The AFC Champions League has been really competitive this season. Currently the competition is into the quarter-finals and three Japanese clubs still remain including the defending AFC Champions League winners Urawa Red Diamonds. These are the teams remaining. The teams in bold are the ones I predict to move on to the semi-finals. As much as I like Gamba Osaka there is no way I can deny Al-Karamah a place in the next round. They played so well last year getting to the same position, but lost to a surging Seongnam Ilhwa club. This season they have matured even more and look ready to make a bigger mark. I don't think they will get by Urawa in the next round, but improving, if even only slightly, will be excellent for a Syrian club in what is considered one of the World's best championships. Another upset I see is Uzbek club Kuruvchi getting by Iranian club Saipa Football Club. The Uzbek outfit have the tools to take out the Iranian giants. Kashima on the other hand should have no trouble with Adelaide United. The Japanese club are one of the strongest in Asia and (you may be very surprised here) one of the most recognizable football clubs in the World today. I see Urawa moving on in the semis to face Kashima for an all Japanese finale. Not sure who will win that, but I'm hoping Kashima will claim this one. To me, I've never really liked Urawa because they are a clone of Manchester United. I mean ok, the two are affiliated, but you don't have to rip off your parent club's style, right? Al-Karamah (Syria) Gamba Osaka (Japan) Al Qadisiya (Kuwait) Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) Saipa F.C. (Iran) PFC Kuruvchi (Uzbekistan) Kashima Antlers (Japan) Adelaide United (Australia) v v v v
So this is a league on it own? Or is it something like the champions league where all teams compete for the top spot?
This system is almost exactly like the UEFA Champions League except with clubs from AFC countries. Do I need to do another write-up like with the Russian Premier League? I don't mind if you guys want the info, but I'd probably not be able to get to it before a few days since I'm moving out tomorrow.
You can do it when you have time. Don't tell me that fox soccer shows highlights of this as well and I've missed it. haha So is everything set for the move? You've packed everything? Wish I was closer to help you.
So is everything set for the move? You've packed everything? Wish I was closer to help you.</div> You sure have missed it .. .. but there is still plenty left to watch. My wife is currently putting stuff away in boxes and I'm just sitting here online. I feel bad, but I'm getting in some 'net time before I turn off the computer. I won't be back for a few days I bet. It depends on how well the move goes. Back to the Champions League though, here is how the format will be next season. They are expanding how many teams can qualify to 32. Allocation of entries per association Below is the qualification scheme for the 2009 Champions League: Qualifying play-off: (8 teams) * Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Syria, Uzbekistan and Qatar each have 1 team qualify * AFC Cup 2008 Champions and Runners-up Group stage: (32 teams) * 2 qualifying play-off entries * 4 teams qualify: Japan, Korea Republic, Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Iran * 2 teams qualify: Australia * 1 team qualify: Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait and India
Not my favorite. I like to follow as much footy as possible though, and I did get K-League highlights on Setanta. Good luck on the move M! I had no idea!
I like it, the teams put up very good performances with only occasional domination matches turning up in random rounds. The current format, which was adapted from UEFA, didn't appear until 2002/03. Before that time the competition was called the Asian Club Championship from 1985 to 2002 and Asian Champion Club Tournament from 1967 to 1971. The first format was very unsuccessful though and it discontinued from 1971 until 1985 when the AFC formed a new format. They kept the championship history despite major changes not only in name, but in the format. Back in the 60's and 70's, as you may be familiar with Kobi, Israel was a part of the AFC. Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv won the very first tournament in 1967 and lost in the final in 1970 against Esteghlal FC. Another Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv won it in 1969 and 1971. Too bad Israeli clubs can't participate in the tournament anymore because they dominated the very beginning. Korea Republic now stands as having the most successful clubs in the competition's history with 7 wins total. Busan I'Park in 1986, Seongnam in 1996, Pohang Steelers in 1997 and 1998, Suwon Bluewings in 2001 and 2002 and Jeonbuk in 2006.
Ah, I know the Asian Club Championship. I had no idea it was defunct, haha...anyway, sounds like a competitive league, I might check out a few games if they're shown here in Israel. I knew Israel was once considered part of Asia in football competitions, had no idea though that Hapoel and Maccabi TA were that good compared to the opposing teams. That's pretty cool.
I'd rather have UEFA. The competition is better, the quality of the games SHOULD be better (though that doesn't always happen), the revenue and exposure (player and club wise) is much better as well. The biggest disadvantage is obviously the fact that the chances of winning the UEFA Cup (let's not even discuss the Champions league) are very slim, while the chances of succeeding in the AFC, especially for a super-rich team like Beitar Jerusalem whose owner is Arcadi Gaydamak (father of Alexander, Portsmouth's owner), are much higher.
do the teams in afc get anywhere close to the money the knockout knockouts of the uefa champions league get?
In any case, sorry to double-post here, but I could really see you guys getting into Japanese, South Korean and/or Chinese football clubs. Australia's A-League on the other hand is the AFC's equivalent to MLS.
Only problem is that the games from their respective leagues aren't shown much, if at all. Any ideas on how to get by that?
I watched Galaxy and DC on Sunday before the euro 08 final, so it was before I went to work, and the game sucked, even though they scored 5 goals. Watching MLS is like watching highschool teams in europe. haha I know I went off topic.
I find sites or blogs that keep me updated, like this one for my favorite J-League club. http://frontales-uk.blogspot.com/ There are plenty of highlight shows and I know that Fox Soccer Channel in the US and Canada are looking to sign J-League to their live matches schedule for 2009.
