AFC Champions League 2005

The 2005 AFC Champions League was the 24th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 3rd edition under the current AFC Champions League title. The championship was retained by the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad with a 5–3 aggregate victory over Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates. Following a 1–1 draw at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Ain in the first leg, Al-Ittihad recorded a 4–2 victory at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to lift the trophy for the second consecutive season. They also qualified for the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup.

Format

;Group Stage
A total of 28 clubs were divided into 7 groups of four, based on region i.e. East Asian and Southeast Asian clubs were drawn in groups E to G, while the rest were grouped in groups A to D. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order:
* Points earned between the clubs in question
* Goal Differential between the clubs in question
* Goals For between the clubs in question
* Points earned within the group
* Goal Differential within the group
* Goals For within the group

The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.

;Knockout Round
All 8 clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were conducted in 2 legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the match winner. If the aggregate score couldn't produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where "away goals rule" still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.

Group stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Knock-out stage

Bracket

Quarter-finals

First leg

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Second leg

''Shenzhen Jianlibao won 4–3 on aggregate.''
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''4–4 on aggregate, Al Ain won on away goals.''
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''Busan IPark won 5–1 on aggregate.''
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''Al-Ittihad won 8–3 on aggregate.''

Semi-finals

First leg

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Second leg

''Al Ain won 6–0 on aggregate.''
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''Al-Ittihad won 7–0 on aggregate.''

Final

First leg

Second leg

''Al-Ittihad won 5–3 on aggregate.''

See also

*2005 FIFA Club World Championship

References

External links

AFC Champions League 2005 Official Page (English)
at RSSSF.com

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