AFC Champions League: Dempo in Qualifiers

The Asian Football Confederation today conducted the draw for the 2011 AFC Champions League in Kuala Lumpur. And the Indian champions Dempo SC have been drawn in the tougher West Zone qualifiers and would either face a club side from Qatar or Syria in their quest to play with the best in the continent.

Goa's Dempo SC have been given a first round bye and on February 19, 2011 would face the winners of the match between Al Saad from Qatar vs Syria's Al Ittihad, who face each other on February 12. Only the winner would make it to the AFC Champions League group stage. The West Zone winners were drawn in Group B along with Iran's Esteghlal, Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia and Pakhtakor from Uzbekistan.

In the East Zone qualifiers Thailand's Muangthong United will face Sriwijaya from Indonesia and the winner take on Al Ain from United Arab Emirates to decide who qualifies to the East Zone. And the winner would play in Group F along with China's Hangzhou Greentown, FC Seoul from South Korea and Japan's Nagoya Grampus.


AFC Champions League 2011 – Group Stage draw

West Asia

Group A
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Al Gharafa (Qatar), Al Jazira (United Arab Emirates), Sepahan (Iran)

Group B
Esteghlal (Iran), Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan), Winner of West Play-off

Group C
Al Wahda (United Arab Emirates), Piroozi (Iran), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan)

Group D
Al Rayyan (Qatar), Emirates (United Arab Emirates), Zob Ahan (Iran), Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia)

East Asia

Group E
Jeju United (South Korea), Melbourne Victory (Australia), Gamba Osaka (Japan), Tianjin Teda (China)

Group F
Hangzhou Greentown (China), FC Seoul (South Korea), Winner of East Play-off, Nagoya Grampus (Japan)

Group G
Cerezo Osaka (Japan), Shandong Luneng (China), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea), Arema FC (Indonesia)

Group H
Sydney FC (Australia), Winner of Emperor's Cup or Kashima Antlers (Japan), Shanghai Shenhua (China), Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea)