2010 AFC Cup

2010 AFC Cup

Tournament details
Dates	23 February – 6 November 2010
Teams	26+5 (from 17 associations)
Final positions
Champions	Al-Ittihad (1st title)
Runners-up	Al-Qadsia
Tournament statistics
Matches played	111
Goals scored	338 (3.05 per match)
Attendance	782,483 (7,049 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Afonso Alves (9 goals)

The 2010 AFC Cup was the 7th edition of the AFC Cup, playing between clubs from nations who are members of the Asian Football Confederation. As in previous years, Nike provided the official ball for all matches with a new Nike Total 90 Ascente model used throughout the season.

With the Asian Football Confederation currently reviewing the format of the AFC Champions League between 2009 and 2010 season, significant changes were made in the way the competition is run, the teams that will qualify for the AFC Cup is also expected to be from different countries compared to the previous editions.

Qualification

The preliminary qualification scheme for the AFC 2010 was released in 2008.^[1] A total of 33 clubs were due to participate in the 2010 AFC Cup (eventually reduced to 31).

Qualifying play-off (2 teams)

The teams were from the following associations:

• Qatar
• Uzbekistan

However, the qualifying play-off was not needed and both teams advanced automatically in the group stage after FIFA's suspension of the Iraqi Football Association was not lifted by 6 January 2010.

Group stage (32 teams)

• Qualifying play-off winner (eventually not played)
• 2 teams to qualify from each of the following associations:
  • Hong Kong
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Maldives
  • Oman
  • Syria
  • Yemen

Both teams from Iraq were disqualified after FIFA's suspension on the Iraq Football Association was not lifted on 6 January 2010.

• 1 team to qualify from each of the following associations:
  • Bahrain
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
• 6 losers from 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs (including any of the 2009 AFC Cup finalists which fail to fulfil the criteria set by AFC to compete in the 2010 AFC Champions League, and thus directly enter the 2010 AFC Cup)

Notes

• Three teams from elite countries have been given a chance to take part in the 2010 AFC Cup competition, therefore a qualiyfing play-off match has been added to the calendar (eventually not played).
• For the second time in its history, teams from Kuwait will join the AFC Cup fray. Syrian clubs again reappear in the competition after winning the inaugural edition (Al Jaish) in 2004.
• A Qatari team will participate in the tournament for the first time.

Qualifying teams

The following is the list of participants confirmed by the AFC.^[2]

West Asia (Groups A–E) Team Qualifying method App Last App Al-Riffa 2008–09 Bahrain Classification Soccer League runners-up 1st Kingfisher East Bengal 2009–10 Indian Federation Cup winners 4th 2008 Al-Wahdat 2008–09 Jordan League champions 2008–09 Jordan FA Cup winners 5th 2009 Shabab Al-Ordon 2008–09 Jordan League runners-up 3rd 2008 Al-Kuwait^1 2009 AFC Cup winners 2009 Kuwait Emir Cup winners 2nd 2009 Al-Qadsia 2008–09 Kuwaiti Premier League champions 1st Kazma 2008–09 Kuwaiti Premier League runners-up 1st Al-Nejmeh 2008–09 Lebanese Premier League champions 5th 2007 Al-Ahed 2008–09 Lebanese FA Cup winners 4th 2009 Al-Nahda 2008–09 Omani League champions 2nd 2008 Saham 2009 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners 1st Al-Rayyan^2 2008–09 Qatar Stars League 3rd place 1st Al-Ittihad 2008–09 Syrian Premier League runners-up 1st Al-Jaish 2008–09 Syrian Premier League 3rd place 2nd 2004 Nasaf Qarshi^2 2009 Uzbek League 3rd place 1st Al-Hilal 2008–09 Yemeni League champions 4th 2009 Al-Ahli 2009 Yemeni President Cup winners 2nd 2008 Al-Karamah SC 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers 2nd 2009 Churchill Brothers 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers 1st

East Asia (Groups F–H) Team Qualifying method App Last App South China 2008–09 Hong Kong First Division League champions 3rd 2009 NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po 2009 Hong Kong FA Cup winners 1st Persiwa Wamena^3 2008–09 Indonesia Super League runners-up 1st Selangor 2009 Super League Malaysia champions 2nd 2006 VB Sports Club 2009 Dhivehi League champions 2nd 2009 Victory SC 2009 Maldives FA Cup winners 3rd 2008 Geylang United 2009 Singapore Cup winners 2nd 2004 Thai Port 2009 Thai FA Cup winners 1st Bình Dương 2009 V-League runners-up 2nd 2009 Sriwijaya FC 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers 1st SHB Đà Nẵng 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers 1st Muangthong United 2010 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers 1st

¹ Al-Kuwait failed to fulfil the criteria set by AFC to compete in the 2010 AFC Champions League, and so directly enter the 2010 AFC Cup.^[3]

² Nasaf Qarshi were due to host Al-Rayyan in the qualifying play-off, with the winner advancing to the group stage (Group E). However, both teams advanced automatically to the group stage after the two teams from Iraq, Arbil (Group C) and Najaf (Group B), were disqualified after FIFA's suspension on the Iraq Football Association was not lifted on 6 January 2010.^[4] As a result, the tournament was reduced to 31 teams.

³ Negeri Sembilan FA (second representative of Malaysia) withdrew, and was replaced by Persiwa Wamena.

Schedule

The 2010 AFC Cup will have the same format as the 2009 AFC Cup.

Date[5] Event 7 December Draw for qualifying play-off and group stage 23 January Qualifying play-off (eventually not played) 8 February Draw for ACL play-off losers in group stage[6] 23–24 February Group stage Matchday 1 16–17 March Group stage Matchday 2 23–24 March Group stage Matchday 3 6–7 April Group stage Matchday 4 20–21 April Group stage Matchday 5

Date Event 27–28 April Group stage Matchday 6 11–12 May Round of 16 25 May Draw for remaining rounds[7] 14 September Quarter-finals 1st leg 21 September Quarter-finals 2nd leg 5 October Semi-finals 1st leg 19 October Semi-finals 2nd leg 6 November Final

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 7 December 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.^[8] The ACL play-off losers were placed in their groups on 8 February 2010.^[9]

Each club plays double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs receive 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked according to points and tie breakers are in following order:

1. Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply)
3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply)
4. Goal difference in all the group matches;
5. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
6. Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
7. Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches; (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for each direct red card, 4 points for each yellow card followed by a direct red card)
8. Drawing of lots.

Winners and runners-up of each group will qualify for the next round.

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Al-Karamah 6 4 2 0 12 4 +8 14 Shabab Al-Ordon 6 3 3 0 13 5 +8 12 Saham 6 1 2 3 5 11 −6 5 Al-Ahli 6 0 1 5 3 13 −10 1

AHL KAR SAH SHA Al-Ahli 0–1 2–2 0–1 Al-Karamah 2–0 2–0 1–1 Saham 1–0 1–4 0–0 Shabab Al-Ordon 6–1 2–2 3–1

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Al-Kuwait 4 2 2 0 13 5 +8 8 Churchill Brothers 4 2 1 1 6 10 −4 7 Al-Hilal 4 0 1 3 3 7 −4 1

HIL KUW CHU Al-Hilal 0–2 1–2 Al-Kuwait 2–2 7–1 Churchill Brothers 1–0 2–2

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Kazma 6 4 1 1 6 3 +3 13 Nasaf Qarshi 6 3 2 1 12 4 +8 11 Al-Jaish 6 2 2 2 10 8 +2 8 Al-Ahed 6 0 1 5 5 18 −13 1

AHE JAI KAZ NAS Al-Ahed 1–1 1–2 0–4 Al-Jaish 6–3 0–1 1–1 Kazma 1–0 0–1 0–0 Nasaf Qarshi 4–0 2–1 1–2

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Al-Qadsia 6 4 2 0 14 5 +9 14 Al-Ittihad 6 3 1 2 10 8 +2 10 Al-Nejmeh 6 3 1 2 12 8 +4 10 Kingfisher East Bengal 6 0 0 6 5 20 −15 0

ITT NEJ QAD EB Al-Ittihad 4–2 0–0 2–1 Al-Nejmeh 1–0 1–3 3–0 Al-Qadsia 3–0 1–1 4–1 Kingfisher East Bengal 1–4 0–4 2–3

Group E

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Al-Rayyan 6 5 0 1 16 7 +9 15 Al-Riffa 6 4 1 1 7 5 +2 13 Al-Wihdat 6 2 1 3 8 10 −2 7 Al-Nahda 6 0 0 6 3 12 −9 0

NAH RAY RIF WAH Al-Nahda 0–2 0–1 1–3 Al-Rayyan 3–2 0–2 3–0 Al-Riffa 1–0 1–4 2–1 Al-Wahdat 2–0 2–4 0–0

Group F

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Sriwijaya 6 4 1 1 17 3 +14 13 Bình Dương 6 4 1 1 14 2 +12 13 Selangor 6 1 1 4 7 16 −9 4 Victory SC 6 1 1 4 2 19 −17 4

BD SEL SRI VIC Bình Dương 4–0 2–1 3–0 Selangor 0–0 0–4 5–0 Sriwijaya 1–0 6–1 5–0 Victory SC 0–5 2–1 0–0

Group G

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts South China 6 4 1 1 12 5 +7 13 Muangthong United 6 3 2 1 12 7 +5 11 VB Sports Club 6 3 0 3 12 11 +1 9 Persiwa Wamena 6 0 1 5 8 21 −13 1

MTU WAM SC VB Muangthong United 4–1 0–1 3–1 Persiwa Wamena 2–2 0–2 2–3 South China 0–0 6–3 3–1 VB Sports Club 2–3 4–0 1–0

Group H

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts SHB Đà Nẵng 6 4 2 0 12 6 +6 14 Thai Port 6 3 2 1 8 5 +3 11 Geylang United 6 0 4 2 7 9 −2 4 NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po 6 0 2 4 3 10 −7 2

GEY TAI DN TP Geylang United 1–1 1–1 0–1 NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po 1–1 1–2 0–1 SHB Đà Nẵng 3–2 3–0 0–0 Thai Port 2–2 2–0 2–3

Knockout stage

Round of 16

The matches were played on 11 and 12 May 2010.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Al-Karamah	1–0	Nasaf Qarshi
Kazma	1–1 (aet) (6–5 p)	Shabab Al-Ordon
Al-Rayyan	1–1 (aet) (2–4 p)	Muangthong United
South China	1–3	Al-Riffa
Al-Kuwait	1–1 (aet) (4–5 p)	Al-Ittihad
Al-Qadsia	2–1	Churchill Brothers
Sriwijaya	1–4	Thai Port
SHB Đà Nẵng	4–3 (aet)	Bình Dương

Quarter-finals

The draw for the remaining rounds was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 25 May 2010.^[10] Because of the country protection rule, if there are two clubs from the same country, they will not face each other in the quarter-finals. Therefore, the two clubs from Syria, Kuwait, and Thailand may not be drawn with each other in the quarter-finals.^[11]

The first legs were played on 14 and 15 September, and the second legs were played on 21 and 22 September 2010.

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Al-Riffa	8–3	SHB Đà Nẵng	3–0	5–3
Al-Karamah	1–2	Muangthong United	1–0	0–2
Thai Port	0–3	Al-Qadsia	0–0	0–3
Al-Ittihad	4–2	Kazma	3–2	1–0

Semi-finals

The first legs were played on 5 October, and the second legs were played on 19 October 2010.

Team 1	Agg.	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Muangthong United	1–2	Al-Ittihad	1–0	0–2
Al-Riffa	3–4	Al-Qadsia	2–0	1–4

Final

The final will be played on 6 November 2010. It is a one-leg match originally set to be played at the host stadium of one of the finalists, but was changed to a larger capacity stadium one week before the final.^[12]

Al-Qadsia v Al-Ittihad

6 November 2010 19:00 (UTC+3)

Al-Qadsia	1 – 1 (a.e.t.)	Al-Ittihad
Al Enezi  29'	Report	Dyab  53'
	Penalties
(penalty takers may not be in correct order) Al Ansari Al Bloushi Al Khatib Al Mejmed	2–4	(penalty takers may not be in correct order) Hemidi Dyab Dakka Kalaji

Jaber International Stadium, Kuwait City Attendance: 58,604 Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)

AFC Cup 2010 Winners
Al-Ittihad First Title

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Club	MD1	MD2	MD3	MD4	MD5	MD6	R16	QF1	QF2	SF1	SF2	F	Total
1	Afonso Alves	Al-Rayyan	3	2		2	1		1						9
2	Gastón Merlo	Đà Nẵng	1	1				1	2		3				8
3	Fábio César Montezine	Al-Rayyan	1			2	2	2							7
	Huỳnh Kesley Alves	Bình Dương		1			3	2	1						7
	Bader Al-Mutwa	Al Qadsia			2	1	1	1			1		1		7
5	Khaled Al-Azemi	Al Kuwait					2	4							6
7	Leonardo Ferreira da Silva	South China			2	1		2							5
	Keith Gumbs	Sriwijaya		2	1			2							5
	Ali Ashfaq	VB Sports Club	1	1	1		1	1							5
	Anoure Obiora	Sriwijaya					3	1	1						5
	Abdulrahman Mubarak	Al-Riffa		1			1		1		1	1			5

References

1. AFC PRO-LEAGUE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ASSESSMENT CHARTS
2. Strong field for 2010 AFC Cup
3. Karamah vying for ACL 2010 play-off glory
4. AFC disqualifies Iraq clubs from AFC Cup
5. Al Rayyan, Nasaf and Persiwa in AFC Cup 2010
6. AFC Cup: Vacant slots to be filled up on Monday
7. & AFC Cup knockout stage draw
8. Preliminary picture cloudy for AFC Cup champions
9. ‘Double Match System’ determines final AFC Cup grouping
10. Tough Thai test for Al Karamah
11. Open ACL draw for Koreans; Saudis separated
12. AFC Cup final venue changed

External links

• AFC Cup Official Page (English)