AFC Champions League: Esteghlal, Al-Shabab, Pohang Steeler Advance to Group Stage

The qualifying stage for the AFC Champions League concluded on Saturday with three one-match playoffs for berths in the group stage.

West Asia:

At Tehran, Iran:

Goran Jerkovic (37'), Khosro Heydari (62'), and Arash Borhani (65')each scored once as Esteghlal defeated visiting Al-Ettifaq (Saudi Arabia) 3-1.

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

Essa Obaid scored twice (6', 60') as Al-Shabab dominated visiting Neftchi Farg'ona (Uzbekistan) 3-0.

East Asia:

At Pohang, South Korea:

Hwang Jin-Sung (28') and Park Sung-Ho (70') each delivered a goal as Pohang Steelers blanked visiting Chonburi FC (Thailand) 2-0.

Here are the eight groups that will be playing beginning on March 6:

Group A:

Al-Rayyan (Qatar)
Al-Jazira (United Arab Emirates)
Nasaf Qarshi (Uzbekistan)
Esteghlal Tehran FC (Iran)

Group B:

Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Arabi (Qatar)
Bani Yas (United Arab Emirates)
FC Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan)

Group C:

Sepahan Esfahan FC (Iran)
Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia)
Lekhwiya SC (Qatar)
Al-Nasr (United Arab Emirates)

Group D:

Al-Shabab (United Arab Emirates)
Persepolis FC (Iran)
Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Gharafa (Qatar)

Group E:

Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Adelaide United (Australia)
FC Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)
Pohang Steelers (South Korea)

Group F:

Ulsan Hyundai FC (South Korea)
FC Tokyo (Japan)
Brisbane Roar (Australia)
Beijing Guoan (China)

Group G:

Tianjin Teda FC (China)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (South Korea)
Nagoya Grampus (Japan)
Central Coast Mariners (Australia)

Group H:

Buriram United (Thailand)
Guangzhou Evergrande (China)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea)
Kashiwa Reysol (Japan)

Each team will play two games against each of the other teams in its' group, with the top two finishing clubs in each group advancing to the knockout stage.