The 2007 AFC Champions League was the 26th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 5th edition under the current AFC Champions League title.
Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds became champions for the first time, beating Sepahan of Iran and becoming the fourth Japanese club to win the Asian championship, and qualified for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup.
Format Group Stage A total of 28 clubs were divided into 7 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 fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts 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 Differential between the clubs in question Points earned within the group Goal Differential within the group Goals For within the group
The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.
Knockout Round All eight clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were conducted in 2 legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the match winner. If the aggregate score couldn't produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where "away goals rule" still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.
Participating clubs After their admission into the AFC, Australia were granted two entries. Because of this, both Thailand and Vietnam were restricted to entering just one club, with a second club from each country playing in the AFC Cup.
West AsiaEast AsiaQuarter-finalsTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsDefending championsGroup StageTeamQualifying methodTeamQualifying method 2005–06 Iran Pro League champions Adelaide United2005–06 A-League premiers Sepahan2005–06 Hazfi Cup winners Sydney FC2006 A-League Grand Final winners Al-Zawraa2005–06 Iraqi Premier League champions Shandong Luneng Taishan2006 Chinese Super League champions &2006 Chinese FA Cup winners Al-Najaf2005–06 Iraqi Premier League runners-up Shanghai Shenhua2006 Chinese Super League runners-up Kuwait SC2005–06 Kuwaiti Premier League champions Persik Kediri 2006 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions Al-Arabi2006 Kuwait Emir Cup winners Arema Malang2006 Copa Indonesia winners Al Sadd2005–06 Qatar Stars League champions Urawa Red Diamonds2006 J.League Division 1 champions &2006 Emperor's Cup winners Al-Rayyan2005–06 Emir of Qatar Cup winners Kawasaki Frontale2006 J.League Division 1 runners-up Al Shabab2005–06 Saudi Premier League champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma2006 K League champions Al Hilal2005–06 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners Chunnam Dragons2006 Korean FA Cup winners Al-Karamah2005–06 Syrian Premier League champions Bangkok University FC2006 Thailand Premier League champions Al-Ittihad2005–06 Syrian Cup winners Gach Dong Tam Long An2006 V-League winners Al Wahda2005–06 UAE Football League runners-up Al Ain2005–06 UAE President's Cup winners Pakhtakor2006 Uzbek League champions &2006 Uzbekistan Cup winners Neftchi Fergana2006 Uzbek League runners-up Notes
Group stage The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur on 22 December, allocating teams into seven groups. In February, the AFC disqualified Esteghlal Tehran from Group B for failing to register their players in time.
Group matches were scheduled to be played over match days on 7 March 21 March 11 April 25 April 9 and 23 May 2007.
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Knock-out stage Bracket
Quarter-finals
First leg
Second leg
Sepahan progress 5–4 on penalties after 0–0 aggregate score
Al-Wahda progress on away goals rule with 1–1 aggregate score
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma progress 4–1 on aggregate
Urawa Red Diamonds progress 4–1 on aggregate
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Urawa Red Diamonds progress 5–3 on penalties after 4–4 aggregate score
Sepahan progress 3–1 on aggregate
Final
First leg
Second leg
Urawa Red Diamonds win 3–1 on aggregate
Top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Mota Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 7 2 Kim Dong-hyun Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 5 Mehdi Seyed Salehi Sepahan 4 Rodrigão Al-Hilal 4 Firas Al Khatib Al-Arabi Saeed Mohsen Najaf FC Steve Corica Sydney FC Travis Dodd Adelaide United Robson Ponte Urawa Red Diamonds 10 Magnum Kawasaki Frontale 3 Juninho Kawasaki Frontale Kengo Nakamura Kawasaki Frontale Wang Yongpo Shandong Luneng Taishan Li Jinyu Shandong Luneng Taishan Emad Mohammed Sepahan Mahmoud Karimi Sepahan Mamadou Bagayoko Al-Wahda Waleed Al-Gizani Al-Shabab Diego Alonso Shanghai Shenhua Fernando Adelaide United Iyad Mando Al-Karamah Senghor Koupouleni Al-Karamah Tatsuya Tanaka Urawa Red Diamonds Yuichiro Nagai Urawa Red Diamonds Yuki Abe Urawa Red Diamonds Choi Sung-Kuk Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
See also 2007 FIFA Club World Cup
External links AFC Champions League Official Page (English) AFC Calendar of Events 2007 Champions League 2007, Group Stage Draw from official site. Champions League 2007, Knockout Stage Draw from official site.
References