2021 AFC Cup group stage

Last updated

The 2021 AFC Cup group stage was played from 14 May to 24 August 2021. [1] A total of 38 teams should have competed in the group stage to decide the 12 places in the knockout stage of the 2021 AFC Cup. [2]

Contents

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 27 January 2021, 14:30 MYT (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [3] The 38 teams were drawn into nine groups of four and one group of three (in the Central Asia Zone): three groups each in the West Asia Zone (Groups A–C) and the ASEAN Zone (Groups G–I), two groups in the Central Asia Zone (Groups E–F), and one group each in the South Asia Zone (Group D) and the East Asia Zone (Group J). For each zone, teams were seeded into four pots and drawn into the relevant positions within each group, based on their association ranking and their seeding within their association, in consideration of technical balance between groups. Teams from the same association in zones with more than one group (West Asia Zone, Central Asia Zone, and ASEAN Zone) could not be drawn into the same group. [4]

Originally, 39 teams entered into the group stage draw, which included the 35 direct entrants and the four winners of the play-off round of the qualifying play-offs, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw. However, after the withdrawal of teams from Oman and Myanmar, and promotion of Kaya–Iloilo to AFC Champions League group stage, only 37 teams would compete, including 34 direct entrants, one winner of the play-off round, and two winners of the preliminary round.

ZoneGroupsPot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4
West Asia ZoneA–C Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Salt Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Hidd Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Faisaly Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Muharraq
Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ahed Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
( Flag of Oman.svg Al-Seeb ) [note 1]
Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ansar Flag of Oman.svg Al-Nasr [note 1]
Flag of Syria.svg Tishreen Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Balata Flag of Syria.svg Al-Wahda Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Kuwait
(Winners of Play-off West Asia) [note 1]
South Asia ZoneD Flag of India.svg ATK Mohun Bagan Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bashundhara Kings Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya Flag of India.svg Bengaluru
(Winners of Play-off South Asia)
Central Asia ZoneE–F Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Nasaf (AGMK) [note 2] Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Altyn Asyr Flag of Tajikistan.svg Khujand Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Alay
Flag of Tajikistan.svg Ravshan Kulob Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Dordoi Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ahal
ASEAN ZoneG–I Flag of Cambodia.svg Visakha
( Flag of the Philippines.svg Kaya–Iloilo )
Flag of Singapore.svg Lion City Sailors Flag of Cambodia.svg Boeung Ket Flag of Singapore.svg Geylang International
Flag of Vietnam.svg Hà Nội Flag of East Timor.svg Lalenok United
(Winners of Preliminary ASEAN 2.2 )
( Flag of Myanmar.svg Shan United ) [note 3]
Flag of Vietnam.svg Sài Gòn Flag placeholder.svg TBD (Winners of Preliminary ASEAN 2.1)
(Winners of Play-off ASEAN 1) [note 3]
Flag of Malaysia.svg Kedah Flag of Indonesia.svg Bali United Flag of Malaysia.svg Terengganu Flag of Indonesia.svg Persipura Jayapura
(Winners of Play-off ASEAN 2) [note 3]
East Asia ZoneJ Flag of Hong Kong.svg Eastern Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg Tainan City Flag of Mongolia.svg Athletic 220 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Lee Man
Standby teams [note 2]

Format

In the group stage, each group was played on a single round-robin basis in centralised venues. The following teams advanced to the knockout stage:

Tiebreakers

The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Article 8.3): [2]

  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams; (not applicable since the matches were played in a centralised venue)
  5. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  6. Goal difference in all group matches;
  7. Goals scored in all group matches;
  8. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams playing each other in the last round of the group are tied;
  9. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  10. Association ranking;
  11. Drawing of lots.

Schedule

The schedule of each matchday was as follows. [1]

MatchdayDatesMatches
West Asia [7] Central Asia [8] South Asia [9] ASEAN [10] East Asia [11] Four-team groupsThree-team group
Matchday 121 May 202114 May 202118 August 2021Cancelled23 June 2021Team 1 vs. Team 4, Team 2 vs. Team 3Team 3 vs. Team 1
Matchday 224 May 202117 May 202121 August 202126 June 2021Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 1Team 2 vs. Team 3
Matchday 327 May 202120 May 202124 August 202129 June 2021Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4Team 1 vs. Team 2

Centralised venues

On 1 March 2021, AFC confirmed the hosts for the group stage, except for Group G whose hosts were decided later. [12]

Groups

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification AHE WAH HID
1 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ahed 211021+14 Zonal semi-finals 2–1
2 Flag of Syria.svg Al-Wahda 20201102 0–0
3 Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Hidd (H)20112311 1–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Al-Wahda Flag of Syria.svg 0–0 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ahed
Live Report
Stats Report
Al Muharraq Stadium, Manama
Attendance: 0
Referee: Seyed Vahid Kazemi (Iran)

Al-Hidd Flag of Bahrain.svg 1–1 Flag of Syria.svg Al-Wahda
  • Al-Shamrani Soccerball shade.svg48'
Live Report
Stats Report

Al-Hidd Flag of Bahrain.svg 1–2 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ahed
Live Report
Stats Report
Al Muharraq Stadium, Manama
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sadullo Gulmurodi (Tajikistan)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification MUH SAL ANS MBA
1 Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Muharraq 320164+26 [lower-alpha 1] Zonal semi-finals 2–3
2 Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Salt (H)320172+56 [lower-alpha 1] 0–1 5–0
3 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ansar 31024513 [lower-alpha 2] 1–3 1–2
4 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Balata 31023963 [lower-alpha 2] 0–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Al-Muharraq 3, Al-Salt 0.
  2. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Al-Ansar 3, Markaz Balata 0.
Al-Salt Flag of Jordan.svg 0–1 Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Muharraq
Live Report
Stats Report
Abdullatif Soccerball shade.svg42'
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)
Markaz Balata Flag of Palestine.svg 0–2 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ansar
Live Report
Stats Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)

Al-Muharraq Flag of Bahrain.svg 2–3 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Balata
Live Report
Stats Report
Salem Soccerball shade.svg45+1', 55', 71'
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Chen Hsin-chuan (Chinese Taipei)
Al-Salt Flag of Jordan.svg 2–1 Flag of Lebanon.svg Al-Ansar
Live Report
Stats Report
Maatouk Soccerball shade.svg45+2' (pen.)
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nasrullo Kabirov (Tajikistan)

Al-Ansar Flag of Lebanon.svg 1–3 Flag of Bahrain.svg Al-Muharraq
Maatouk Soccerball shade.svg17' Live Report
Stats Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
Al-Salt Flag of Jordan.svg 5–0 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Balata
Live Report
Stats Report
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification KSC FAI TIS MSA
1 Flag of Kuwait.svg Al-Kuwait 321084+47 Zonal semi-finals 4–1
2 Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Faisaly (H)320131+26 0–1 1–0
3 Flag of Syria.svg Tishreen 311185+34 3–3 5–1
4 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari 300321190 0–2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Tishreen Flag of Syria.svg 3–3 Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait SC
Live Report
Stats Report
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Bijan Heidari (Iran)
Al-Faisaly Flag of Jordan.svg 2–0 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
Live Report
Stats Report
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mohammed Al-Hoish (Saudi Arabia)

Kuwait SC Flag of Kuwait.svg 4–1 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
Live Report
Stats Report
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Kim Woo-sung (South Korea)
Al-Faisaly Flag of Jordan.svg 1–0 Flag of Syria.svg Tishreen
Live Report
Stats Report
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Yaqoob Abdul Baki (Oman)

Al-Faisaly Flag of Jordan.svg 0–1 Flag of Kuwait.svg Kuwait SC
Live Report
Stats Report
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mongkolchai Pechsri (Thailand)
Tishreen Flag of Syria.svg 5–1 Flag of Palestine.svg Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari
Live Report
Stats Report
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 0
Referee: Halim Aqa Shirzad (Afghanistan)

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification AMB BSK BFC MAZ
1 Flag of India.svg ATK Mohun Bagan 321062+47 Inter-zone play-off semi-finals 1–1 2–0
2 Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bashundhara Kings 312031+25 2–0
3 Flag of India.svg Bengaluru 311164+24 0−0
4 Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya (H)300331180 1–3 2–6
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
ATK Mohun Bagan Flag of India.svg 2−0 Flag of India.svg Bengaluru
Live Report
Stats Report
National Football Stadium, Malé
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mohammad Arafah (Jordan)
Bashundhara Kings Flag of Bangladesh.svg 2–0 Flag of Maldives.svg Maziya
Live Report
Stats Report
National Football Stadium, Malé
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ali Reda (Lebanon)

Bengaluru Flag of India.svg 0−0 Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bashundhara Kings
Live Report
Stats Report
Maziya Flag of Maldives.svg 1−3 Flag of India.svg ATK Mohun Bagan
Ibrahim Soccerball shade.svg25' Live Report
Stats Report

ATK Mohun Bagan Flag of India.svg 1–1 Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bashundhara Kings
Williams Soccerball shade.svg62' Live Report
Stats Report
Fernandes Soccerball shade.svg28'
Maziya Flag of Maldives.svg 2–6 Flag of India.svg Bengaluru
Live Report
Stats Report

Group E

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification AHA DOR RAV
1 Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ahal 220051+46 Zonal finals 3–1
2 Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Dordoi (H)210132+13 0–2
3 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Ravshan Kulob 20021650 0–3
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Ahal Flag of Turkmenistan.svg 3–1 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Ravshan Kulob
Live Report
Stats Report
Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek
Attendance: 0
Referee: Shukri Al-Hunfush (Saudi Arabia)

Dordoi Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg 0–2 Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Ahal
Live Report
Stats Report
Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek
Attendance: 0
Referee: Zaid Thamer (Iraq)

Ravshan Kulob Flag of Tajikistan.svg 0–3 Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Dordoi
Live Report
Stats Report

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification NAS ALT KHU ALA
1 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Nasaf 330090+99 Zonal finals 2–0 4–0
2 Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Altyn Asyr 31117814 2–2
3 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Khujand (H)31114514 0–3 2–0
4 Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Alay 300341170 4–5
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Nasaf Flag of Uzbekistan.svg 4–0 Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Alay
Live Report
Stats Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 800
Referee: Mahmood Al-Majarafi (Oman)
Altyn Asyr Flag of Turkmenistan.svg 2–2 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Khujand
Annadurdyýew Soccerball shade.svg15', 44' Live Report
Stats Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 4,100
Referee: Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)

Alay Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg 4–5 Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Altyn Asyr
Live Report
Stats Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 400
Referee: Clifford Daypuyat (Philippines)
Khujand Flag of Tajikistan.svg 0–3 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg Nasaf
Live Report
Stats Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 2,500
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)

Nasaf Flag of Uzbekistan.svg 2–0 Flag of Turkmenistan.svg Altyn Asyr
Live Report
Stats Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 750
Referee: Mahmood Al-Majarafi (Oman)
Khujand Flag of Tajikistan.svg 2–0 Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg Alay
Live Report
Stats Report
Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Attendance: 4,300
Referee: Baraa Aisha (Palestine)

Group G (cancelled)

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts HAN BAL BOE G4
1 Flag of Vietnam.svg Hanoi 00000000 Cancelled Cancelled
2 Flag of Indonesia.svg Bali United 00000000 Cancelled
3 Flag of Cambodia.svg Boeung Ket 00000000 Cancelled Cancelled
4Flag placeholder.svg Winners of ASEAN 2.100000000 Cancelled
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group H (cancelled)

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts KED LIO SGN PPR
1 Flag of Malaysia.svg Kedah Darul Aman 00000000 Cancelled Cancelled
2 Flag of Singapore.svg Lion City Sailors 00000000 Cancelled
3 Flag of Vietnam.svg Saigon 00000000 Cancelled Cancelled
4 Flag of Indonesia.svg Persipura Jayapura 00000000 Cancelled
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group I (cancelled)

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts VIS LAL TER GEY
1 Flag of Cambodia.svg Visakha 00000000 Cancelled Cancelled
2 Flag of East Timor.svg Lalenok United 00000000 Cancelled
3 Flag of Malaysia.svg Terengganu 00000000 Cancelled Cancelled
4 Flag of Singapore.svg Geylang International 00000000 Cancelled
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group J

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification LEE EAS TNC ATH
1 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Lee Man (H)3300102+89 Inter-zone play-off finals [lower-alpha 1] 4–1
2 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Eastern (H)320121+16 0–1 1–0
3 Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg Tainan City 31024513 3–0
4 Flag of Mongolia.svg Athletic 220 30031980 1–5 0–1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
  1. After matches in ASEAN Zone was cancelled, there are only three teams which qualified to the Inter-zone play-off semi-finals, i.e., the winners of the South Asia Zone (Group D), the winners of the East Asia Zone (Group J), and the winners of the Central Zonal final. The three Zonal champions will be drawn into two pairings where one club will get a bye to the Inter-zone play-off final, which happened for Lee Man.
Tainan City Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg 3–0 Flag of Mongolia.svg Athletic 220
Live Report
Stats Report
Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, Hong Kong
Attendance: 183
Referee: Feras Taweel (Syria)
Eastern Flag of Hong Kong.svg 0–1 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Lee Man
Live Report
Stats Report
Gil Soccerball shade.svg26'
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 2,326
Referee: Payam Heydari (Iran)

Athletic 220 Flag of Mongolia.svg 0–1 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Eastern
Live Report
Stats Report
Lee Ka Yiu Soccerball shade.svg55'
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 1,004
Referee: Abdul Hakim Haidi (Brunei Darussalam)
Lee Man Flag of Hong Kong.svg 4–1 Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg Tainan City
Live Report
Stats Report
Estama Soccerball shade.svg86'

Athletic 220 Flag of Mongolia.svg 1–5 Flag of Hong Kong.svg Lee Man
Naranbold Soccerball shade.svg90+1' Live Report
Stats Report
Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, Hong Kong
Attendance: 1,621
Referee: Payam Heydari (Iran)
Eastern Flag of Hong Kong.svg 1–0 Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg Tainan City
J. Lum Soccerball shade.svg77' (pen.) Live Report
Stats Report
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 945
Referee: Ali Abdulnabi (Bahrain)

Ranking of runner-up teams

West Asia Zone

As Group A only had three teams, the results against fourth-placed teams in Groups B and C were not considered in this ranking.

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 B Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Salt 21012203 Zonal semi-finals
2 C Flag of Jordan.svg Al-Faisaly 21011103
3 A Flag of Syria.svg Al-Wahda 20201102
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

ASEAN Zone (Cancelled)

PosGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 G G200000000
2 H H200000000
3 I I200000000
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Drawing of lots.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 On 23 April 2021, the AFC announced that the two teams from Oman, Al-Seeb and Al-Nasr, withdrew from the group stage after the draw, after the suspension of all international and domestic sporting activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Oman. As a result, the AFC decided to cancel the play-off round match between Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari and Al-Kuwait, and promote both teams to the group stage. [5] Markaz Shabab Al-Am'ari would occupy position C2 (original position of Al-Seeb) and Al-Kuwait would occupy position C4 (original position of play-off round winner), while Al-Nasr (position A4) would not be replaced.
  2. 1 2 The standby teams would replace a team from the same association which played in the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs and advanced to the AFC Champions League group stage. Since AGMK advanced from the AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs to the group stage, Nasaf, which were the standby team from Uzbekistan, replaced AGMK in the AFC Cup group stage. There is no standby team from Philippines (for Kaya–Iloilo)
  3. 1 2 3 4 On 30 April 2021, the AFC announced that the two teams from Myanmar, Shan United and Hanthawady United, withdrew from the group stage and play-off stage respectively after the draw, due to the state of emergency caused by the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. As a result, the AFC decided to cancel the two play-off round matches, and promote Persipura Jayapura and the two preliminary stage winners to the group stage. [6] Persipura Jayapura would occupy position H4 (original position of play-off round winner 2), the preliminary round winner 1 would occupy position G4 (original position of play-off round winner 1), and the preliminary round winner 2 would occupy position I2 (original position of Shan United).

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References

  1. 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar 2021". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 5 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 "AFC Cup 2021 Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
  3. "Group Stage draw sets stage for thrilling 2021 AFC Cup". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 27 January 2021.
  4. "AFC Cup 2021 Draw Mechanism". Asian Football Confederation. 26 January 2021 via YouTube.
  5. "AFC's decision on the withdrawal of Oman clubs from AFC Cup". 23 April 2021.
  6. "Latest updates on AFC Club Competitions". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. "Update on AFC Cup West Zone Group Stage matches". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 27 March 2021.
  8. "AFC Club Competitions' Group Stages to be played in centralised venues". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 January 2021.
  9. "Latest update on AFC Cup (South) Group D matches". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 9 May 2021.
  10. "Update on AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Group Stage matches". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  11. "AFC Cup East Zone Group Stage matches to take place in June". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 3 May 2021.
  12. "Hosts for AFC Cup 2021 Group Stage confirmed". Asian Football Confederation. 1 March 2021.