2008 AFC Champions League
27th edition of premier club football tournament organized by the AFC
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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.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 12 March - 12 November 2008 |
| Teams | 29 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Gamba Osaka (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Adelaide United |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 98 |
| Goals scored | 275 (2.81 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Nantawat Thansopa(9 goals) |
| Best player | Yasuhito Endō |
← 2007 2009 → | |
Gamba Osaka defeated Adelaide United 5–0 on aggregate in the final to win their first AFC Champions League title. Both clubs qualified for the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup: Gamba Osaka as the AFC representative, and Adelaide United as the host nation's representative, since Japan's spot was reallocated due to Gamba Osaka's qualification as continental champion.
Urawa Red Diamonds were the defending champions, but were eliminated by the eventual winners Gamba Osaka in the semi-finals.
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 group members, a total of six matches each. Clubs received three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order:
- Points in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among the tied teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
The seven group winners along with the defending champion (Urawa Red Diamonds) advanced to the quarter-finals.
- Knockout stage
An open draw was held for the knockout stage; teams from the same group or the same association could not be drawn against each other. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time and penalty shoot-outs were used to decide the winner if necessary.
Schedule
| Stage | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 12 December 2007 | 12 March 2008 | |
| Matchday 2 | 19 March 2008 | |||
| Matchday 3 | 9 April 2008 | |||
| Matchday 4 | 23 April 2008 | |||
| Matchday 5 | 8 May 2008 | |||
| Matchday 6 | 21 May 2008 | |||
| Knockout stage | Quarter-finals | 24 May 2008 | 17 September 2008 | 24 September 2008 |
| Semi-finals | 8 October 2008 | 22 October 2008 | ||
| Final | 5 November 2008 | 12 November 2008 | ||
Teams
Indonesia were initially allocated two entries. However, on 12 December 2007, the AFC redistributed Indonesia's entries to Thailand and Vietnam as the Indonesian domestic league and cup tournament wouldn't be completed in time for the start of the tournament.
- Notes
- ^ Australia (AUS): As 2007 A-League Grand Final winners Melbourne Victory qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the spot reserved for the A-League Grand Final winners was passed onto the runners-up of the 2006–07 A-League.
- ^ China (CHN): As the 2007 Chinese FA Cup was cancelled, the spot reserved for the Chinese FA Cup winners was passed onto the runners-up of the 2007 Chinese Super League.
- ^ Japan (JPN): As 2007 Emperor's Cup winners, Kashima Antlers qualified for the Champions League via their league position, and runners-up of the 2007 J.League Division 1, Urawa Red Diamonds, qualified for the Champions League as 2007 AFC Champions League winners. The spot reserved for the Emperor’s Cup winners was passed onto the third placed team in the league.
- ^ Qatar (QAT): As 2006–07 Emir of Qatar Cup winners Al Sadd qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the spot reserved for the Emir of Qatar Cup winners was passed onto the runners-up of the 2006–07 Qatar Stars League.
- ^ Syria (SYR): As 2006–07 Syrian Cup winners Al-Karamah qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the spot reserved for the Syrian Cup winners was passed onto the runners-up of the 2006–07 Syrian Premier League.
- ^ United Arab Emirates (UAE): As 2006–07 UAE President's Cup winners Al Wasl qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the spot reserved for the UAE President's Cup winners was passed onto the runners-up of the 2006–07 UAE Football League.
- ^ Uzbekistan (UZB): As 2007 Uzbekistan Cup winners Pakhtakor qualified for the Champions League via their league position, the spot reserved for the Uzbekistan Cup winners was passed onto the runners-up of the 2007 Uzbek League.
Jeddah
Qatar
Tashkent
Kuwait City
Location of teams of the 2008 AFC Champions League.
Brown: Group A; 
Red: Group B; 
Orange: Group C; 
Yellow: Group D; 
Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; 
Blue: Group G; 
Cyan: Quarter-finals;
Brown: Group A; 
Red: Group B; 
Orange: Group C; 
Yellow: Group D; 
Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; 
Blue: Group G; 
Cyan: Quarter-finals;Group stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bunyodkor |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 13 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Al-Ittihad |
6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 9 | |
| 3 |  Sepahan |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 7 | |
| 4 |  Al-Ittihad |
6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 6 |
| Sepahan | 0–2 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Jésus Gomez  21'Al Agha 87' |
| Al-Ittihad | 1–0 | Bunyodkor |
|---|---|---|
| Magno Alves 80' |
Report |
| Al-Ittihad | 0–1 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Magno Alves 78' |
| Al-Ittihad | 0–2 | Bunyodkor |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Hasanov 50' Kapadze 65' |
| Sepahan | 2–1 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
| Seyed Salehi 59' Aghily 71' |
Report | Al-Meshal 89' |
| Bunyodkor | 1–0 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
| Kapadze 29' |
Report |
| Al-Ittihad | 0–1 | Sepahan |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Mohammed 70' |
| Al-Ittihad | 2–1 | Sepahan |
|---|---|---|
| Laurens 61' Jésus Gomez 64' |
Report | Aghily 48' |
| Bunyodkor | 2–0 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
| Soliev 10' Djeparov 38' |
Report |
| Sepahan | 1–1 | Bunyodkor |
|---|---|---|
| Ali Mohammadi 2' |
Report | Gochguliev 72' |
| Al-Ittihad | 3–0 | Al-Ittihad |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Nemri 30', 50' Hazazi 42' |
Report |
Attendance: 600
Referee: Tayeb Hasan Shamsuzzaman (Bangladesh)
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saipa |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 8 | |
| 3 |  Al Wasl |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 7 | |
| 4 |  Al Kuwait |
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 5 |
| Al Wasl | 0–1 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Alwan 32' |
| Al Kuwait | 1–1 | Saipa |
|---|---|---|
| Ajab 44' |
Report | Zaynadpour 66' |
| Saipa | 2–0 | Al Wasl |
|---|---|---|
| Traoré 45' Ansarifard 57' |
Report |
| Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya | 0–1 | Saipa |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Vaziri 45+1' |
| Al Wasl | 1–1 | Saipa |
|---|---|---|
| André Dias 90+2' |
Report | Traoré 21' |
| Al Kuwait | 1–2 | Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya |
|---|---|---|
| Ajab 22' |
Report | Kadhim 17' Abdul-Mohsen 48' |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Karamah |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 11 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Al-Wahda |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 9 | |
| 3 |  Al-Sadd |
6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Al-Ahli |
6 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 |
| Al-Ahli | 1–1 | Al-Karamah |
|---|---|---|
| Al Thagafi 15' |
Report | Al Hamwi 44' |
| Al-Sadd | 0–2 | Al-Karamah |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Al Hamwi 69' Jenyat 73' |
| Al-Karamah | 1–0 | Al-Sadd |
|---|---|---|
| Jenyat 78' |
Report |
| Al-Wahda | 1–0 | Al-Karamah |
|---|---|---|
| Al Shehhi 90' |
Report |
| Al-Karamah | 0–0 | Al-Ahli |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Qadisiya |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 11 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Pakhtakor |
6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 11 | |
| 3 | Erbil |
6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | −3 | 8 | |
| 4 | Al-Gharafa |
6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 |
| Pakhtakor | 0–1 | Al Qadisiya |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Ajab 90+1' |
| Erbil | 1–1 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
| Muslim Mubarak 61' |
Report | Araújo 13' |
| 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' |
| Al Qadisiya | 1–0 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
| Ajab 62' |
Report |
| Al-Gharafa | 0–1 | Al Qadisiya |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Al-Mutwa 89' |
| Al Qadisiya | 2–2 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
| Ajab 20' Al Salama 45' (pen.) |
Report | Ahmedov 36' Z. Tadjiyev 81' |
| Al-Gharafa | 0–1 | Erbil |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Alwan 29' |
| Pakhtakor | 2–0 | Al-Gharafa |
|---|---|---|
| Z. Tadjiyev 19' Ahmedov 88' (pen.) |
Report |
| Erbil | 4–2 | Al Qadisiya |
|---|---|---|
| Salah 52', 70', 79' Alwan 89' |
Report | Al Shammari 23' Al-Kandri 34' |
Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide United |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 14 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 |  Changchun Yatai |
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 12 | |
| 3 |  Pohang Steelers |
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 5 | |
| 4 |  Bình Dương |
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 17 | −13 | 1 |
| Changchun Yatai | 2–1 | Bình Dương |
|---|---|---|
| Du Zhenyu 4' Cui Wei 70' |
Report | Nguyễn Anh Đức 53' |
| Pohang Steelers | 0–2 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Cornthwaite 3' Djite 59' |
| Bình Dương | 1–4 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Robson 11' (pen.) |
Report | Denilson 49' (pen.), 58' (pen.) Kim Jae-sung 56'Choi Hyo-jin 64' |
| Bình Dương | 1–2 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Philani 85' |
Report | Diego 10' Alagich 78' |
| Changchun Yatai | 1–0 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Dah Zadi 86' |
Report |
| Adelaide United | 4–1 | Bình Dương |
|---|---|---|
| Pantelis 56' Dodd 58', 62'Diego 77' |
Report | Phạm Minh Đức 65' |
| Pohang Steelers | 2–2 | Changchun Yatai |
|---|---|---|
| Hwang Jae-won 64' Hwang Jin-sung 90' |
Report | Wang Dong 35' Du Zhenyu 70' |
| Bình Dương | 0–5 | Changchun Yatai |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Wang Bo 2', 37' Dah Zadi 13'Yan Feng 78'Caballero 90' (pen.) |
| Adelaide United | 1–0 | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Diego 63' |
Report |
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kashima Antlers |
6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 3 | +25 | 15 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Beijing Guoan |
6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 12 | |
| 3 | Krung Thai Bank |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 27 | −7 | 7 | |
| 4 | Nam Định |
6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 27 | −23 | 1 |
| 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' |
| Nam Định | 1–3 | Beijing Guoan |
|---|---|---|
| Lê Văn Duyệt 14' |
Report | Yan Xiangchuang 57', 90+1' Du Wenhui 60' |
| Kashima Antlers | 6–0 | Nam Định |
|---|---|---|
| Motoyama 25', 48' Marquinhos 58', 67'Tashiro 73'Danilo 90+2' |
Report |
| Beijing Guoan | 4–2 | Krung Thai Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Du Wenhui 39', 73' Martínez 51', 75' |
Report | Thansopa 58' Pichitchotirat 63' |
| Kashima Antlers | 1–0 | Beijing Guoan |
|---|---|---|
| Danilo 52' |
Report |
| Krung Thai Bank | 9–1 | Nam Định |
|---|---|---|
| Kone 4', 44', 90+1', 90+2' Thansopa 8', 46', 59'Choeichiu 64'Wongsuparuk 70' |
Report | Trần Đức Dương 64' |
| Beijing Guoan | 1–0 | Kashima Antlers |
|---|---|---|
| Tiago 41' |
Report |
| Nam Định | 2–2 | Krung Thai Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Hoàng Ngọc Linh 2', 47' |
Report | Thansopa 21' Choeichiu 90' |
| Kashima Antlers | 8–1 | Krung Thai Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Iwamasa 19' Koroki 21'Tashiro 45'Nozawa 46', 66'Ogasawara 50'Danilo 74', 83' |
Report | Pichitchotirat 90' |
| Krung Thai Bank | 5–3 | Beijing Guoan |
|---|---|---|
| Thansopa 10', 44', 49', 69' (pen.) Pichitchotirat 27' |
Report | Tiago 67' (pen.), 70', 77' (pen.) |
Attendance: 400
Referee: Fareed Ali Mohamed Al Marzouqi (United Arab Emirates)
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Mohamed Omar Al Saeedi (United Arab Emirates)
Group G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gamba Osaka |
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 14 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Melbourne Victory |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 7 | |
| 3 | Chunnam Dragons |
6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 6 | |
| 4 | Chonburi |
6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 5 |
| Melbourne Victory | 2–0 | Chunnam Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| Muscat 28' (pen.) Vargas 66' |
Report |
| Gamba Osaka | 1–1 | Chonburi |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas 90+4' |
Report | Sunthornpit 59' |
| Chunnam Dragons | 3–4 | Gamba Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| Simões 4' Kim Tae-su 27', 60' (pen.) |
Report | Futagawa 30' Bando 53', 75'Yasuda 58' |
| Chonburi | 3–1 | Melbourne Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Ney Fabiano 45' Baga 79', 90+5' |
Report | Allsopp 57' |
| Chunnam Dragons | 1–0 | Chonburi |
|---|---|---|
| Simões 90' |
Report |
| Melbourne Victory | 3–4 | Gamba Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| Allsopp 4', 65' Vargas 41' |
Report | Futagawa 31' Baré 38'Yamaguchi 68'Lucas 89' |
| Chonburi | 2–2 | Chunnam Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| On-Mo 56' Jinta 88' |
Report | Jeong Jun-yeon 5' Kim Myung-woon 48' |
| Gamba Osaka | 2–0 | Melbourne Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Yamazaki 31', 57' |
Report |
| Chunnam Dragons | 1–1 | Melbourne Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Ko Ki-gu 37' |
Report | Pondeljak 4' |
| Chonburi | 0–2 | Gamba Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Yamazaki 64' Lucas 76' |
| Melbourne Victory | 3–1 | Chonburi |
|---|---|---|
| Muscat 56' Thompson 65'Hernández 77' |
Report | Ney Fabiano 55' |
| Gamba Osaka | 1–1 | Chunnam Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| Futagawa 75' |
Report | Yoo Hong-youl 86' (pen.) |
Knock-out stage
Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||||||
| Al-Karamah
| 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Gamba Osaka
| 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Gamba Osaka
| 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Urawa Red Diamonds
| 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Al Qadisiya
| 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Urawa Red Diamonds
| 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Gamba Osaka
| 3 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||
| Adelaide United
| 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Kashima Antlers
| 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Adelaide United
| 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Adelaide United
| 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Bunyodkor
| 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Saipa
| 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 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. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Karamah |
1–4 | Gamba Osaka |
1–2 | 0–2 |
| Al Qadisiya |
3–4 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
3–2 | 0–2 |
| Saipa |
3–7 | Bunyodkor |
2–2 | 1–5 |
| Kashima Antlers |
1–2 | Adelaide United |
1–1 | 0–1 |
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. | 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
| Gamba Osaka | 3–0 | Adelaide United |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas 37' Endo 43'Yasuda 68' |
Report |
| Adelaide United | 0–2 | Gamba Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas 4', 15' |
Gamba Osaka won 5–0 on aggregate.
Top scorers
The top scorers from the 2008 AFC Champions League are as follows:
Fair Play Award
See also
Notes
- Nam Định played their home matches at Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, as their regular home stadium Thiên Trường Stadium , Nam Định did not meet AFC requirements.
- Chonburi played their home matches at Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, as their regular home stadium Chonburi Municipality Stadium, Chonburi. did not meet AFC requirements.