3	3			0–1	1–2	—	9–0
4	Persipura Jayapura	6	1	0	5	4	29	−25	3			1–3	1–4	2–0	—

Group G

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		SUW	OSA	SAF	HEN
1	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	6	4	1	1	13	4	+9	13	Advance to knockout stage		—	0–0	6–2	2–0
2	Gamba Osaka	6	3	3	0	11	5	+6	12			2–1	—	3–0	1–1
3	Singapore Armed Forces	6	1	1	4	6	16	−10	4			0–2	2–4	—	2–1
4	Henan Jianye	6	0	3	3	3	8	−5	3			0–2	1–1	0–0	—

Group H

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ADE	POH	HIR	SHA
1	Adelaide United	6	3	1	2	6	4	+2	10	Advance to knockout stage		—	1–0	3–2	0–1
2	Pohang Steelers	6	3	1	2	8	7	+1	10			0–0	—	2–1	1–0
3	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	6	3	0	3	11	11	0	9			1–0	4–3	—	0–1
4	Shandong Luneng	6	2	0	4	5	8	−3	6			0–2	1–2	2–3	—

Bracket

	Round of 16				Quarter-finals						Semi-finals						Final
	Adelaide United	2
	Jeonbuk Motors (a.e.t.)	3
					Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	0	1	1
					Al-Shabab	2	0	2
	Al-Shabab	3
	Esteghlal	2
											Al-Shabab	4	0	4
											Seongnam Ihwa (a)	3	1	4
	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	3
	Gamba Osaka	0
					Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	4	0	4
					Suwon Samsung Bluewings	1	2	3
	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	2
	Beijing Guoan	0
																	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	3
																	Zob Ahan	1
	Zob Ahan	1
	Mes Kerman	0
					Zob Ahan	2	1	3
					Pohang Steelers	1	1	2
	Kashima Antlers	0
	Pohang Steelers	1
											Zob Ahan	1	1	2
											Al-Hilal	0	0	0
	Al-Hilal	3
	Bunyodkor	0
					Al-Hilal (a.e.t.)	3	2	5
					Al-Gharafa	0	4	4
	Al-Gharafa	1
	Pakhtakor	0

Round of 16

The draw for the round of 16 was held on 7 December 2009, along with the draw for the qualifying play-off and group stage. The matches were played on 11 and 12 May 2010.

West Asia

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Al-Gharafa	1–0	Pakhtakor
Al-Shabab	3–2	Esteghlal
Zob Ahan	1–0	Mes Kerman
Al-Hilal	3–0	Bunyodkor

East Asia

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	3–0	Gamba Osaka
Suwon Samsung Bluewings	2–0	Beijing Guoan
Kashima Antlers	0–1	Pohang Steelers
Adelaide United	2–3 (aet)	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Quarter-finals

The draw for the remaining rounds was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 25 May 2010.^[7] Because of the country protection rule, if there are two clubs from the same country, they will not face each other in the quarter-finals. Therefore, the two clubs from Saudi Arabia may not be drawn with each other in the quarter-finals. However, the same rule does not apply if there are more than two clubs from the country. Therefore, the four clubs from the Korea Republic may be drawn with each other in the quarter-finals.^[8]

The first legs were played on 15 September, and the second legs were played on 22 September 2010.

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Al-Hilal	5–4	Al-Gharafa	3–0	2–4 (aet)
Zob Ahan	3–2	Pohang Steelers	2–1	1–1
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors	1–2	Al-Shabab	0–2	1–0
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	4–3	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	4–1	0–2

Semi-finals

The first legs were played on 5 and 6 October, and the second legs were played on 20 October 2010.

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Al-Shabab	4–4 (a)	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	4–3	0–1
Zob Ahan	2–0	Al-Hilal	1–0	1–0

Final

The final was played on 13 November 2010. It was a one-leg match played at the National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan.

13 November 2010

19:00 (JST)

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	3 – 1	Zob Ahan
Saša 29' Cho Byung-Kuk 53' Kim Chul-ho 83'	Report	Khalatbari 67'

National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo

Attendance: 27,308

Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)

Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.

Rank	Player	Club	MD1	MD2	MD3	MD4	MD5	MD6	R16	QF1	QF2	SF1	SF2	0 F 0	Total
1	José Mota	Suwon Samsung Bluewings		1	2	1	1	2	2						9
2	Mauricio Molina	Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma	1			1			2	1		2			7
3	Denilson	FC Bunyodkor	1	2				2							5
	Mohammad Reza Khalatbari	Zob Ahan			1	1		1			1			1	5
	Farhad Majidi	Esteghlal	2		2			1							5
	Leandro	Al-Sadd		3	2										5
	Flávio	Al-Shabab		2		2		1							5
	Araújo	Al-Gharafa		1			3		1						5
	Eninho	Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors		1			2		2						5
	Mehdi Rajabzadeh	Mes Kerman / Zob Ahan	2				1	1		1					5
	Yasser Al-Qahtani	Al-Hilal	2	1		1					1				5

• AFC Champions League Official Page (in English)
• 2010 AFC Champions League at ESPN