2008 AFC Champions League
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 12 March - 12 November 2008 | 
| Teams | 29 | 
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Gamba Osaka (1st title) | 
| Runners-up | .svg.png) Adelaide United | 
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 98 | 
| Goals scored | 275 (2.81 per match) | 
| Top scorer(s) |  Nantawat Thansopa (9 goals) | 
| Best player(s) |  Yasuhito Endō | 
| ← 2007  2009 →  | |
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.
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.







 Brown: Group A;
 Brown: Group A;  Red: Group B;
 Red: Group B;  Orange: Group C;
 Orange: Group C;  Yellow: Group D;
 Yellow: Group D;  Pink: Group E;
 Pink: Group E; Green: Group F;
 Green: Group F;  Blue: Group G;
 Blue: Group G;  Cyan: Quarter-finals;
 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 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Ittihad | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 6 | 
| Sepahan  | 0–2 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Ittihad | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Jésus Gomez  21' Al Agha  87' | 
| Al-Ittihad  | 1–0 |  Bunyodkor | 
|---|---|---|
| Magno Alves  80' | Report | 
| Al-Ittihad %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) | 0–1 |  Al-Ittihad | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Magno Alves  78' | 
| Al-Ittihad %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) | 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 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Ittihad | 
|---|---|---|
| Kapadze  29' | Report | 
| Al-Ittihad  | 0–1 |  Sepahan | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Mohammed  70' | 
| Al-Ittihad %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) | 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 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Ittihad | 
|---|---|---|
| Al-Nemri  30', 50' Hazazi  42' | Report | 
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 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) 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 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Karamah | 
|---|---|---|
| Al Thagafi  15' | Report | Al Hamwi  44' | 
| Al-Sadd  | 0–2 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Karamah | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Al Hamwi  69' Jenyat  73' | 
| Al-Karamah %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) | 1–0 |  Al-Sadd | 
|---|---|---|
| Jenyat  78' | Report | 
| Al-Wahda  | 1–0 | %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) Al-Karamah | 
|---|---|---|
| Al Shehhi  90' | Report | 
| Al-Karamah %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) | 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' | 
| Erbil  | 1–5 |  Pakhtakor | 
|---|---|---|
| Sabah  19' | Report | Siamand  38' (o.g.) Kuziboyev  69' Marković  73' Geynrikh  81' Kholmatov  90+3' | 
| 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 | .svg.png) 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 | .svg.png) 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 | .svg.png) Adelaide United | 
|---|---|---|
| Philani  85' | Report | Diego  10' Alagich  78' | 
| Changchun Yatai  | 1–0 |  Pohang Steelers | 
|---|---|---|
| Dah Zadi  86' | Report | 
| Adelaide United .svg.png) | 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 .svg.png) | 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.) | 
| Nam Định  | 0–4 |  Kashima Antlers | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Tashiro  27' Koroki  47' Motoyama  75' Danilo  87' | 
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 | .svg.png) 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 .svg.png) | 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 | .svg.png) Melbourne Victory | 
|---|---|---|
| Ney Fabiano  45' Baga  79', 90+5' | Report | Allsopp  57' | 
| Chunnam Dragons  | 1–0 |  Chonburi | 
|---|---|---|
| Simões  90' | Report | 
| Melbourne Victory .svg.png) | 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 | .svg.png) Melbourne Victory | 
|---|---|---|
| Yamazaki  31', 57' | Report | 
| Chunnam Dragons  | 1–1 | .svg.png) Melbourne Victory | 
|---|---|---|
| Ko Ki-gu  37' | Report | Pondeljak  4' | 
| Chonburi  | 0–2 |  Gamba Osaka | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Yamazaki  64' Lucas  76' | 
| Melbourne Victory .svg.png) | 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 | |||||||||||||||
| %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png) 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 | ||||||||||||||
| .svg.png) Adelaide United | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
|  Kashima Antlers | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| .svg.png) Adelaide United | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| .svg.png) 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 %252C_Flag_of_Syria_(1980%E2%80%932024).svg.png)  | 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 | .svg.png) 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 .svg.png)  | 3–1 |  Bunyodkor | 3–0 | 0–1 | 
 
Final
| Gamba Osaka  | 3–0 | .svg.png) Adelaide United | 
|---|---|---|
| Lucas  37' Endo  43' Yasuda  68' | Report | 
| Adelaide United .svg.png) | 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
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c Chonburi played their home matches at Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, as their regular home stadium Chonburi Municipality Stadium, Chonburi. did not meet AFC requirements.
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