2018_AFC_Champions_League_qualifying_play-offs
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]
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 |
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]
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 |
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 | ||||||||||||
 Al-Ain
| 2 | |||||||||||||
 Malkiya
| 0 | |||||||||||||
Play-off West 2
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Zob Ahan
| 3 | |||||||||||||
 Aizawl
| 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off West 3
Al-Gharafa advanced to Group A.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Al-Gharafa
| 2 | |||||||||||||
 Pakhtakor
| 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off West 4
Nasaf Qarshi advanced to Group C.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Nasaf Qarshi
| 5 | |||||||||||||
 Al-Faisaly
| 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings advanced to Group H.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
| 5 | |||||||||||||
 FLC Thanh Hóa
| 1 | |||||||||||||
 Eastern
| 2 | |||||||||||||
| FLC Thanh Hóa
| 4 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 2
Kashiwa Reysol advanced to Group E.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Kashiwa Reysol
| 3 | |||||||||||||
 Muangthong United
| 0 | |||||||||||||
| Muangthong United
| 5 | |||||||||||||
 Johor Darul Ta'zim
| 2 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 3
Shanghai SIPG advanced to Group F.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
 Shanghai SIPG
| 1 | |||||||||||||
| Chiangrai United
| 0 | |||||||||||||
| Chiangrai United (a.e.t.)
| 2 | |||||||||||||
 Bali United
| 3 | Bali United
| 1 | |||||||||||
 Tampines Rovers
| 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 4
- Tianjin Quanjian advanced to Group E.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
| Tianjin Quanjian
| 2 | |||||||||||||
 Ceres–Negros
| 0 | |||||||||||||
 Brisbane Roar
| 2 | |||||||||||||
 Shan United
| 1 (3) | Ceres–Negros
| 3 | |||||||||||
| Ceres–Negros (p)
| 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
Summary
A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bali United |
3–1 | Tampines Rovers |
| Shan United |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) |
Ceres–Negros |
East Region
| Bali United | 3–1 | Tampines Rovers |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Shan United | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Ceres–Negros |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Penalties | ||
|
3–4 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern |
2–4 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| Muangthong United |
5–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
| Chiangrai United |
2–1 (a.e.t.) | Bali United |
| Brisbane Roar |
2–3 | Ceres–Negros |
East Region
| Eastern | 2–4 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Muangthong United | 5–2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Al-Ain |
2–0 | Malkiya |
| Zob Ahan |
3–1 | Aizawl |
| Al-Gharafa |
2–1 | Pakhtakor |
| Nasaf Qarshi |
5–1 | Al-Faisaly |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
5–1 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| Kashiwa Reysol |
3–0 | Muangthong United |
| Shanghai SIPG |
1–0 | Chiangrai United |
| Tianjin Quanjian |
2–0 | Ceres–Negros |
West Region
| Zob Ahan | 3–1 | Aizawl |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Al-Gharafa | 2–1 | Pakhtakor |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Nasaf Qarshi | 5–1 | Al-Faisaly |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
East Region
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5–1 | FLC Thanh Hóa |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Tianjin Quanjian | 2–0 | Ceres–Negros |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
- "AFC Competitions Calendar 2018". AFC. 11 January 2018.
- "AFC Champions League 2018 draw concluded". AFC. 6 December 2017.
- AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com
- AFC Champions League 2018, stats.the-AFC.com