2020 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs

Last updated

The 2020 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs were played from 21 January to 26 February 2020, [1] before the remaining matches were suspended, and eventually cancelled by the AFC on 10 September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [2] Under the original competition format, a total of 19 teams would compete in the qualifying play-offs to decide seven of the 36 places in the group stage of the 2020 AFC Cup. [3]

Contents

Teams

The following 19 teams, split into five zones (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, ASEAN Zone, East Asia Zone), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:

ZoneTeams entering in play-off round Teams entering in preliminary round 2 Teams entering in preliminary round 1
West Asia Zone
Central Asia Zone
South Asia Zone
ASEAN Zone
East Asia Zone

Format

In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The away goals rule, extra time (away goals would not apply in extra time) and penalty shoot-out would be used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.3). [3]

Schedule

The original schedule of each round was as follows. [1] [6]

RoundWest AsiaCentral AsiaSouth AsiaASEANEast Asia
First legSecond legFirst legSecond legFirst legSecond legFirst legSecond legFirst legSecond leg
Preliminary round 1Not playedNot played22 January 202029 January 2020Not playedNot played
Preliminary round 25 February 202012 February 20205 February 202012 February 20205 February 2020 (cancelled)12 February 2020 (cancelled)
Play-off round21 January 202028 January 202019 February 202026 February 202019 February 202026 February 202022 January 202029 January 202019 February 2020 (cancelled)26 February 2020 (cancelled)

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The East Asia Zone preliminary round 2 first leg between Ulaanbaatar City and Taipower, originally scheduled to be played on 5 February 2020 and hosted by Ulaanbaatar City, was not played as scheduled because the Mongolian government had banned Chinese nationals, including people from Taiwan, from entering Mongolia due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. [7] [8]

The AFC announced on 11 February 2020 that the East Asia Zone preliminary round and play-off round matches would be postponed to 7 and 14 April, and 21 and 28 April. [9]

The AFC announced on 18 March 2020 that all matches would be postponed until further notice. [10] [11]

On 9 July 2020, the AFC announced the new schedule for the remaining matches. [12] [13] The tie between Taipower and Ulaanbaatar City, now in the play-off round after Tai Po's withdrawal, [5] would be played as a single match on 30 September, later rescheduled to 16 October, and hosted by Taipower as they were from the higher-ranked association. [14]

The AFC announced the cancellation of the remainder of the competition on 10 September 2020, due to logistics in coordinating the five zones. [2]

Bracket

The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each zone was determined based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the second leg. [15] The seven winners of the play-off round (one each from West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, South Asia Zone, East Asia Zone, and three from ASEAN Zone) would advance to the group stage to join the 29 direct entrants.

Play-off West Asia

Play-off round
    
Flag of Palestine.svg Hilal Al-Quds 2 0 2
Flag of Oman.svg Sur 0 0 0

Play-off Central Asia

Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
        
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Neftchi — — w/o
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ahal — — —
Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Neftchi 1 0 1
Flag of Tajikistan.svg Khujand (a.e.t.) 0 3 3

Play-off South Asia

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
            
Flag of Bangladesh.svg Abahani Limited Dhaka 2 0 2
Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya (a) 2 0 2
Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya (p) 2 2 4 (4)
Flag of India.svg Bengaluru 1 3 4 (3)
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Defenders 3 2 5
Flag of Bhutan.svg Paro (a) 3 2 5
Flag of Bhutan.svg Paro 0 1 1
Flag of India.svg Bengaluru 1 9 10

Play-off ASEAN 1

Play-off round
    
Flag of East Timor.svg Lalenok United 1 1 2
Flag of Indonesia.svg PSM Makassar 4 3 7

Play-off ASEAN 2

Play-off round
    
Flag of Brunei.svg Indera 1 1 2
Flag of Myanmar.svg Yangon United 6 3 9

Play-off ASEAN 3

Play-off round
    
Flag of Cambodia.svg Svay Rieng 4 3 7
Flag of Laos.svg Master 7 1 0 1

Play-off East Asia

Play-off round
Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg Taipower —
Flag of Mongolia.svg Ulaanbaatar City —

Preliminary round 1

Summary

A total of two teams played in the preliminary round 1.

Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
South Asia Zone
Defenders Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 5–5 (a) Flag of Bhutan.svg Paro 3–3 2–2

South Asia Zone

Defenders Flag of Sri Lanka.svg 3–3 Flag of Bhutan.svg Paro
  • Kumara Soccerball shade.svg4', 63'
  • Asante Soccerball shade.svg36'
 Report
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo [note 2]
Attendance: 2,100
Referee: Bijan Heidari (Iran)
Paro Flag of Bhutan.svg 2–2 Flag of Sri Lanka.svg Defenders
Report
Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu [note 3]
Attendance: 7,128
Referee: Timur Faizullin (Kyrgyzstan)

5–5 on aggregate. Paro won on away goals.

Preliminary round 2

Summary

A total of 8 teams played in the preliminary round 2: seven teams which entered in this round, and one winner of the preliminary round 1.

Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
Central Asia Zone
Neftchi Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg w/o [†] Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ahal — —
Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
South Asia Zone
Paro Flag of Bhutan.svg 1–10 Flag of India.svg Bengaluru 0–1 1–9
Abahani Limited Dhaka Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2–2 (a) Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya 2–2 0–0
Notes
  1. † Neftchi won on walkover after Ahal were disqualified by the AFC for failing to appear for the first leg. [16] [9]

Central Asia Zone

Neftchi Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Cancelled Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ahal
Report
Kurmanbek Stadium, Jalal-Abad
Referee: Zaid Thamer (Iraq)
Ahal Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Cancelled Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Neftchi
Report
Ashgabat Stadium, Ashgabat
Referee: Qasim Al-Hatmi (Oman)

Neftchi won on walkover after Ahal were disqualified by the AFC for failing to travel to Kyrgyzstan for the first leg due to concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. [17] [18] [19] [16] [9]

South Asia Zone

Paro Flag of Bhutan.svg 0–1 Flag of India.svg Bengaluru
Report
Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu [note 3]
Attendance: 8,140
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)
Bengaluru Flag of India.svg 9–1 Flag of Bhutan.svg Paro
Report
Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
Attendance: 1,311
Referee: Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)

Bengaluru won 10–1 on aggregate.

Abahani Limited Dhaka Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2–2 Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya
Report
Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka
Attendance: 855
Referee: Clifford Daypuyat (Philippines)
Maziya Flag of Maldives.svg 0–0 Flag of Bangladesh.svg Abahani Limited Dhaka
Report
National Football Stadium, Malé
Attendance: 747
Referee: Ahmad A'Qashah (Singapore)

2–2 on aggregate. Maziya won on away goals.

Play-off round

Summary

A total of 14 teams played in the play-off round: ten teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.

Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
West Asia Zone
Hilal Al-Quds Flag of Palestine.svg 2–0 Flag of Oman.svg Sur 2–0 0–0
Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
Central Asia Zone
Neftchi Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg 1–3 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Khujand 1–0 0–3 (a.e.t.)
Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
South Asia Zone
Maziya Flag of Maldives.svg 4–4 (4–3 p) Flag of India.svg Bengaluru 2–1 2–3 (a.e.t.)
Team 1 Agg. Team 21st leg2nd leg
ASEAN Zone
Lalenok United Flag of East Timor.svg 2–7 Flag of Indonesia.svg PSM Makassar 1–4 1–3
Indera Flag of Brunei.svg 2–9 Flag of Myanmar.svg Yangon United 1–6 1–3
Svay Rieng Flag of Cambodia.svg 7–1 Flag of Laos.svg Master 7 4–1 3–0
Team 1 Score Team 2
East Asia Zone
Taipower Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg 16 Oct Flag of Mongolia.svg Ulaanbaatar City

West Asia Zone

Hilal Al-Quds Flag of Palestine.svg 2–0 Flag of Oman.svg Sur
Report
Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram
Attendance: 500
Referee: Jansen Foo (Singapore)
Sur Flag of Oman.svg 0–0 Flag of Palestine.svg Hilal Al-Quds
Report
Al-Seeb Stadium, Seeb
Attendance: 110
Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)

Hilal Al-Quds won 2–0 on aggregate.

Central Asia Zone

Neftchi Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg 1–0 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Khujand
Report
Kurmanbek Stadium, Jalal-Abad
Attendance: 1,100
Referee: Chae Sang-hyeop (South Korea)
Khujand Flag of Tajikistan.svg 3–0 (a.e.t.) Flag of Kyrgyzstan.svg Neftchi
Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe [note 4]
Attendance: 5,200
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)

Khujand won 3–1 on aggregate.

South Asia Zone

Maziya Flag of Maldives.svg 2–1 Flag of India.svg Bengaluru
Report
National Football Stadium, Malé
Attendance: 678
Referee: Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
Bengaluru Flag of India.svg 3–2 (a.e.t.) Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya
Report
Penalties
3–4
Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
Attendance: 1,321
Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)

4–4 on aggregate. Maziya won 4–3 on penalties.

ASEAN Zone

Lalenok United Flag of East Timor.svg 1–4 Flag of Indonesia.svg PSM Makassar
Report
Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Gianyar Regency (Indonesia) [note 5]
Attendance: 335
Referee: Chen Hsin-chuan (Chinese Taipei)
PSM Makassar Flag of Indonesia.svg 3–1 Flag of East Timor.svg Lalenok United
Report
Pakansari Stadium, Cibinong [note 6]
Attendance: 686
Referee: Hasan Akrami (Iran)

PSM Makassar won 7–2 on aggregate.

Indera Flag of Brunei.svg 1–6 Flag of Myanmar.svg Yangon United
Report
Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ali Shaban (Kuwait)
Yangon United Flag of Myanmar.svg 3–1 Flag of Brunei.svg Indera
Report
Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon
Attendance: 524
Referee: Ho Wai Sing (Hong Kong)

Yangon United won 9–2 on aggregate.

Svay Rieng Flag of Cambodia.svg 4–1 Flag of Laos.svg Master 7
Report
Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh [note 7]
Attendance: 1,998
Referee: Kim Woo-sung (South Korea)
Master 7 Flag of Laos.svg 0–3 Flag of Cambodia.svg Svay Rieng
Report
New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Ammar Mahfoodh (Bahrain)

Svay Rieng won 7–1 on aggregate.

East Asia Zone

Taipower Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg Cancelled Flag of Mongolia.svg Ulaanbaatar City
Report
National Stadium, Kaohsiung

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Under the original competition format, Kitchee (Hong Kong) would enter the play-off round, and Taipower (Chinese Taipei) and Ulaanbaatar City (Mongolia) would enter the preliminary round 2. However, Tai Po (Hong Kong) withdrew from the group stage after the draw (originally drawn in Group I). [4] As a result, Kitchee entered the group stage instead of the play-off round to replace Tai Po, and Taipower and Ulaanbaatar City entered the play-off round instead of the preliminary round 2, which was cancelled. [5]
  2. ↑ Defenders played their home match at Colombo Racecourse, Colombo, instead of their regular home stadium Homagama Ground, Homagama.
  3. 1 2 Paro played their home matches at Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, instead of their regular home stadium Woochu Sports Arena, Paro.
  4. ↑ Khujand played their home match at Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, instead of their regular home stadium 20 Years of Independence Stadium, Khujand.
  5. ↑ Lalenok United played their home match in Indonesia.
  6. ↑ PSM Makassar played their home match at Pakansari Stadium, Cibinong, instead of their regular home stadium Andi Mattalata Stadium, Makassar, since it did not meet AFC regulations. [20]
  7. ↑ Svay Rieng played their home match at Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, instead of their regular home stadium Svay Rieng Stadium, Svay Rieng.

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References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar 2020". AFC. 6 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 "AFC Executive Committee announces updates to 2020 competitions calendar". AFC. 10 September 2020.
  3. 1 2 "2020 AFC Cup Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  4. ↑ "Reigning champions withdraw from Premier League". offside.hk. 30 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 "AFC Statement on AFC Cup 2020 East Zone". Asian Football Association. 9 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "AFC Cup 2020 Official Match Schedule". AFC.
  7. ↑ "Ulaanbaatar City FC v Taipower FC". Facebook (in Mongolian). Ulaanbaatar City FC. 3 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "亞足聯盃／台電足球隊仍遭蒙古拒入境 5日作客烏蘭巴托取消" (in Chinese (Taiwan)). ETToday. 3 February 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "Update on AFC Cup Preliminary Stage matches". AFC. 11 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "AFC Statement on AFC Cup 2020 matches". AFC. 18 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "AFC extends postponement of all matches and competitions". AFC. 14 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "AFC reiterates commitment to complete 2020 competitions with new calendar". AFC. 9 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "AFC Cup revised schedule". AFC. 9 July 2020.
  14. ↑ "亞足聯盃／附加賽台電10月主場迎蒙古 小組賽可能台灣或香港舉行". ETToday. 9 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "AFC Cup 2020 At A Glance". AFC.
  16. 1 2 "АФК Кубогу-2020: "Нефтчи" плей-офф баскычына автоматтык түрдө өттү" [AFC Cup 2020: "Neftchi" automatically enters the playoff stage] (in Kyrgyz). Football Federation of Kyrgyz Republic. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  17. ↑ Vershinin, Alexander (3 February 2020). "Asian soccer tournament in Turkmenistan delayed due to virus". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020.
  18. ↑ "Кубок АФК-2020: матч "Нефтчи" - "Ахал" не состоялся из-за коронавируса" (in Russian). sport.kg. 5 February 2020.
  19. ↑ "Update on AFC Cup 2020 Matches". Asian Football Confederation. 6 February 2020.
  20. ↑ "AFC Cup 2019 Grup H, PSM Makassar Ngungsi ke Stadion Pakansari". Topskor.id. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
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