2015 AFC Champions League

34th edition of premier club football tournament organized by the AFC AFC Champions League 2015 4 February – 21 November 2015 49 21 CHN Guangzhou Evergrande 2 UAE Al-Ahli 126 334 Ricardo Goulart (8 goals) Ricardo Goulart 2014 2016 The 2015 AFC Champions League was the 34th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 13th under the current AFC Champions League title. Guangzhou Evergrande won the tournament after defeating Al-Ahli in the final. Guangzhou also qualified for the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup.http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/acl_2015_competition_regulations_final.pdf AFC Champions League 2015 Competition Regulations AFC Western Sydney Wanderers were the defending champions, but they were eliminated in the group stage. Association team allocation The AFC Competitions Committee proposed a revamp of the AFC club competitions on 25 January 2014,http://www.the-afc.com/competitions-division/revamp-of-afc-competitions Revamp of AFC competitions AFC 25 January 2014 which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee on 16 April 2014.http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals AFC 16 April 2014 The member associations are ranked based on their national team's and clubs' performance over the last four years in AFC competitions, with the allocation of slots for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the AFC club competitions determined by the 2014 rankings:http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/rankings/afc_ma_rankings_03_11_2014.pdf AFC MA Ranking as at 3 November 2014 AFC The top 24 member associations (MAs) as per the AFC rankings are eligible to receive direct slots in the AFC Champions League, as long as they fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria. In both the East and West zones, there are a total of 12 direct slots in the group stage, with the 4 remaining slots filled through play-offs. The top six MAs in both the East and West zones get direct slots in the group stage, while the remaining MAs get play-off slots: The first- and second-ranked MAs each get three direct slots and one play-off slot. The third- and fourth-ranked MAs each get two direct slots and two play-off slots. The fifth-ranked MAs each get one direct slot and two play-off slots. The sixth-ranked MAs each get one direct slot and one play-off slot. The seventh- to twelfth-ranked MAs each get one play-off slot. The maximum number of slots for each MA is one-third of the total number of clubs in the top division (e.g., Australia can only get a maximum of three total slots as there are only nine Australia-based clubs in the A-League). The AFC Competitions Committee finalised the slot allocation for the 2015 and 2016 editions of the AFC Champions League based on the criteria, including AFC's MA rankings and the implementation of club licensing regulations, on 28 November 2014.http://www.the-afc.com/standing-committee/afc-competitions-committee-meeting AFC Competitions Committee meeting AFC 28 November 2014http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2014/afc-champions-league-slots-allocated-for-2015-2016 AFC Champions League slots allocated for 2015-2016 AFC 4 December 2014http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/slot_allocation_for_ACL_2015.pdf Slot allocation for ACL 2015 - 2016 AFC Participation for 2015 AFC Champions LeagueFulfills participation criteriaDoes not fulfill participation criteria +West ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-offZoneAllPlay-offroundPrelim.round 2 1 2KSA Saudi Arabia88.268310 2 3IRN Iran80.794310 3 5UZB Uzbekistan62.272310 4 7UAE United Arab Emirates57.792220 5 9QAT Qatar56.103102 610IRQ IraqA 147.106000 711KUW Kuwait45.423001 812JOR Jordan44.309001 914OMA Oman30.5860011016BHR Bahrain25.5470011117LIB LebanonA 225.0430001219SYR 1980 SyriaA 322.883000Total125611 +East ZoneRankMemberAssociationPointsSlotsGroupstagePlay-offZoneAllPlay-offroundPrelim.round 2Prelim.round 1 1 1KOR South Korea94.8663100 2 4JPN Japan77.1073100 3 6AUS Australia57.9402100 4 8CHN China57.6602110 513THA Thailand33.0491020 615VIE Vietnam27.7531010 718IDN Indonesia25.0040010 820HKG Hong Kong20.0770010 921MYA Myanmar18.94900011022MAS Malaysia18.15300011123IND India16.75600011224SIN Singapore16.0970001Total1246414 Notes A 3 Iraq (2 play-off slots), Lebanon and Syria (1 play-off slot each) were allocated slots for the 2015 and 2016 AFC Champions League, but were not allowed to participate in the 2015 AFC Champions League as none of their teams passed the club licensing requirements for 2015. Teams The following 49 teams from 21 associations entered the competition.http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2014/afc-champions-league-2015-the-contenders AFC Champions League 2015: The contenders.... AFC 10 December 2014 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 ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Groups A–D)KSA Al-Nassr2013–14 Saudi Professional League champions2nd2011KSA Al-Shabab2014 King Cup of Champions winners9th2014KSA Al-Hilal2013–14 Saudi Professional League runners-up11th2014IRN Foolad2013–14 Iran Pro League champions3rd2014IRN Tractor2013–14 Hazfi Cup winners3rd2014IRN Pirozi2013–14 Iran Pro League runners-up5th2012UZB Pakhtakor2014 Uzbek League champions12th2013UZB Lokomotiv Tashkent2014 Uzbekistan Cup winners2014 Uzbek League runners-up3rd2014UZB Nasaf Qarshi2014 Uzbek League 3rd place3rd2014UAE Al-Ahli2013–14 Arabian Gulf League champions6th2014UAE Al-Ain2013–14 UAE President's Cup winners10th2014QAT Lekhwiya2013–14 Qatar Stars League champions4th2014Qualifying play-off participantsEntering in play-off roundKSA Al-Ahli2013–14 Saudi Professional League 3rd place7th2013IRN Naft Tehran2013–14 Iran Pro League 3rd place1stnoneUZB Bunyodkor2014 Uzbek League 4th place8th2014UAE Al-Wahda2013–14 Arabian Gulf League runners-up7th2011UAE Al-Jazira2013–14 Arabian Gulf League 3rd place7th2014Entering in preliminary round 2QAT Al-Sadd2014 Emir of Qatar Cup winners10th2014QAT El Jaish2013–14 Qatar Stars League runners-up3rd2014KUW Al-Qadsia2013–14 Kuwaiti Premier League champions5th2014JOR Al-Wehdat2013–14 Jordan League champions2nd2002–03OMA Al-Nahda2013–14 Oman Professional League champions1stnoneBHR Riffa2013–14 Bahrain First Division League champions3rd2004 +East ZoneTeamQualifying methodAppLast AppGroup stage direct entrants (Groups E–H)KOR Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2014 K League Classic champions9th2014KOR Seongnam FC2014 Korean FA Cup winners6th2012KOR Suwon Samsung Bluewings2014 K League Classic runners-up6th2013JPN Gamba Osaka2014 J.League Division 1 champions and 2014 Emperor's Cup winners7th2012JPN Urawa Red Diamonds2014 J.League Division 1 runners-up4th2013JPN Kashima Antlers2014 J.League Division 1 3rd place6th2011AUS Brisbane Roar2013–14 A-League and 2014 A-League Grand Final winners3rd2013AUS Western Sydney WanderersTH2013–14 A-League regular season runners-up2nd2014CHN Guangzhou Evergrande2014 Chinese Super League champions4th2014CHN Shandong Luneng Taishan2014 Chinese FA Cup winners7th2014THA Buriram United2014 Thai Premier League champions5th2014VIE Becamex Bình Dương2014 V.League 1 champions2nd2008Qualifying play-off participantsEntering in play-off roundKOR FC Seoul2014 K League Classic 3rd place5th2014JPN Kashiwa Reysol2014 J.League Division 1 4th place3rd2013AUS Central Coast Mariners2013–14 A-League regular season 3rd place5th2014CHN Beijing Guoan2014 Chinese Super League runners-up7th2014Entering in preliminary round 2CHN Guangzhou R&F2014 Chinese Super League 3rd place1stnoneTHA Bangkok Glass2014 Thai FA Cup winners1stnoneTHA Chonburi2014 Thai Premier League runners-up4th2014VIE Hà Nội T&T2014 V.League 1 runners-upNote VIE2nd2014IDN Persib Bandung2014 Indonesia Super League champions1stnoneHKG Kitchee2013–14 Hong Kong First Division League champions1stnoneEntering in preliminary round 1MYA Yadanarbon2014 Myanmar National League champions1stnoneMAS Johor Darul Ta'zim2014 Malaysia Super League champions1stnoneIND Bengaluru FC2013–14 I-League champions1stnoneSIN Warriors2014 S.League champions3rd2010 Notes disc Note VIE Vietnam (VIE): Hà Nội T&T entered the AFC Champions League instead of Hải Phòng, the 2014 Vietnamese Cup winners, as Hải Phòng did not pass the club licensing requirements.http://www.vff.org.vn/vi/tin-tuc-vff-12/chinh-thuc-b-binh-duong-va-ha-noi-t-t-tham-du-afc-champions-league-2015-23746.html CHÍNH THỨC: B.Bình Dương và Hà Nội T&T tham dự AFC Champions League 2015 Vietnam Football Federation 30 November 2014 vi 1 December 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141205141153/http://www.vff.org.vn/vi/tin-tuc-vff-12/chinh-thuc-b-binh-duong-va-ha-noi-t-t-tham-du-afc-champions-league-2015-23746.html 5 December 2014 dead AFC 1000 left Location of teams of the 2015 AFC Champions League.8px West Zone8px East Zone(p) Qualifying play-off participants AFC 24.78842 46.839159 70 Al-NassrAl-ShababAl-Hilal Red pog.svg left AFC 21.55029 39.139765 70 Al-Ahli (p) Red pog.svg bottom AFC 31.384179 48.635981 70 Foolad Red pog.svg right AFC 38.026847 46.296279 70 Tractor Red pog.svg right AFC 35.724366 51.275597 70 PersepolisNaft Tehran (p) Red pog.svg right AFC 41.279806 69.212537 70 PakhtakorLokomotivBunyodkor (p) Red pog.svg top AFC 38.83830 65.81388 70 Nasaf Red pog.svg top AFC 25.279694 55.360569 70 Al-Ahli Red pog.svg top AFC 24.245047 55.717067 70 Al-Ain Red pog.svg right AFC 24.452756 54.392109 70 Al-Wahda (p)Al-Jazira (p) Red pog.svg bottom AFC 25.25 51.25 70 Qatar Red pog.svg bottom AFC 10 55 70 Teams from Qatar:LekhwiyaAl-Sadd (p)El Jaish (p) TransparentPlaceholder.png bottom AFC 29.366 47.978 70 Al-Qadsia (p) Red pog.svg left AFC 32.083333 36.1 70 Al-Wehdat (p) Red pog.svg right AFC 24.25 55.75 70 Al-Nahda (p) Red pog.svg right AFC 26.13 50.555 70 Riffa (p) Red pog.svg top AFC 35.868021 127.064406 70 Jeonbuk HM Green pog.svg left AFC 37.410127 127.121344 70 Seongnam FC Green pog.svg right AFC 37.286278 127.036889 70 Suwon SB Green pog.svg left AFC 37.568188 126.897197 70 FC Seoul (p) Green pog.svg top AFC 34.614111 135.518568 70 G Osaka Green pog.svg top AFC 35.903142 139.717492 70 Urawa RD Green pog.svg top AFC 35.991744 140.640525 70 Kashima A Green pog.svg right AFC 35.8485 139.975149 70 Kashiwa R (p) Green pog.svg bottom AFC -27.464722 153.009444 70 Brisbane R Green pog.svg left AFC -33.808178 150.999645 70 WS Wanderers Green pog.svg left AFC -33.428334 151.338097 70 Central Coast M (p) Green pog.svg top AFC 23.140439 113.319297 70 Guangzhou EGuangzhou R&F (p) Green pog.svg top AFC 36.656163 117.110224 70 Shandong LT Green pog.svg left AFC 39.929517 116.441045 70 Beijing G (p) Green pog.svg left AFC 14.994167 103.102222 70 Buriram U Green pog.svg right AFC 14.000241 100.679351 70 Bangkok G (p) Green pog.svg left AFC 13.364444 100.976389 70 Chonburi (p) Green pog.svg right AFC 10.966667 106.65 70 B Bình Dương Green pog.svg right AFC 21.033333 105.85 70 Hà Nội T&T (p) Green pog.svg bottom AFC -6.910536 107.619402 70 Persib Bandung (p) Green pog.svg bottom AFC 22.27350 114.18815 70 Kitchee (p) Green pog.svg bottom AFC 21.983333 96.1 70 Yadanarbon (p) Green pog.svg bottom AFC 1.765589 103.639526 70 Johor DT (p) Green pog.svg top AFC 12.966666 77.566666 70 Bengaluru FC (p) Green pog.svg right AFC 1.309845 103.763015 70 Warriors (p) Green pog.svg right Schedule The schedule of the competition was as follows (all draws were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/afc/files/afc_competitions_calendar_2015.pdf AFC AFC Calendar of Competitions 2015 StageRoundDraw dateFirst legSecond legPreliminary stagePreliminary round 1No draw4 February 2015Preliminary round 210 February 2015Play-off stagePlay-off round17 February 2015Group stageMatchday 111 December 2014http://newtr.tv/?p=1385 The Official Draw of the AFC Champions League 2015 NewTR.tv 11 December 201424–25 February 2015Matchday 23–4 March 2015Matchday 317–18 March 2015Matchday 47–8 April 2015Matchday 521–22 April 2015Matchday 65–6 May 2015Knockout stageRound of 1619–20 May 201526–27 May 2015Quarter-finals18 June 2015http://newtr.tv/?p=1861 The Official Draw for the AFC Champions League & AFC Cup 2015 NewTR.tv 18 June 201525–26 August 201515–16 September 2015Semi-finals29–30 September 201520–21 October 2015Final7 November 201521 November 2015 Qualifying play-off 2015 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off The bracket for the qualifying play-off, which consisted of three rounds (preliminary round 1, preliminary round 2, and play-off round), was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team.http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/afc-champions-league-2015-draw AFC Champions League 2015 Draw AFC 12 December 2014 Each tie was played as a single match, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. The winners of each tie in the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 24 automatic qualifiers. All losers in each round which were from associations with only play-off slots entered the 2015 AFC Cup group stage. Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round Play-off round Group stage 2015 AFC Champions League group stage The draw for the group stage was held on 11 December 2014. The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group. Each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the round of 16. Tiebreakers The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned; Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; Greater number of away goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; If, after applying criteria 1 to 4, teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 4 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6 to 10 apply; Goal difference in all the group matches; Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches; Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play; Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card); Team who belongs to the member association with the higher AFC ranking. Group A Group A no_hide_class_rules Group B Group B no_hide_class_rules Group C Group C no_hide_class_rules Group D Group D no_hide_class_rules Group E Group E no_hide_class_rules Group F Group F no_hide_class_rules Group G Group G no_hide_class_rules Group H Group H no_hide_class_rules Knockout stage 2015 AFC Champions League knockout stage In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split between the two zones until the final. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time (away goals do not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary. Bracket Bracket Round of 16 In the round of 16, the winners of one group played the runners-up of another group in the same zone, with the group winners hosting the second leg. Round of 16 Quarter-finals The draw for the quarter-finals was held on 18 June 2015. Teams from different zones could not be drawn into the same tie, and there was no seeding or country protection, so teams from the same association could be drawn into the same tie.http://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/al-hilal-to-face-lekhwiya-in-acl-quarter-finals Al Hilal to face Lekhwiya in ACL quarter-finals AFC 18 June 2015 Quarter-finals Semi-finals In the semi-finals, the matchups were determined by the quarter-final draw. Semi-finals Final 2015 AFC Champions League Final In the final, the finalist from the West Zone hosted the first leg, while the finalist from the East Zone hosted the second leg (no draw was held to determine the order of legs, as it was reversed from the previous season's final). Final Awards AwardPlayerTeamMost Valuable Playerhttp://www.the-afc.com/afc-champions-league-2015/hotshot-goulart-adds-awards-to-acl-title-success Hotshot Goulart adds awards to ACL title success AFC 22 November 2015BRA Ricardo GoulartCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeTop GoalscorerBRA Ricardo GoulartCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeFair Play Award—CHN Guangzhou Evergrande Dream team The AFC selected the following 11 players as 2015 AFC Champions League dream team.https://www.facebook.com/theafccl/photos/a.228540597215839.49977.152840578119175/923396944396864/?type=3&theater ACL2015 Dream Team AFC Champions League 23 November 2015 23 November 2015 Pos. PositionPlayerTeamGK GoalkeeperJPN Masaaki HigashiguchiJPN Gamba OsakaDF DefenderCHN Zhang LinpengCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeKOR Kwon Kyung-wonUAE Al-AhliKOR Kim Young-gwonCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeKSA Yasser Al-ShahraniKSA Al-HilalMF MidfielderCHN Huang BowenCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeCHN Zheng ZhiCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeUAE Majed HassanUAE Al-AhliFW ForwardUAE Ahmed KhalilUAE Al-AhliBRA ElkesonCHN Guangzhou EvergrandeBRA Ricardo GoulartCHN Guangzhou Evergrande Top scorers RankPlayerTeamMD1 Group stage Matchday 1MD2 Group stage Matchday 2MD3 Group stage Matchday 3MD4 Group stage Matchday 4MD5 Group stage Matchday 5MD6 Group stage Matchday 62R1 Round of 16 1st leg2R2 Round of 16 2nd legQF1 Quarter-finals 1st legQF2 Quarter-finals 2nd legSF1 Semi-finals 1st legSF2 Semi-finals 2nd legF1 Final 1st legF2 Final 2nd legTotal1BRA Ricardo GoulartCHN Guangzhou Evergrande132 2 82CHN Yang XuCHN Shandong Luneng Taishan21 12 6UAE Ahmed KhalilUAE Al-Ahli1 2 2 1 64TUN Youssef MsakniQAT Lekhwiya 11111 5Ba'athist Syria Omar Al SomaKSA Al-Ahli 1 2 2 5GHA Asamoah GyanUAE Al-Ain 1 11 2 57BRA PatricJPN Gamba Osaka 2 1 1 4JPN Takashi UsamiJPN Gamba Osaka 112 4JPN Masato KudoJPN Kashiwa Reysol 2 1 1 4KOR Lee Dong-gookKOR Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2 2 4BRA Carlos EduardoKSA Al-Hilal 21 1 4BRA DiogoTHA Buriram United 13 4BRA LimaUAE Al-Ahli 1111 4BRA Everton RibeiroUAE Al-Ahli 111 1 4 Note: Goals scored in qualifying play-off not counted when determining top scorer (see regulations, Article 77.4).http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?&view=ajax&show=mod_topScorer&stageid=351&disp=all Top Goal Scorers (by Stage) – 2015 AFC Champions League Playoff AFC.com Source: the-AFC.comhttp://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?&view=ajax&show=mod_topScorer&stageid=352&disp=all Top Goal Scorers (by Stage) – 2015 AFC Champions League Group Stage AFC.comhttp://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?&view=ajax&show=mod_topScorer&stageid=366&disp=all Top Goal Scorers (by Stage) – 2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16 AFC.comhttp://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?&view=ajax&show=mod_topScorer&stageid=376&disp=all Top Goal Scorers (by Stage) – 2015 AFC Champions League Knockout Stage AFC.com See also 2015 AFC Cup 2015 FIFA Club World Cup References 2 External links AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com 2015 1