2021 AFC Champions League knockout stage

The 2021 AFC Champions League knockout stage was played from 13 September to 23 November 2021.[1] A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2021 AFC Champions League.[2]

Qualified teams

The group winners and three best runners-up in the group stage from each region advanced to the round of 16, with both West Region (Groups A–E) and East Region (Groups F–J) having eight qualified teams.

Region Group Winners Runners-up
(best three from each region)
West Region A Tajikistan Football Federation Istiklol Saudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Hilal
B United Arab Emirates Football Association Sharjah Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Tractor
C Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Esteghlal —
D Saudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Nassr —
E Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Persepolis United Arab Emirates Football Association Al-Wahda
East Region F Korea Football Association Ulsan Hyundai Football Association of Thailand BG Pathum United
G Japan Football Association Nagoya Grampus Korea Football Association Pohang Steelers
H Korea Football Association Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors —
I Japan Football Association Kawasaki Frontale Korea Football Association Daegu FC
J Japan Football Association Cerezo Osaka —


Combination table

If two group winners played each other, the group winner marked with * hosted the match.[3]

Format

In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. All ties were played as a single-leg match (Regulations Article 9.1).[4] Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3 and 10.1).[2]

Schedule

The schedule of each round was as follows.[1]

Round Date
Round of 16 13–15 September 2021
Quarter-finals 16–17 October 2021
Semi-finals 19–20 October 2021
Final 23 November 2021

Bracket

The bracket of the knockout stage was determined as follows:

Round Format
Round of 16

Matchups within East region and West region decided by a series of permutations,
based upon the three best runner-ups who qualified

Quarter-finals Matchups decided by a draw
  • QF West 1
  • QF West 2
  • QF East 1
  • QF East 2
Semi-finals
  • SF West: Winners of QF West 1 vs. Winners of QF West 2
  • SF East: Winners of QF East 1 vs. Winners of QF East 2
Final
  • Winners of SF West vs. Winners of SF East


 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
14 September – Sharjah
 
 
United Arab Emirates Sharjah1 (4)
 
16 October – Riyadh (Mrsool)
 
United Arab Emirates Al Wahda (p)1 (5)
 
United Arab Emirates Al Wahda1
 
14 September – Al Rayyan (Qatar)
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr5
 
Saudi Arabia Al Nassr1
 
19 October – Riyadh (Mrsool)
 
Iran Tractor0
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr1
 
14 September – Dushanbe
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal2
 
Tajikistan Istiklol0
 
16 October – Riyadh (Prince)
 
Iran Persepolis1
 
Iran Persepolis0
 
13 September – Dubai (UAE)
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal3
 
Iran Esteghlal0
 
23 November – Riyadh (King)
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal2
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal2
 
15 September – Jeonju
 
South Korea Pohang Steelers0
 
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (p)1 (4)
 
17 October – Jeonju
 
Thailand BG Pathum United1 (2)
 
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2
 
14 September – Ulsan
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai (a.e.t.)3
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai (p)0 (3)
 
20 October – Jeonju
 
Japan Kawasaki Frontale0 (2)
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai1 (4)
 
15 September – Osaka
 
South Korea Pohang Steelers (p)1 (5)
 
Japan Cerezo Osaka0
 
17 October – Jeonju
 
South Korea Pohang Steelers1
 
South Korea Pohang Steelers3
 
14 September – Toyota
 
Japan Nagoya Grampus0
 
Japan Nagoya Grampus4
 
 
South Korea Daegu FC2
 

Round of 16

Summary

The round of 16 was played over one leg, with the matchups determined by the combination tables based on which group runners-up qualified.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Istiklol Tajikistan 0–1 Iran Persepolis
Sharjah United Arab Emirates 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p) 		United Arab Emirates Al-Wahda
Esteghlal Iran 0–2 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia 1–0 Iran Tractor
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p) 		Japan Kawasaki Frontale
Nagoya Grampus Japan 4–2 South Korea Daegu FC
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p) 		Thailand BG Pathum United
Cerezo Osaka Japan 0–1 South Korea Pohang Steelers

West Region

Istiklol Tajikistan Football Federation0–1Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Persepolis
Live Report
Stats Report		 Torabi 90'
Attendance: 17,200
Sharjah United Arab Emirates Football Association1–1 (a.e.t.)United Arab Emirates Football Association Al-Wahda
Bernard 58' Live Report
Stats Report		 Kharbin 56'
Penalties
 4–5
Attendance: 2,100
Esteghlal Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran0–2Saudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Hilal
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Fu Ming (China)
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabian Football Federation1–0Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Tractor
Aboubakar 11' Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kim Dae-yong (South Korea)

East Region

Nagoya Grampus Japan Football Association4–2Korea Football Association Daegu FC
 Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 5,442
Cerezo Osaka Japan Football Association0–1Korea Football Association Pohang Steelers
Live Report
Stats Report		 Lee Seung-mo 25'
Attendance: 3,156

Quarter-finals

Summary

The quarter-finals were played over one leg, with the matchups and home team decided by draw held on 17 September at 15:00 (UTC+8) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates 1–5 Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr
Persepolis Iran 0–3 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors South Korea 2–3 (a.e.t.) South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
Pohang Steelers South Korea 3–0 Japan Nagoya Grampus


West Region

Al-Wahda United Arab Emirates Football Association1–5Saudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Nassr
Matar 90+3' Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 20,477
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
Persepolis Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran0–3Saudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Hilal
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 14,877
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)

East Region

Pohang Steelers Korea Football Association3–0Japan Football Association Nagoya Grampus
 Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 989

Semi-finals

Summary

The semi-finals were played over one leg.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia 1–2 Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p) 		South Korea Pohang Steelers

West Region

Al-Nassr Saudi Arabian Football Federation1–2Saudi Arabian Football Federation Al-Hilal
Talisca 50' Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 23,985

East Region

Final

Main article: 2021 AFC Champions League final

The final was played over a single leg on 23 November. The host was determined on a rotational basis, with the match hosted by team from the West Region in odd-numbered years (Regulations 9.1.2).[2]

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b "AFC Competitions Calendar 2021". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "2021 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  3. ^ "ACL 2021 Draw Mechanism". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 26 January 2021 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Latest update on the AFC Club Competitions in 2021 and 2022". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
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