2002–03 AFC Champions League

2002–03 AFC Champions League
Tournament details
Dates13 August – 27 November 2002
(qualifying rounds)
9 March – 11 October 2003
(group & final stages)
Teams16 (group stage)
Final positions
ChampionsUnited Arab Emirates Al-Ain (1st title)
Runners-upThailand BEC Tero Sasana
Tournament statistics
Matches played30
Goals scored104 (3.47 per match)
Top scorer(s)China Hao Haidong
(9 goals)
Best player(s)Thailand Therdsak Chaiman
2001–02 (Asian Club Championship)
2004

The 2002–03 AFC Champions League was the twenty-second edition of Asia's premier football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation, and the first edition under the AFC Champions League title.

Sixteen teams competed in this edition as they went through qualifying before going into four groups of four with only the winner of the group qualifying to the knockout-stage which went to two-legs instead of the single leg that the previous year competition had.

Teams

Entry Round Teams
Group Stage West Asia East Asia
Iran Persepolis (1st) Iraq Al-Talaba (1st) China Dalian Shide (1st) Japan Kashima Antlers (1st)
Saudi Arabia Al Hilal (1st) United Arab Emirates Al Ain (1st) South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (1st) Thailand BEC Tero Sasana (1st)
Third qualifying round Iran Esteghlal (CW) Iraq Al-Zawraa China Shanghai Shenhua (2nd) Japan Shimizu S-Pulse (CW)
Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli (CW) Kuwait Al-Arabi (1st) South Korea Daejeon Citizen (CW) Thailand Osotsapa (2nd)
Qatar Al-Ittihad (1st) Tajikistan Regar-TadAZ (1st) Vietnam Saigon Port (1st) Hong Kong South China (CW)
Turkmenistan Nisa Aşgabat (1st) Uzbekistan FK Neftchy Farg'ona (1st) Maldives Club Valencia (1st) Singapore Geylang United (1st)
Second qualifying round United Arab Emirates Al Ahli (CW) Qatar Al Sadd (CW) Brunei DPMM (1st) India Mohun Bagan (1st)
Tajikistan Khujand (CR) Uzbekistan Pakhtakor (CW) India Churchill Brothers (2nd) Indonesia Petrokimia Putra (1st)
Yemen Al-Ahli (2nd) Jordan Al-Faisaly (1st) Indonesia Persita Tangerang (2nd) Macau Monte Carlo (1st)
Palestine Al-Quds Syria Al-Jaish (1st) Maldives New Radiant (CW) Singapore Home United (CW)
Sri Lanka Saunders SC (1st) Sri Lanka Air Force
First qualifying round Bahrain Busaiteen (2nd) Bahrain Riffa (CW)
Jordan Al-Wehdat (2nd) Kyrgyzstan Zhashtyk (2nd)
Kuwait Al Kuwait (CW) Lebanon Al-Nejmeh (1st)
Lebanon Al Ansar (CW) Oman Al Nasr (CW)
Palestine Al Aqsa Syria Al-Ittihad (2nd)
Turkmenistan Köpetdag Aşgabat (CW)

Qualification Round

First qualifying round

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region
Al-Wehdat Jordan3–2Lebanon Al Nejmeh3–20–0
Al Ansar Lebanonw/o1Oman Al Nasr
Al Aqsa Palestinew/o2Kyrgyzstan Zhashtyk
Busaiteen BahrainByeN/A
Al Kuwait KuwaitByeN/A
Köpetdag Aşgabat TurkmenistanByeN/A
Riffa BahrainByeN/A
Al Ittihad SyriaByeN/A

1. Al Nasr withdrew
2. Al Aqsa withdrew

Second qualifying round

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region
Al-Ansar Lebanon1–3Jordan Al Faisaly1–00–3
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan4–3Jordan Al-Wehdat3–01–3
Al Ahli United Arab Emirates3–3 (a)Kuwait Al Kuwait2–01–3
Zhashtyk Kyrgyzstan0–4Yemen Al-Ahli (San'a')0–20–2
Köpetdag Aşgabat Turkmenistanw/o1Qatar Al Sadd
Busaiteen Bahrainw/o2Syria Al-Jaish
Al-Quds Palestinew/o2Bahrain Riffa
Al-Ittihad Syriaw/o3Tajikistan Khujand
East Region
Saunders SC Sri Lanka1–7India Mohun Bagan0–21–5
Air Force Sri Lanka2–3Maldives New Radiant1–11–2 (a.e.t.)
Monte Carlo MacauByeN/A
DPMM BruneiByeN/A
Persita Tangerang IndonesiaByeN/A
Petrokimia Putra IndonesiaByeN/A
Churchill Brothers  IndiaByeN/A
Home United SingaporeByeN/A

1. Köpetdag Aşgabat withdrew citing financial difficulties.
2. AFC did not accept the participation of Busaiteen and Riffa as neither team met sportive qualification criteria.
3. Khujand disqualified following suspension of Tajik FA by FIFA and AFC.

Third qualifying round

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region
Al Ittihad Syria1–5Kuwait Al Arabi1–10–4
Al Sadd Qatar3–2Iraq Al Zawraa1–12–1 (a.e.t.)
Esteghlal Iran3–0Jordan Al Faisaly2–01–0
Al Ahli United Arab Emirates5–4Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli3–22–2
Al-Ahli (San'a') Yemen1–8Uzbekistan FK Neftchy Farg'ona1–20–6
Al-Ittihad Qatar4–6Uzbekistan Pakhtakor4–30–3
Al-Jaish Syriaw/o1Tajikistan Regar-TadAZ
Al-Quds Palestinew/o2Turkmenistan Nisa Aşgabat
East Region
Geylang United FC Singapore7–0Brunei DPMM3–04–0
Petrokimia Putra Indonesia4–6China Shanghai Shenhua3–11–5
South China Hong Kong3–2Singapore Home United FC2–11–1
Persita Tangerang Indonesia0–1Thailand Osotsapa FC0–10–0
Monte Carlo Macau1–8South Korea Daejeon Citizen1–50–3
Shimizu S-Pulse Japan7–0Maldives New Radiant7–00–0
Mohun Bagan India5–2Maldives Club Valencia2–23–0
Churchill Brothers India2–1Vietnam Saigon Port2–00–1

1. Regar-TadAZ disqualified following suspension of Tajik FA by FIFA and AFC.
2. Al-Quds withdrew due to insecure situation in Palestine.

Fourth qualifying round

Team 1Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
West Region
Al-Jaish Syria2–2 (1–4 p)Qatar Al Sadd1–11–1
Nisa Asgabat Turkmenistanw/o1Kuwait Al Arabi
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan4–2United Arab Emirates Al Ahli3–21–0
Esteghlal Iran2–2 (a)Uzbekistan FK Neftchy Farg'ona1–01–2
East Region
Churchill Brothers India4–7Thailand Osotsapa FC1–13–6
South China Hong Kong1–8Japan Shimizu S-Pulse0–51–3
Shanghai Shenhua China5–1Singapore Geylang United FC3–02–1
Daejeon Citizen South Korea8–1India Mohun Bagan6–02–1

Group stage

Location of the 2002–03 AFC Champions League group stage teams
Brown: Group A; Cyan: Group B; Orange: Group C; Yellow: Group D;

Group A

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Thailand BEC Tero Sasana (H) 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7
South Korea Daejeon Citizen 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 6
China Shanghai Shenhua 3 1 0 2 6 7 −1 3
Japan Kashima Antlers 3 0 1 2 5 7 −2 1
Source:
(H) Hosts
Shanghai Shenhua China1–2South Korea Daejeon Citizen
Luo Xiao 85' (Report) Han Jung-kook 8'
Kim Eun-jung 44'
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi

Kashima Antlers Japan2–2Thailand BEC Tero Sasana
Hirase 21'
Fernando 77'
(Report) Yongant 76', 90'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Al Hamdan Naser

Kashima Antlers Japan3–4China Shanghai Shenhua
Aoki 24'
Fernando 56'
Nozawa 90'
(Report) Yang Guang 1'
Zhang Yuning 11'
Martínez 31', 87'
Attendance: 6,000
Referee: Balu Sundarraj

Daejeon Citizen South Korea0–2Thailand BEC Tero Sasana
(Report) Kongpraphan 14'
Chaiman 73'
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Anura De Silva

BEC Tero Sasana Thailand2–1China Shanghai Shenhua
Thongsukh 27'
Chaiman 85'
(Report) Martínez 58'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Al Hamdan Naser

Daejeon Citizen South Korea1–0Japan Kashima Antlers
Papa Oumar 87' (Report)
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi

Group B

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
China Dalian Shide (H) 3 2 1 0 10 2 +8 7
South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 3 2 0 1 9 4 +5 6
Japan Shimizu S-Pulse 3 1 1 1 8 2 +6 4
Thailand Osotsapa FC 3 0 0 3 1 20 −19 0
Source:
(H) Hosts
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma South Korea6–0Thailand Osotsapa FC
Park Nam-yeol 22'
Kim Dae-eui 31'
Kim Do-hoon 37', 61', 83'
Drakulić 53'
(Report)
Attendance: 20,000

Shimizu S-Pulse Japan0–0China Dalian Shide
(Report)
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Kim Jong-sik

Shimizu S-Pulse Japan1–2South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Ahn Jung-hwan 53' (Report) Drakulić 74'
Kim Dae-eui 87'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ahmad Khalidi Supain

Osotsapa FC Thailand1–7China Dalian Shide
Jankam 13' (Report) Hao Haidong 27', 32', 49', 61'
Yan Song 60'
Zou Jie 80'
Dong Fangzhuo 82'
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Setiyono Midi Nitrerejo

Dalian Shide China3–1South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Hao Haidong 57', 64'
Yan Song 90'
(Report) Kim Dae-eui 51'
Attendance: 30,000

Osotsapa FC Thailand0–7Japan Shimizu S-Pulse
(Report) Takagi 23', 40'
Sawanobori 27'
Alex 50'
Ahn Jung-hwan 60', 71'
Kitajima 75'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Setiyono Midi Nitrerejo

Group C

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain (H) 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 9
Qatar Al Sadd 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
Iran Esteghlal 3 1 0 2 5 7 −2 3
Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 3 1 0 2 4 6 −2 3
Source:
(H) Hosts

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates1–0Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Harib 12' (pen.) (Report)
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: Shaban Qassem

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates2–0Qatar Al Sadd
Traoré 24'
Sanogo 89'
(Report)
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Lu Jun

Esteghlal Iran2–3Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal
Khatibi 18'
Samereh 42'
(Report) Abedzadeh 34' (o.g.)
Ricardo 42'
Abdullah 82'
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Subkhdiin Mohd Salleh

Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia1–3Qatar Al Sadd
Jumaan 57' (Report) Keita 45'
Sergio Ricardo 80'
Kamil 90'
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Shaban Qassem

Esteghlal Iran1–3United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
Samereh 67' (Report) Faisal Ali 65'
Sanogo 76'
Harib 78'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Lu Jun

Group D

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor (H) 3 3 0 0 7 0 +7 9
Iran Persepolis 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
Iraq Al-Talaba 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
Turkmenistan Nisa Asgabat 3 0 0 3 1 10 −9 0
Source:
(H) Hosts
Nisa Asgabat Turkmenistan0–3Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
(Report) Hamidullaev 44'
Soliev 57'
Koshelev 72'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Rungklay Mongkol

Al-Talaba Iraq0–1Iran Pirozi
(Report) YaYa 62'
Attendance: 5,000

Al-Talaba Iraq3–0Turkmenistan Nisa Asgabat
Abdulsada 10'
Mahmoud 24', 90'
(Report)
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Bae Jae-yong

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan1–0Iran Pirozi
Soliev 22' (Report)
Attendance: 45,000

Pirozi Iran4–1Turkmenistan Nisa Asgabat
Khanmohammadi 14', 76'
YaYa 47'
Aslanian 90'
(Report) Meredov 89' (pen.)
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Fareed Al Marzouqi

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan3–0Iraq Al-Talaba
Krokhmal 25', 57'
Goçgulyýew 37'
(Report)
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Rungklay Mongkol


Knock-out stage

Bracket

Semi-finals Final
          
1 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 4 3 7
4 China Dalian Shide 2 4 6
United Arab Emirates Al-Ain 2 0 2
Thailand BEC Tero Sasana 0 1 1
3 Thailand BEC Tero Sasana 3 0 3
2 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 1 1 2

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
BEC Tero Sasana Thailand 3–2 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor 3–1 0–1
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates 7–6 China Dalian Shide 4–2 3–4

Matches

BEC Tero Sasana Thailand3–1Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Srimaka 41'
Fuangprakob 69'
Chaiman 84'
(Report) Soliev 80'
Attendance: 15,000
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan1–0Thailand BEC Tero Sasana
Djeperov 86' (Report)
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Toru Kamikawa

BEC Tero Sasana won 3–2 on aggregate.


Al-Ain United Arab Emirates4–2China Dalian Shide
Sanogo 62' (pen.) 83'
Omar 64'
Yaslam 75'
(Report) Hao Haidong 17'
Li Yao 88'
Dalian Shide China4–3United Arab Emirates Al-Ain
Wang Peng 27'
Janković 77'
Hao Haidong 81', 84'
(Report) Rodrigo Fabiano 46'
Omar 65'
Majidi 87'
Attendance: 46,000

Al-Ain won 7–6 on aggregate.

Final

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Al-Ain United Arab Emirates 2–1 Thailand BEC Tero Sasana 2–0 0–1

Matches

Al-Ain United Arab Emirates2–0Thailand BEC Tero Sasana
Jowhar 38'
Omar 74'

Al-Ain won 2–1 on aggregate.

Top scorers

Rank Player Team Goals
1 China Hao Haidong China Dalian Shide 9
2 Ivory Coast Boubacar Sanogo United Arab Emirates Al Ain 4
Thailand Therdsak Chaiman Thailand BEC Tero Sasana
4 Cameroon Patrick Suffo Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 3
United Arab Emirates Mohammad Omar United Arab Emirates Al Ain
Iran Ali Samereh Iran Esteghlal
Uzbekistan Anvarjon Soliev Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
South Korea Kim Dae-eui South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
South Korea Kim Do-hoon South Korea Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Honduras Saul Martínez China Shanghai Shenhua
South Korea Ahn Jung-hwan Japan Shimizu S-Pulse

Notes

  1. ^ Matches was postponed from 22 April 2003 to 30 August 2003 due to SARS outbreak in China.