2011 AFC Champions League#Group stage

The AFC approved criteria for participation in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf |publisher=AFC |title=Criteria for Participation in AFC Club Competitions for 2011–2012 seasons |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818173523/http://www.the-afc.com/uploads/Documents/regulation/clubcriteria.pdf |archive-date=18 August 2012 }} The final decision date was set after the Executive Committee meeting in November 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/26192-12-mas-keen-to-join-acl|publisher=AFC|title=12 MAs keen to join ACL|date=30 November 2009}}

On 30 November 2009, the AFC announced 12 more MA's that were keen to join the ACL, in addition to ten participating national associations. Singapore later withdrew. The full list of candidate associations were as follows:

;East Asia

• Already participating: {{flagicon|Australia}} Australia, {{flagicon|China}} China PR, {{flagicon|Indonesia}} Indonesia, {{flagicon|Japan}} Japan, {{flagicon|Korea Republic}} Korea Republic
• Keen to participate: {{flagicon|Malaysia}} Malaysia, {{flagicon|Myanmar}} Myanmar, {{flagicon|Thailand}} Thailand
• Withdrew: {{flagicon|Singapore}} Singapore{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/30653-singapore-seek-to-pull-out-of-acl|publisher=AFC|title=Singapore seek to pull out of ACL|date=4 October 2010}}
• Disqualified: {{flagicon|Vietnam}} Vietnam{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31468-acl-slots-maintained |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912190924/http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31468-acl-slots-maintained |url-status = dead|archive-date=12 September 2012 |publisher=AFC |title=ACL slots maintained |date=21 November 2010 }}

;West Asia

• Already participating: {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran, {{flagicon|Qatar}} Qatar, {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia, {{flagicon|UAE}} UAE, {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} Uzbekistan
• Keen to participate: {{flagicon|Iraq}} Iraq, {{flagicon|Jordan}} Jordan, {{flagicon|Oman}} Oman, {{flagicon|Pakistan}} Pakistan, {{flagicon|Palestine}} Palestine, {{flagicon|Tajikistan}} Tajikistan, {{flagicon|Yemen}} Yemen, {{flagicon|India}} India

Note: Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and India have clubs taking part in play-offs to qualify for the group stages of ACL in 2010.

The allocation for entry to the 2011 ACL stayed the same as the previous two seasons with the exception of Vietnam who were disqualified and their previous playoff slot was awarded to Qatar.

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^* One of the K-League clubs, Sangju Sangmu Phoenix, is unable to qualify for the ACL because the team is not a commercial entity and their players are not professionally contracted.

^** One of the A-League clubs, Wellington Phoenix, is based in New Zealand, an OFC member country. They are unable to qualify for the ACL.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/29884-afc-ad-hoc-committee-for-professional-clubs|publisher=AFC|title=Ad hoc Committee for Professional Clubs|date=27 July 2010}}

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The finalists of the 2010 AFC Cup also participated in the play-off, provided that they meet the Champions League criteria.

The following is the list of direct entrants for the group stage confirmed by the AFC.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/news/31593-acl-afcc-2010-teams|publisher=AFC|title=ACL, AFCC 2010 teams|date=29 November 2010}}

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* Number of appearances (including qualifying rounds) since the 2002/03 season, when the competition was rebranded as the AFC Champions League

The following is the list of participants for the playoff stage confirmed by the AFC.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/component/content/article/31494-afc-competitions-committee-meeting|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Competitions Committee|date=23 November 2010}} The committee further proposed that one team be shifted by the means of a draw from the West to the East for sake of balance.

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Schedule of dates for 2011 competition.{{cite web|url=http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/2010/compcalendar2011.pdf |publisher=AFC |title=AFC Calendar of Competitions 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705033656/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/2010/compcalendar2011.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2010 }}

{{main|2011 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off}}

The draw for the qualifying play-off was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/31689-stage-set-for-acl-afc-cup-draws|publisher=AFC|title=Stage set for ACL, AFC Cup draws|date=6 December 2010}} In order to create balance another draw was held, moving one of the teams (Al-Ain) from the West into the East side of the play-offs.{{cite web|url=http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/2011/acl2011_draw_mechanics.pdf|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Champions League 2011 Draw Mechanism for Play-off Stage & Preliminary Stage (Group & Round of 16)|access-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214051413/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/2011/acl2011_draw_mechanics.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2010|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}

The two winners from the qualifying play-off (one from West Asia and one from East Asia) advanced to the group stage. All losers from the qualifying play-off entered the 2011 AFC Cup group stage.{{cite web|url=http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/regs/ACL_2011_Competitions_Regulations.pdf|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Champions League 2011 Competitions Regulations|access-date=7 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214051422/http://images.the-afc.com/Documents/comps/regs/ACL_2011_Competitions_Regulations.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2010|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}

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!colspan="3"|Semi-final

{{OneLegResult|Al-Sadd|QAT|5–1|Al-Ittihad|SYR|var2=1980}}

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!colspan="3"|Final

{{OneLegResult|Al-Sadd|QAT|2–0|Dempo|IND}}

|}

{{OneLegStart}}

!colspan="3"|Semi-final

{{OneLegResult|Sriwijaya|IDN|2–2
(aet)(7–6p)|Muangthong United|THA}}

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!colspan="3"|Final

{{OneLegResult|Sriwijaya|IDN|0–4|Al-Ain|UAE}}

|}

{{main|2011 AFC Champions League group stage}}

The draw for the group stage was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 December 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/31705-mouth-watering-matches-on-the-acl-agenda|publisher=AFC|title=Mouth-watering matches on the ACL agenda|date=7 December 2010}} Clubs from the same country may not be drawn into the same group. The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the knockout stage.

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group A}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group B}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group C}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group D}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group E}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group F}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group G}}

{{:2011 AFC Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group H}}

{{main|2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage}}

{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Bracket}}

Based on the results from the group stage, the matchups of the round of 16 were decided as below.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/34878-acl-juicy-encounters-in-offing|publisher=AFC|title=ACL: Juicy encounters in offing|date=12 May 2011}} Each tie was played as one match, hosted by the winners of each group (Team 1) against the runners-up of another group (Team 2).

{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Round of 16}}

The draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 June 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-champions-league-previous-comps/afc-champions-league-2011/35200-acl-draw-story|publisher=AFC|title=Korea challenge for former champions|date=7 June 2011}} In this draw, the "country protection" rule was applied: if there are exactly two clubs from the same country, they may not face each other in the quarter-finals; however, if there are more than two clubs from the same country, they may face each other in the quarter-finals.

{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Quarter-finals}}

{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Semi-finals}}

{{main|2011 AFC Champions League Final}}

The final of the 2011 AFC Champions League was hosted by one of the finalists, decided by draw. This format was a change from the 2009 and 2010 editions, where the final was played at a neutral venue.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/news/29922-afc-competitions-committee-decisions|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Competitions Committee decisions|date=31 July 2010}}

{{#lst:2011 AFC Champions League knockout stage|Final}}

The following awards were given for the 2011 AFC Champions League:{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/834-afc-champions-league-2011/37034-acl-final-awards |title=Double delight for Lee |work=The-AFC.com |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=5 November 2011 |access-date=5 November 2011 }}

• Most Valuable Player Award: {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
• Top Scorer: {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Dong-Gook (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
• Fair Play Award: {{flagicon|KOR}} Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Note: Goals scored in qualifying round not counted.

• 2011 AFC Cup
• 2011 AFC President's Cup

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090626072927/http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league AFC Champions League Official Website]

{{AFC Club Football seasons|group=championsleague}}

{{2011 in Asian Football (AFC)}}

{{2011 in Japanese football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Afc Champions League 2011}}

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