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2024–25 AFC Champions League Two

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2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
Tournament details
DatesQualifying:
14 August 2024
Competition proper:
17 September 2024 – 17 May 2025
TeamsCompetition proper: 31 (from 22 associations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played60
Goals scored200 (3.33 per match)
Top scorer(s)Iran Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh
Japan Seia Kunori
(6 goals each)
← 2023–24 (AFC Cup)

The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two is the 21st edition of the Asia's second-tier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Previously, the second-tier tournament was known as the AFC Cup, which had been in existence for 20 seasons. This is the first season using a revised format and the new name of AFC Champions League Two.[1][2] It will feature 32 teams in the group stage.[3] The winner will be given an indirect preliminary stage slot for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite, if they have not already qualified through their domestic performance.

Central Coast Mariners were the reigning champions, as the AFC Cup records and statistics are carried forward to the ACL Two.[4] They were not able to defend the title as they instead participated in the AFC Champions League Elite league stage.

Association team allocation

[edit]

The associations were allocated slots according to their club competitions ranking,[5] which was published after the 2022 competitions were completed.[6]

Participation for 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
Participating
Not participating
Notes
  1. ^
    AFC Licensing (AFC): Association did not have a licensed club.[7]

Teams

[edit]

The number of appearances and last appearance include the AFC Cup as the predecessor of the AFC Champions League Two.

Notes
  1. ^
    Iran (IRN): Fourth place Tractor qualified, due to Sepahan (who were third place in the Pro League) winning the 2023–24 Hazfi Cup.
  2. ^
    Iraq (IRQ): Al-Shorta, the 2023–24 Iraq FA Cup winners, also won the league title. As a result, the 2023–24 Iraq Stars League runners-up, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, qualified for the Group stage.
  3. ^
    Malaysia (MAS): Johor Darul Ta'zim, the 2023 Malaysia FA Cup winners, also won the league title. As a result, the 2023 Malaysia Super League runners-up, Selangor, qualified for the Group stage.
  4. ^
    Philippines (PHI): Kaya–Iloilo, the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara winners, also won the league title. As a result, the 2024 Philippines Football League runners-up, DH Cebu, qualified for the Group stage.
  5. ^
    Qatar (QAT): Because Al-Sadd (already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the 2023-24 Qatar Stars League champion) also won the 2024 Emir of Qatar Cup, therefore the fourth-placed Al-Wakrah qualified for the Group stage.
  6. ^
    Saudi Arabia (KSA): Because Al Hilal (already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the 2023–24 Saudi Pro League champion) also won the 2023–24 King Cup winners, therefore the fourth-placed team Al-Taawoun qualified for the Group stage.[8]
  7. ^
    Singapore (SGP): Albirex Niigata (S), the 2023 Singapore Premier League champions, are a team from Japan and thus ineligible to represent Singapore in AFC club competitions. As a result, Lion City Sailors, the Singapore Premier League runners-up, qualified for the Group stage. Since Lion City Sailors also won the 2023 Singapore Cup, Tampines Rovers FC, also qualified for the Group stage as the third placed team in the 2023 Singapore Premier League.
  8. ^
    South Korea (KOR): Pohang Steelers had already qualified for the Champions League Elite as the 2023 K League 1 runners-up when they won the 2023 Korean FA Cup. Therefore, the fourth-placed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors qualified for the Group stage.
  9. ^
    Tajikistan (TJK): Istiklol won both the 2023 Tajikistan Higher League and 2023 Tajikistan Cup. Therefore, Ravshan Kulob as the league runners-up also entered the Group stage.
  10. ^
    Thailand (THA): Bangkok United, the 2023–24 Thai League 1 runners-up had qualified for the Champions League Elite qualifying play-off as the 2023–24 Thai FA Cup winner. Thus, third-placed Port qualified for the Group stage. Fifth place Muangthong United also qualified for the Group stage due to Thanh Hóa's withdrawal from the competition and BG Pathum United's decision not to participate.[9]
  11. ^
    Turkmenistan (TKM): Arkadag, the 2023 Ýokary Liga and 2023 Turkmenistan Cup champions are the only team to have an AFC Challenge League license. So Altyn Asyr, the regular season runners-up replaced Arkadag in the Qualifying play-offs.[7]
  12. ^
    United Arab Emirates (UAE): Al-Wasl, had already qualified to the Champions League Elite as 2023–24 UAE President's Cup winners, also won the 2023–24 UAE Pro League and Al Ain, the UAE Pro League third-placed team also qualified for the Champions League Elite as the 2023–24 AFC Champions League. Therefore, the fourth-placed team, Sharjah, qualified for the Group stage.
  13. ^
    India (IND): On 7 October 2024, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the competition after they failed to appear for their fixture against Tractor in Tabriz. Their single match was voided

Schedule

[edit]

The schedule of the competition is as follows.[10] All matches are being played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, apart from the final which takes place on Saturday.

Stage Round Draw date West region East region
Preliminary stage Preliminary stage No draw[a] 14 August 2024
Group stage Matchday 1 16 August 2024 17–18 September 2024 18–19 September 2024
Matchday 2 1–2 October 2024 2–3 October 2024
Matchday 3 22–23 October 2024 23–24 October 2024
Matchday 4 5–6 November 2024 6–7 November 2024
Matchday 5 26–27 November 2024 27–28 November 2024
Matchday 6 3–4 December 2024 4–5 December 2024
Knockout stage Round of 16[b] 12 December 2024 11–12 and 18–19 February 2025 12–13 and 19–20 February 2025
Quarter-finals[b] 4–5 and 11–12 March 2025 5–6 and 12–13 March 2025
Semi-finals[b] 8 and 15 April 2025 9 and 16 April 2025
Final[c] 17 May 2025
  1. ^ pre-determined format
  2. ^ a b c two-legged ties
  3. ^ neutral venues

Qualifying play-offs

[edit]

The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined based on each team's association ranking and their seeding within their association, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same tie. The two winners of the play-off round (two from West Region) advanced to the group stage to join the 30 direct entrants, while losers of the qualifying play-offs entered the group stage of the 2024–25 AFC Challenge League.

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
East Bengal India2–3Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr
Al-Ahli Bahrain0–1Kuwait Al-Kuwait
East Bengal India2–3Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr
 Report
Attendance: 27,892
Referee: Alex King (Australia)
Al-Ahli Bahrain0–1Kuwait Al-Kuwait
Report
Attendance: 1,396
Referee: Qasim Matar Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Group stage

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage

The draw for the group stage took place on 16 August at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[11] The 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four: four groups each in the West Region (Groups A–D) and the East Region (Groups E–H).[12] For each region, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.

class=notpageimage|
Location of the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage teams
Brown: Group A; Cyan: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D; Pink: Group E;
Green: Group F; Blue: Group G; Red: Group H

West Region

[edit]

Group A

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification TRA WAK RAV MBSG
1 Iran Tractor 4 3 1 0 16 4 +12 10 Advance to round of 16 — 3–3 7–0 2 Oct
2 Qatar Al-Wakrah 4 1 1 2 4 8 −4 4 0–3 — 0–2 6 Nov
3 Tajikistan Ravshan Kulob 4 1 0 3 3 11 −8 3 1–3 0–1 — 27 Nov
4 India Mohun Bagan SG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrawn[a] 4 Dec 23 Oct 0–0 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ On 7 October 2024, AFC announced that Mohun Bagan SG were considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Two after they failed to appear for their fixture against Tractor in Tabriz. Their single match was voided.[13]

Group B

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification TAA KHA AFC ALT
1 Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun 6 5 0 1 13 6 +7 15 Advance to round of 16 — 2–1 1–2 2–1
2 Bahrain Al-Khaldiya 6 4 0 2 14 7 +7 12 2–3 — 4–1 4–0
3 Iraq Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 6 3 0 3 8 9 −1 9 0–1 1–2 — 2–1
4 Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr 6 0 0 6 2 15 −13 0 0–4 0–1 0–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SHJ WHD SEP IST
1 United Arab Emirates Sharjah 6 4 1 1 13 8 +5 13 Advance to round of 16 — 2–2 3–1 3–1
2 Jordan Al-Wehdat 6 3 2 1 8 7 +1 11 1–3 — 2–1 1–0
3 Iran Sepahan 6 3 1 2 12 7 +5 10 3–1 1–1 — 4–0
4 Tajikistan Istiklol 6 0 0 6 1 12 −11 0 0–1 0–1 0–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAH HUS KSC NAS
1 United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli 6 4 1 1 17 11 +6 13 Advance to round of 16 — 3–1 4–1 3–2
2 Jordan Al-Hussein 6 3 1 2 11 11 0 10 2–3 — 2–1 2–1
3 Kuwait Al-Kuwait 6 1 3 2 9 12 −3 6 3–3 2–2 — 0–0
4 Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi 6 1 1 4 7 10 −3 4 2–1 1–2 1–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

East Region

[edit]

Group E

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SFR SYD KAY EAS
1 Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 6 5 1 0 14 5 +9 16 Advance to round of 16 — 2–1 3–0 4–1
2 Australia Sydney FC 6 4 0 2 17 6 +11 12 0–1 — 3–1 5–0
3 Philippines Kaya–Iloilo 6 1 1 4 6 14 −8 4 1–1 1–4 — 1–2
4 Hong Kong Eastern 6 1 0 5 7 19 −12 3 2–3 1–4 1–2 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group F

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LCS POR ZHP PSB
1 Singapore Lion City Sailors 6 3 1 2 15 11 +4 10 Advance to round of 16 — 5–2 2–0 2–3
2 Thailand Port 6 3 1 2 9 11 −2 10 1–3 — 1–0 2–2
3 China Zhejiang 6 3 0 3 10 10 0 9 4–2 1–2 — 1–0
4 Indonesia Persib 6 1 2 3 9 11 −2 5 1–1 0–1 3–4 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group G

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification BKU NDI TAM LMC
1 Thailand Bangkok United 6 4 1 1 12 6 +6 13 Advance to round of 16 — 3–2 4–2 4–1
2 Vietnam Nam Định 6 3 2 1 13 8 +5 11 0–0 — 3–2 3–0
3 Singapore Tampines Rovers 6 2 2 2 11 11 0 8 1–0 3–3 — 3–1
4 Hong Kong Lee Man 6 0 1 5 2 13 −11 1 0–1 0–2 0–0 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group H

[edit]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification JBH MTU SEL DHC
1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 6 4 0 2 16 4 +12 12 Advance to round of 16 — 4–1 1–0 4–0
2 Thailand Muangthong United 6 3 2 1 16 10 +6 11 1–0 — 1–1 2–2
3 Malaysia Selangor 6 3 1 2 9 5 +4 10 2–1 1–2 — 2–0
4 Philippines DH Cebu 6 0 1 5 4 26 −22 1 0–6 2–9 0–4 —
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Knockout stage

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two knockout stage

In the knockout stage, the 16 teams will play a single-elimination tournament. Each tie will be played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, except the final which will be played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 10). The order of matches (home vs away) will be determined at the draw, except for the final. The final venue was pre-determined on a rotation basis, with the match hosted by the team from the East Region. The draw for the knockout stage will be held on 12 December 2024.

Bracket

[edit]
Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
              
Vietnam Nam Định
Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima
 
 
Thailand Muangthong United
Singapore Lion City Sailors
 
 
Thailand Port
South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
 
 
Australia Sydney FC
Thailand Bangkok United
 
 
Bahrain Al-Khaldiya
Iran Tractor
 
 
Qatar Al-Wakrah
Saudi Arabia Al Taawoun
 
 
Jordan Al-Wehdat
United Arab Emirates Shabab Al Ahli
 
 
Jordan Al-Hussein
United Arab Emirates Sharjah


Round of 16

[edit]

The first legs will be played on 11–13 February, and the second legs on 18–20 February 2025.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Al-Khaldiya Bahrain 1 Iran Tractor 11/12 Feb 18/19 Feb
Al-Wakrah Qatar 2 Saudi Arabia Al Taawoun 11/12 Feb 18/19 Feb
Al-Wehdat Jordan 3 United Arab Emirates Shabab Al Ahli 11/12 Feb 18/19 Feb
Al-Hussein Jordan 4 United Arab Emirates Sharjah 11/12 Feb 18/19 Feb
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Nam Định Vietnam 5 Japan Sanfrecce Hiroshima 12/13 Feb 19/20 Feb
Muangthong United Thailand 6 Singapore Lion City Sailors 12/13 Feb 19/20 Feb
Port Thailand 7 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 12/13 Feb 19/20 Feb
Sydney FC Australia 8 Thailand Bangkok United 12/13 Feb 19/20 Feb

Quarter-finals

[edit]
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Winner R16–1 1 Winner R16–2 4/5 Mar 11/12 Mar
Winner R16–3 2 Winner R16–4 4/5 Mar 11/12 Mar
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Winner R16–5 3 Winner R16–6 5/6 Mar 12/13 Mar
Winner R16–7 4 Winner R16–8 5/6 Mar 12/13 Mar

Semi-finals

[edit]
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
West Region
Winner QF1 1 Winner QF2 8 Apr 15 Apr
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
East Region
Winner QF3 2 Winner QF4 9 Apr 16 Apr

Final

[edit]
Main article: 2025 AFC Champions League Two final


Top scorers

[edit]
As of 5 December 2024
  Team eliminated / inactive for this round.
  Player is not in the team but the team is still active for this round.
Rank Player Team MD1 MD2 MD3 MD4 MD5 MD6 R16-1 R16-2 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2 F1 Total
1 Iran Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh Iran Tractor 1 2 2 1 6
Japan Seia Kunori Singapore Tampines Rovers 2 1 1 1 1
3 Bahrain Kamil Al-Aswad Bahrain Al-Khaldiya 1 3 1 5
Brazil Luanzinho United Arab Emirates Sharjah 1 1 1 2
Morocco Anas Ouahim Australia Sydney FC 2 3
Brazil Rafaelson Vietnam Nam Định 1 1 1 2
Singapore Song Ui-young Singapore Lion City Sailors 1 1 3
8 Oman Muhsen Al-Ghassani Thailand Bangkok United 2 1 1 4
Singapore Shawal Anuar Singapore Lion City Sailors 2 1 1
Thailand Poramet Arjvirai Thailand Muangthong United 3 1
Iran Sardar Azmoun United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli 1 1 2
The Gambia Musa Barrow Saudi Arabia Al Taawoun 2 2
Algeria Oussama Bellatreche Bahrain Al-Khaldiya 1 3
Costa Rica Felicio Brown Forbes Thailand Muangthong United 1 2 1
Senegal Ousseynou Gueye Jordan Al-Wehdat 1 2 1
Serbia Zoran Marušić Uzbekistan Nasaf 2 1 1
Brazil Mateusão United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli 1 1 1 1
Note
  • Goals scored in the qualifying play-offs and matches voided by AFC are not counted when determining top scorer (Regulations Article 64.4)


See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Asian Champions League to relaunch with fewer teams and more prize money in 2024-25 season". AP News. 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ "History beckons for AFC Cup 2023/24 contenders as final edition of popular competition kicks off". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  3. ^ "AFC Executive Committee approves biggest prize purse in Asian club football history from 2024/25; announces AFC Women's Champions League". the-AFC.
  4. ^ "Pivotal reforms approved by AFC Competitions Committee". AFC. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. ^ "AFC Club Competitions 2024/25 Slot Allocation" (PDF). fas.org.sg. Football Association of Singapore. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  6. ^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 24 November 2021. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "List of Licensed Clubs - AFC Club Competitions 2024/25" (PDF). 14 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  8. ^ Sportstar, Team (1 May 2024). "Al Nassr vs Al Khaleej Highlights, King's Cup Semifinal: Ronaldo scores twice to help Al Nassr beat Al Khaleej 3–1". Sportstar. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  9. ^ ดำหริ, วิสูตร (30 July 2024). "เมืองทองส้มหล่น ได้ไป ACL2 เหตุ บีจี ไม่ขอรับโควตา". thinkcurve (in Thai). Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  10. ^ "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions". AFC. 1 July 2023.
  11. ^ "AFC Champions League Two: #ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate". the-AFC. 12 August 2024.
  12. ^ "#ACLTwo group stage draw finalised". Asian Football Confederation. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Latest update on AFC Champions League Two™". Asian Football Confederation. 7 October 2024.
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