The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 16 to 30 January 2018.[1] A total of 22 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.[2]

Teams

The following 22 teams, split into two regions (West Region and East Region), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:

  • 4 teams entered in the preliminary round 1.
  • 6 teams entered in the preliminary round 2.
  • 12 teams entered in the play-off round.
Region Teams entering in play-off round Teams entering in preliminary round 2 Teams entering in preliminary round 1
West Region
East Region

Format

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.2). The eight winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.[2]

Schedule

The schedule of each round was as follows.[1]

Round Match date
Preliminary round 1 16 January 2018
Preliminary round 2 23 January 2018
Play-off round 30 January 2018

Bracket

The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same play-off.[3]

Play-off West 1

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 2
Bahrain Malkiya 0

Play-off West 2

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
Iran Zob Ahan 3
India Aizawl 1

Play-off West 3

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
Qatar Al-Gharafa 2
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 1

Play-off West 4

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
Uzbekistan Nasaf Qarshi 5
Jordan Al-Faisaly 1

Play-off East 1

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 5
Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa 1
Hong Kong Eastern 2
Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa 4

Play-off East 2

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
Japan Kashiwa Reysol 3
Thailand Muangthong United 0
Thailand Muangthong United 5
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 2

Play-off East 3

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
China Shanghai SIPG 1
Thailand Chiangrai United 0
Thailand Chiangrai United (a.e.t.) 2
Indonesia Bali United 3 Indonesia Bali United 1
Singapore Tampines Rovers 1

Play-off East 4

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
China Tianjin Quanjian 2
Philippines Ceres–Negros 0
Australia Brisbane Roar 2
Myanmar Shan United 1 (3) Philippines Ceres–Negros 3
Philippines Ceres–Negros (p) 1 (4)

Preliminary round 1

Summary

A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Bali United Indonesia 3–1 Singapore Tampines Rovers
Shan United Myanmar 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Philippines Ceres–Negros

East Region

Bali United Indonesia3–1Singapore Tampines Rovers
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 19,237
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)

Shan United Myanmar1–1 (a.e.t.)Philippines Ceres–Negros
Live Report
Stats Report
Penalties
3–4
Attendance: 257
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)

Preliminary round 2

Summary

A total of eight teams played in the preliminary round 2: six teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Eastern Hong Kong 2–4 Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa
Muangthong United Thailand 5–2 Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Chiangrai United Thailand 2–1 (a.e.t.) Indonesia Bali United
Brisbane Roar Australia 2–3 Philippines Ceres–Negros

East Region

Eastern Hong Kong2–4Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa
Live Report
Stats Report

Muangthong United Thailand5–2Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 7,949
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)

Chiangrai United Thailand2–1 (a.e.t.)Indonesia Bali United
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 5,960

Brisbane Roar Australia2–3Philippines Ceres–Negros
Live Report
Stats Report

Play-off round

Summary

A total of 16 teams played in the play-off round: twelve teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates 2–0 Bahrain Malkiya
Zob Ahan Iran 3–1 India Aizawl
Al-Gharafa Qatar 2–1 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan 5–1 Jordan Al-Faisaly
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea 5–1 Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa
Kashiwa Reysol Japan 3–0 Thailand Muangthong United
Shanghai SIPG China 1–0 Thailand Chiangrai United
Tianjin Quanjian China 2–0 Philippines Ceres–Negros

West Region

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates2–0Bahrain Malkiya
Live Report
Stats Report

Zob Ahan Iran3–1India Aizawl
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)

Al-Gharafa Qatar2–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Live Report
Stats Report
  • Khakimov 90+3'

Nasaf Qarshi Uzbekistan5–1Jordan Al-Faisaly
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 12,843
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)

East Region

Suwon Samsung Bluewings South Korea5–1Vietnam FLC Thanh Hóa
Live Report
Stats Report

Kashiwa Reysol Japan3–0Thailand Muangthong United
Live Report
Stats Report

Shanghai SIPG China1–0Thailand Chiangrai United
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 17,300

Tianjin Quanjian China2–0Philippines Ceres–Negros
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 23,310
Referee: Masoud Tufayelieh (Syria)

Notes

  1. 1 2 The identity of the play-off teams from Japan and Philippines was not known at the time of the group stage draw.
  2. The kick-off of the Bali United v Tampines Rovers match was delayed from 19:30 to 20:30 local time due to bad weather.

References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar 2018". AFC. 11 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 "2018 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  3. "AFC Champions League 2018 draw concluded". AFC. 6 December 2017.
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