AFC Champions League: Al-Sadd and Al-Ain Qualify For Group Stage

The qualifying round of the AFC Champions League concluded with two games played on Saturday.

At Doha, Qatar:

Abdul Kdaer Keita (33') and Leandro (89') each tallied once as Al-Sadd dispatched visiting Dempo SC (India) 2-0 to win their West Asia playoff final.

At Palembang, Indonesia:

Elias Ribeiro de Oliveira scored twice (PK-45', 52') as Al-Ain traveled from the United Arab Emirates and demolished hosts Sriwijaya 4-0 to win their East Asia playoff final.


Group stage play begins on March 1 with 32 teams split into eight groups of four teams each.  Each team plays twice against each of the other teams in its' group.  The top two finishers in each group would advance to the knockout stage.


Group A:


Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Gharafa (Qatar)
Al-Jazira (UAE)
Sepahan Esfahan FC (Iran)


Group B:


Esteghlal Tehran FC (Iran)
Al-Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia)
FC Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan)
Al-Sadd Sports Club (Qatar)


Group C:


Al-Wahda FC (UAE)
Persepolis FC (Iran)
Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
FC Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)


Group D:


Al-Rayyan Sports Club (Qatar)
Emirates Club (UAE)
Zob Ahan Esfahan FC (Iran)
Al-Shabab Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)


Group E:


Jeju United FC (South Korea)
Melbourne Victory (Australia)
Gamba Osaka (Japan)
Tianjin Teda FC (China)


Group F:


Hangzhou Nabel Greentown FC (China)
FC Seoul (South Korea)
Al-Ain FC (UAE)
Nagoya Grampus (Japan)


Group G:


Cerezo Osaka (Japan)
Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (China)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea)
Arema FC (Indonesia)


Group H:


Sydney FC (Australia)
Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Shanghai Shenhua FC (China)
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea)