2021_AFC_Champions_League_knockout_stage
The 2021 AFC Champions League knockout stage was played from 13 September to 23 November 2021.[1] A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2021 AFC Champions League.[2]
The group winners and three best runners-up in the group stage from each region advanced to the round of 16, with both West Region (Groups A–E) and East Region (Groups F–J) having eight qualified teams.
| Region | Group | Winners | Runners-up (best three from each region) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Region | A |  Istiklol |
 Al-Hilal |
| B |  Sharjah |
 Tractor | |
| C | Esteghlal |
— | |
| D | Al-Nassr |
— | |
| E | Persepolis |
Al-Wahda | |
| East Region | F |  Ulsan Hyundai |
 BG Pathum United |
| G |  Nagoya Grampus |
Pohang Steelers | |
| H | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
— | |
| I | Kawasaki Frontale |
Daegu FC | |
| J | Cerezo Osaka |
— |
Combination table
If two group winners played each other, the group winner marked with * hosted the match.[3]
Combination according to the three qualified teams
One-leg matches (13–14 September 2021)
|
Combinations according to the three qualified teams
One-leg matches (14–15 September 2021)
|
In the knockout stage, the 16 teams played a single-elimination tournament, with the teams split into the two regions until the final. All ties were played as a single-leg match (Regulations Article 9.1).[4] Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winners if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3 and 10.1).[2]
The schedule of each round was as follows.[1]
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round of 16 | 13–15 September 2021 |
| Quarter-finals | 16–17 October 2021 |
| Semi-finals | 19–20 October 2021 |
| Final | 23 November 2021 |
The bracket of the knockout stage was determined as follows:
| Round | Format |
|---|---|
| Round of 16 |
Matchups within East region and West region decided by a series of permutations, |
| Quarter-finals | Matchups decided by a draw
|
| Semi-finals |
|
| Final |
|
| Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
| 14 September – Sharjah | ||||||||||||||
| Sharjah | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
| 16 October – Riyadh | ||||||||||||||
| Al Wahda (p) | 1 (5) | |||||||||||||
| Al Wahda | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 14 September – Doha, Qatar | ||||||||||||||
| Al-Nassr | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Al Nassr | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 19 October – Riyadh | ||||||||||||||
| Tractor | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Al-Nassr | 1 | |||||||||||||
| 14 September – Dushanbe | ||||||||||||||
| Al-Hilal | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Istiklol | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 16 October – Riyadh | ||||||||||||||
| Persepolis | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Persepolis | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 13 September – Dubai, UAE | ||||||||||||||
| Al-Hilal | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Esteghlal | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 23 November – Riyadh | ||||||||||||||
| Al-Hilal | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Al-Hilal | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 15 September – Jeonju | ||||||||||||||
| Pohang Steelers | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (p) | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
| 17 October – Jeonju | ||||||||||||||
| BG Pathum United | 1 (2) | |||||||||||||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 14 September – Ulsan | ||||||||||||||
| Ulsan Hyundai (a.e.t.) | 3 | |||||||||||||
| Ulsan Hyundai (p) | 0 (3) | |||||||||||||
| 20 October – Jeonju | ||||||||||||||
| Kawasaki Frontale | 0 (2) | |||||||||||||
| Ulsan Hyundai | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
| 15 September – Osaka | ||||||||||||||
| Pohang Steelers (p) | 1 (5) | |||||||||||||
| Cerezo Osaka | 0 | |||||||||||||
| 17 October – Jeonju | ||||||||||||||
| Pohang Steelers | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Pohang Steelers | 3 | |||||||||||||
| 14 September – Toyota | ||||||||||||||
| Nagoya Grampus | 0 | |||||||||||||
| Nagoya Grampus | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Daegu FC | 2 | |||||||||||||
Summary
The round of 16 was played over one leg, with the matchups determined by the combination tables based on which group runners-up qualified.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Istiklol |
0–1 | Persepolis |
| Sharjah |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) |
Al-Wahda |
| Esteghlal |
0–2 | Al-Hilal |
| Al-Nassr |
1–0 | Tractor |
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ulsan Hyundai |
0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–2 p) |
Kawasaki Frontale |
| Nagoya Grampus |
4–2 | Daegu FC |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) |
BG Pathum United |
| Cerezo Osaka |
0–1 | Pohang Steelers |
West Region
| Sharjah | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Al-Wahda |
|---|---|---|
Bernard  58' |
Live Report Stats Report |
Kharbin 56' |
| Penalties | ||
| 4–5 | ||
| Esteghlal | 0–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
East Region
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | BG Pathum United |
|---|---|---|
| Gustavo 45+2' |
Live Report Stats Report |
Teerasil 76' |
| Penalties | ||
| 4–2 | ||
Summary
The quarter-finals were played over one leg, with the matchups and home team decided by draw held on 17 September at 15:00 (UTC+8) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
2–3 (a.e.t.) | Ulsan Hyundai |
| Pohang Steelers |
3–0 | Nagoya Grampus |
West Region
| Al Wahda | 1–5 | Al-Nassr |
|---|---|---|
| Matar 90+3' |
Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Persepolis | 0–3 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report |
|
East Region
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Ulsan Hyundai |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
|
| Pohang Steelers | 3–0 | Nagoya Grampus |
|---|---|---|
|
Live Report Stats Report |
Summary
The semi-finals were played over one leg.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Ulsan Hyundai |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) |
Pohang Steelers |
West Region
| Al-Nassr | 1–2 | Al-Hilal |
|---|---|---|
| Talisca 50' |
Live Report Stats Report |
|
East Region
| Ulsan Hyundai | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Pohang Steelers |
|---|---|---|
| Yun Il-lok 52' |
Live Report Stats Report |
Grant 89' |
| Penalties | ||
| 4–5 | ||
The final was played over a single leg on 23 November. The host was determined on a rotational basis, with the match hosted by team from the West Region in odd-numbered years (Regulations 9.1.2).[2]
- "AFC Competitions Calendar 2021". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 27 April 2021.
- "2021 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
- "ACL 2021 Draw Mechanism". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 26 January 2021 – via YouTube.
- "Latest update on the AFC Club Competitions in 2021 and 2022". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
- AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com
- AFC Champions League 2021, stats.the-AFC.com