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2020 AFC Champions League knockout stage

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The 2020 AFC Champions League knockout stage was played from 26 September to 19 December 2020 in Qatar.[1] A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2020 AFC Champions League.[2]

Qualified teams

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The winners and runners-up of each of the eight groups in the group stage advanced to the round of 16, with both West Region (Groups A–D) and East Region (Groups E–H) having eight qualified teams.

Region Group Winners Runners-up
West Region A Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli Iran Esteghlal
B Uzbekistan Pakhtakor United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli
C Iran Persepolis Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun
D Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr Qatar Al-Sadd
East Region E China Beijing FC Australia Melbourne Victory
F South Korea Ulsan Hyundai Japan FC Tokyo
G Japan Vissel Kobe South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings
H Japan Yokohama F. Marinos China Shanghai SIPG

Format

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In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. Each tie was played as a single-leg match at centralised venues, instead of the usual home-and-away two-legged basis as planned before the COVID-19 pandemic. Extra time and a penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winners if necessary.

Schedule

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The schedule of each round was as follows.

Round West Region East Region
Round of 16 26–27 September 2020 6–7 December 2020
Quarter-finals 30 September 10 December 2020
Semi-finals 3 October 2020 13 December 2020
Final 19 December 2020

The original schedule, as planned before the COVID-19 pandemic, was as follows.

  • Round of 16: 18–19 May (West Region first legs), 25–27 May (West Region second legs and East Region first legs), 16–17 June (East Region second legs)
  • Quarter-finals: 24–26 August (first legs), 14–16 September (second legs)
  • Semi-finals: 29–30 September (first legs), 20–21 October (second legs)
  • Final: 22 November (first leg), 28 November (second leg)

After meetings with representatives of the member associations from the East Region held on 2 March 2020 and from the West Region held on 7–8 March 2020, it was agreed that the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals would be moved to 10–12 and 24–26 August, 14–16 and 28–30 September, and 20–21 and 27–28 October.[3][4]

On 9 July 2020, the AFC announced the new schedule for the remaining matches, with all matches before the final played at centralised venues. The West Region round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals would be played on 26–27 September, 30 September and 3 October, and the East Region round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals would be played on 3–4 November, 25 November and 28 November. The final would be played on 5 December, at a venue in the West Region.[5][6] On 10 September 2020, the AFC announced that East Region round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals were rescheduled to be played on 6–7 December, 10 December and 13 December, and the final were rescheduled to 19 December.[7]

Venues

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On 16 July 2020, the AFC announced that Qatar would host all West Region matches after restart.[8] On 27 July 2020, the AFC announced that Malaysia would host two round of 16 matches involving teams from Group G and H, and both quarter-finals and the semi-final of the East Region.[9] However, on 9 October 2020, the AFC announced that following an agreement with Qatar Football Association, all East Region matches after restart would also be played in Qatar.[10] On 16 October 2020, the AFC announced that the final would be played in Qatar.[11]

The following centralised venues in Qatar were used:

Bracket

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The bracket of the knockout stage was determined as follows:

Round West Region East Region
Round of 16
  • Winners of Group A vs. Runners-up of Group B
  • Winners of Group B vs. Runners-up of Group A
  • Winners of Group C vs. Runners-up of Group D
  • Winners of Group D vs. Runners-up of Group C
  • Winners of Group E vs. Runners-up of Group F
  • Winners of Group F vs. Runners-up of Group E
  • Winners of Group G vs. Runners-up of Group H
  • Winners of Group H vs. Runners-up of Group G
Quarter-finals (Matchups decided by draw, involving four round of 16 winners)
  • QF West 1
  • QF West 2
(Matchups decided by draw, involving four round of 16 winners)
  • QF East 1
  • QF East 2
Semi-finals
  • SF West: Winners of QF West 1 vs. Winners of QF West 2
  • SF East: Winners of QF East 1 vs. Winners of QF East 2
Final
  • Winners of SF West vs. Winners of SF East

The bracket was decided after the draw for the quarter-finals. The draw for the West Region quarter-finals was held on 28 September 2020, 11:00 AST (UTC+3), and the draw for the East Region quarter-finals was held on 8 December 2020, 11:30 AST (UTC+3), both in Doha, Qatar.[12][13][14][15]

 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
27 September – Al Rayyan
 
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr1
 
30 September – Doha (Jassim)
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun0
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr2
 
26 September – Al Wakrah
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli0
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli (p)1 (4)
 
3 October – Doha (Jassim)
 
United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli1 (3)
 
Saudi Arabia Al-Nassr1 (3)
 
27 September – Al Rayyan
 
Iran Persepolis (p)1 (5)
 
Iran Persepolis1
 
30 September – Doha (Jassim)
 
Qatar Al-Sadd0
 
Iran Persepolis2
 
26 September – Al Wakrah
 
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor0
 
Uzbekistan Pakhtakor2
 
19 December – Al Wakrah
 
Iran Esteghlal1
 
Iran Persepolis1
 
6 December – Al Rayyan
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai2
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai3
 
10 December – Al Wakrah
 
Australia Melbourne Victory0
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai2
 
6 December – Al Rayyan
 
China Beijing FC0
 
China Beijing FC1
 
13 December – Doha (Jassim)
 
Japan FC Tokyo0
 
South Korea Ulsan Hyundai (a.e.t.)2
 
7 December – Doha (Khalifa)
 
Japan Vissel Kobe1
 
Japan Vissel Kobe2
 
10 December – Al Wakrah
 
China Shanghai SIPG0
 
Japan Vissel Kobe (p)1 (7)
 
7 December – Doha (Khalifa)
 
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings1 (6)
 
Japan Yokohama F. Marinos2
 
 
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings3
 

Round of 16

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Summary

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In the round of 16, the winners of one group played against the runners-up of another group from the same region and the matchups were determined by the group stage draw.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli
Pakhtakor Uzbekistan 2–1 Iran Esteghlal
Persepolis Iran 1–0 Qatar Al-Sadd
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia 1–0 Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Beijing FC China 1–0 Japan FC Tokyo
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea 3–0 Australia Melbourne Victory
Vissel Kobe Japan 2–0 China Shanghai SIPG
Yokohama F. Marinos Japan 2–3 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings

West Region

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Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia1–1 (a.e.t.)United Arab Emirates Shabab Al-Ahli
Live Report
Stats Report
Penalties
4–3

Pakhtakor Uzbekistan2–1Iran Esteghlal
Live Report
Stats Report

Persepolis Iran1–0Qatar Al-Sadd
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia1–0Saudi Arabia Al-Taawoun
Live Report
Stats Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ali Sabah (Iraq)

East Region

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Beijing FC China1–0Japan FC Tokyo
Live Report
Stats Report

Ulsan Hyundai South Korea3–0Australia Melbourne Victory
Live Report
Stats Report

Vissel Kobe Japan2–0China Shanghai SIPG
Live Report
Stats Report

Quarter-finals

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Summary

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In the quarter-finals, the four teams from the West Region played in two ties, and the four teams from the East Region played in two ties, with the matchups decided by draw, without any seeding or country protection. The draw for the West Region quarter-finals was held on 28 September 2020,[12][13] and the draw for the East Region quarter-finals was held on 8 December 2020.[14][15]

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia 2–0 Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Persepolis Iran 2–0 Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea 2–0 China Beijing FC
Vissel Kobe Japan 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(7–6 p)
South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings

West Region

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Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia2–0Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli
Live Report
Stats Report

Persepolis Iran2–0Uzbekistan Pakhtakor
Live Report
Stats Report

East Region

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Semi-finals

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Summary

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In the semi-finals, the two quarter-final winners from the West Region played against each other, and the two quarter-final winners from the East Region played against each other.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
West Region
Al-Nassr Saudi Arabia 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–5 p)
Iran Persepolis
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Ulsan Hyundai South Korea 2–1 (a.e.t.) Japan Vissel Kobe

West Region

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East Region

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Ulsan Hyundai South Korea2–1 (a.e.t.)Japan Vissel Kobe
Live Report
Stats Report

Final

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In the final, the two semi-final winners played against each other, at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.[11]

Persepolis Iran1–2South Korea Ulsan Hyundai
Live Report
Stats Report

Notes

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  1. ^ The semi-final of the East Region was originally scheduled to be played at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, but was moved to Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, to ensure optimum pitch conditions for the semi-final and the final.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2020". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 6 December 2019.
  2. ^ "2020 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  3. ^ "East Zone teams agree to new dates". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 2 March 2020.
  4. ^ "AFC Emergency Meetings conclude in Doha and Dubai". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 8 March 2020.
  5. ^ "AFC reiterates commitment to complete 2020 competitions with new calendar". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 9 July 2020.
  6. ^ "AFC Champions League revised schedule". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 9 July 2020.
  7. ^ "AFC Executive Committee announces updates to 2020 competitions calendar". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Qatar to host 2020 AFC Champions League in the West region". Asian Football Confederation. 16 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Malaysia to host AFC Champions League Groups G and H". Asian Football Confederation. 27 July 2020.
  10. ^ "AFC Champions League (East) to be staged in Doha". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 9 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b "AFC Champions League Final to be played in Doha, Qatar". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 16 October 2020.
  12. ^ a b "AFC Champions League (West): Quarter-finalists confirmed". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 27 September 2020.
  13. ^ a b "AFC Champions League (West): Quarter-finals decided". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 28 September 2020.
  14. ^ a b "2020 AFC Champions League (East): Quarter-final cast finalised". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 7 December 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Epic clashes ahead following 2020 AFC Champions League (East) knockout stage draw". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 8 December 2020.
  16. ^ "AFC Champions League (East) Semi-final moved to Jassim bin Hamad Stadium". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 11 December 2020.
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