I've decided to create a thread here, as it gets frustrating switching back & forth between forums once Australia's interest ends in the group stage.
wolfman2012-02-22 20:29:49
This year's allocation raised a few eyebrows, particularly as Korea were reduced to 3 teams, despite their clubs' success in the last few seasons. There are other criteria, of course, which is where they must have lost out.
The draw was made a couple of weeks ago.
Playoffs -West Asia
1. Esteghlal (IRN) v Zobahan (IRN) 11th Feb
2. Al Shabab (UAE) v Neftchi (UZB) 18th Feb
Playoffs - East Asia
Pohang Steelers (KOR) v Chonburi (THA) 18th Feb
Adelaide (AUS) got a bye after Indonesia's representatives were disqualified for joing a 'rebel' domestic league, and the Chinese pulled their team (I believe they weren't happy about losing an automatic spot)
Group A
Al Jazira (UAE), Al Rayyan (QAT), Nasaf (UZB), Winner of West Playoff 1
Group B
Al Arabi (QAT), Al Ittihad (KSA), Baniyas (UAE), Pakhtakor (UZB)
Group C
Al Ahli (KSA), Al Nasr (UAE), Lekhwiya (QAT), Sepahan (IRN)
Group D
Al Gharafa (QAT), Al Hilal (KSA), Piroozi Athletic (IRN), Winner West Playoff 2
Group E
Adelaide Utd (AUS), Bunyodkor (UZB), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Group F
Beijing Guoan (CHN), Brisbane Roar (AUS), Ulsan Hyundai (KOR), FC Tokyo (JPN)
Group G
Central Coast Mariners (AUS), Nagoya Grampus (JPN), Seongnam Chunma (KOR), Tianjin Teda (CHN)
Group H
Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Kashiwa Reysol (JPN), Buriram United (THA)
Matchday 1 is 6-7 March
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AFC Cup draw
Playoffs
wolfman2012-02-22 20:30:22
Al Tilal (YEM) v Victory (MDV)
Group A
Al Faisaly (JOR), Al Ittihad (SYR), Al Qadsia (Kuw), Al Suwaiq (OMA)
Group B
Al Orouba (YEM), Arbil (IRQ), East Bengal (IND), Kazma (KUW)
Group C
Al Ahed FC (LIB), Kuwait SC (KUW), VB (MDV), Loser ACL West Playoff 1
Group D
Al Wehdat (JOR), SalG**car (IND), Cup Champion (OMA), Loser ACL West Playoff 2
Group E
Al Shorta (SYR), Safa SC (LIB), Zawra'a (IRQ), Winner AFC Cup Playoff
Group F
Kitchee (HKG), Song Nam Nghe An (VIE), Tampines Rovers (SIN), Terengganu (MAS)
Group G
Citizen (HKG), Home Utd (SIN), Yangon Utd (MYA), Chonburi (THA)
Group H
Arema Indonesia (IDN), Ayeyawady (MYA), Kelantan (MAS), Navibank Saigon (VIE)
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Buriram PEA clinched the Thai Premier League title with 4 matches to spare over the weekend, and with it, the 4th spot in Group H
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Buriram PEA won the Thai FA Cup final 1-0 aet over Muang Thong Utd. As PEA have done the domestic double, the FA Cup winners spot will be taken by the league runners-up.
Chonburi FC will travel to Pohang on Feb 18 for the East Asia ACL playoff.
Also FC Tokyo won the Emperor's Cup on New Year's Day, and take their place in Group F
wolfman2012-01-17 14:31:17
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Haven't seen him myself, but a mate who's been to a few TOT games reckons he's made a difference since he arrived. TOT have been at the wrong end of the table all season, and still occupy the last relegation spot (16th/18 teams) but have picked up a few results lately. They've still got 2 matches to go, 2 points from safety, including one of the other relegation candidates at home.
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Persipura Jayapura succesfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and now have a hastily arranged playoff on Feb 16th at Adelaide United.
Hope for the Nix should they ever finish in A-League ACL spot
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Adelaide beat Persipura 3-0 Some Aussie commentators on twitter are concerned that Cassio should have been serving a suspensio, but I've seen nothing from the AFC or Persipura.
Pohang defeated Chonburi 2-0
Both Pohang & Adelaide go into Group E with Gamba Osaka & Budyonkor.
Chonburi drop into the AFC Cup alongside Yangon Utd, Home Utd, & Citizen.
Not sure what happens to Persipura.
Don't really follow West Asian footy, so don't know what happened in their playoffs.
Pohang defeated Chonburi 2-0
Both Pohang & Adelaide go into Group E with Gamba Osaka & Budyonkor.
Chonburi drop into the AFC Cup alongside Yangon Utd, Home Utd, & Citizen.
Not sure what happens to Persipura.
Don't really follow West Asian footy, so don't know what happened in their playoffs.
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Group H
Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN), Jeonbuk Motors (KOR), Kashiwa Reysol (JPN), Buriram United (THA)
Well done to Buriram getting a 3-2 win at home to Kashiwa.
Guangzhou have picked up from where they left at the end of last season. Very exciting times for the Man City of the east (but less w*nky than the EPL team).
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Next up games I see Guangzhou is playing Buriram at home (good luck plucky Buriram!) and Roar go to the Northern Capital to take on Guoan who were rather lacklustre in their first game losing 1-2 to Ulsan in Korea. Still they will be at home in the Workers' Stadium and will no doubt have a good contingent of their green army faithful so I think/hope that they will beat Roar by 2 goals.
Junior822012-03-08 13:31:07
Tianjin vs Nagoya. Meh. (but anyway: Tianjin jai you!)
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Wed 21 March (or rather late night Tues 20), Roar travel to Beijing to take on Guo'an who have looked a bit shaky in their opening games of the ACL groups and the CSL, but have just clocked up a good 3-2 win in the CSL over rivals Shanghai Shenhua.
I think Roar will be lucky to get a point out of this, and am hoping that they get spanked severely.
Also the next night plucky Buriram will visit Guangzhou to take on Guangzhou Hengda - who lost to GZ Fuli this weekend in a match that they dominated except for actually getting the ball in the net. They will be smarting at that loss to their newly promoted neighbours so I expect another 5+ goal fest from the title contenders (at least that is their intention).
I think Roar will be lucky to get a point out of this, and am hoping that they get spanked severely.
Also the next night plucky Buriram will visit Guangzhou to take on Guangzhou Hengda - who lost to GZ Fuli this weekend in a match that they dominated except for actually getting the ball in the net. They will be smarting at that loss to their newly promoted neighbours so I expect another 5+ goal fest from the title contenders (at least that is their intention).
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Kick-off for Guoan vs Roar is 12:30 am. Not for me unfortunately.
Looks like there are links in http://www.sportlemon.tv/c-1.html and http://www.justin.tv/chobits02chii#/w/2788540272/2
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Guangzhou didn't turn up. Well played Buriram.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Tonight in the "Champions group" Guangzhou Hengda travel to the land of the whale burger to take on Kashiwa Royal - big match for both teams.
High flyers Buriram are at home to Jeonbuk who have had two 5-1 thrashings to date.
In the "Group of Meh" Beijing Guoan host Tokyo FC and Roar are over in Korea agaisnt Ulsan.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Hengda dominating play against Kashiwa but remain goal-less with less than 18 mins to go.
Junior822012-04-04 23:51:41
Remains at 0-0, but Hengda showing some nice skills and team play (shame about the scoirng bit).
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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In the return match Hengda take 3 pts off Kashiwa Royal (3-1) and jump to the top of the group after Buriram lose to Jeonbuk.
The group is now very bunched up (3 pts seprating top from bottom) with two games to go.
Beijing Guoan stay at the bottom of their group with Roar - hard to see those teams progressing.
Tianjin Teda and CCM bottom of thier group as well, but still only 3 pts away from 1st and 2nd.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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So it's official: A-League and CSL tems are mostly cr@p.
Beijing, Tianjin, CCM and Brisbane are all out of the ACL.
Guangzhou and Adelaide go through to the last 16.
"Phoenix till they lose"
Posting 97% bollox, 8% lies and 3.658% genuine opinion.
Genuine opinion: FTFFA
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Adelaide seem to be getting good results by playing very defensive. Maybe that is why they don't want us there, we would win it every year.
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Kevin Airs @KevinAirs442
ACL places: Japan 4 Korea Republic 4 China 4 Uzbekistan 1 Australia 1+1 Thailand 1+1 Saudi Arabia 4 Qatar 4 Iran 3+1 UAE 2+2 Uzbekistan 1+1
ACL places: Japan 4 Korea Republic 4 China 4 Uzbekistan 1 Australia 1+1 Thailand 1+1 Saudi Arabia 4 Qatar 4 Iran 3+1 UAE 2+2 Uzbekistan 1+1
No ACL campaign for the Glory. Sage will be very pissed right now.
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Kevin Airs @KevinAirs442
Qatar's league has 12 teams. Four of them will qualify directly for the ACL. Qatar's national population is 300,000 less than Brisbane.
Qatar's league has 12 teams. Four of them will qualify directly for the ACL. Qatar's national population is 300,000 less than Brisbane.
Having a bit of money does help, doesn't it?
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All the angst is quite amusing considering they were wanred 3 or 4 years ago that the lack of separation between the league and the FFA was going to cause a reduction. The FFA were told what needed to be changed and they haven't changed it.
It shouldn't come as a shock that the result that was communicated then has occured.
Of course I'm sure a certain pair of Australians will be claiming it's becuse the Phoenix are in the league.
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yeah they were warned but the oil is definitely paying for some spots...
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The AFC also expected a promotion/relegation system, and a bunch of other things that were quite unachievable considering how saturated the Aussie sporting market is. Some have argued that it was unreasonable of the AFC to expect these things, but I think it is just one of the cons of Australia joining the AFC.
Yellow Fever - Misery loves company
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All the angst is quite amusing considering they were wanred 3 or 4 years ago that the lack of separation between the league and the FFA was going to cause a reduction. The FFA were told what needed to be changed and they haven't changed it.
It shouldn't come as a shock that the result that was communicated then has occured.
Of course I'm sure a certain pair of Australians will be claiming it's becuse the Phoenix are in the league.
This blog post expresses pretty much the same viewpoint.
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All the angst is quite amusing considering they were wanred 3 or 4 years ago that the lack of separation between the league and the FFA was going to cause a reduction. The FFA were told what needed to be changed and they haven't changed it.
It shouldn't come as a shock that the result that was communicated then has occured.
Of course I'm sure a certain pair of Australians will be claiming it's becuse the Phoenix are in the league.
I think even if they met the expectations, the AFC would find a way to shift the goalposts to ensure the desired outcome. I remember looking through the report that scored the associations on all the different criteria, and from memory China was near the top of the 'governance' ranking, while in the midst of a match fixing scandal!
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