# 2007 AFC Champions League

The 2007 AFC Champions League was the 26th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 5th edition under the current AFC Champions League title.
Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds became champions for the first time, beating Sepahan of Iran and becoming the fourth Japanese club to win the Asian championship, and qualified for the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup.

## Format
### Group Stage

A total of 28 clubs were divided into 7 groups of four, based on region i.e. East Asian and Southeast Asian clubs were drawn in groups E to G, while the rest were grouped in groups A to D. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order:
* Points earned between the clubs in question
* Goal Differential between the clubs in question
* Points earned within the group
* Goal Differential within the group
* Goals For within the group
The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.

### Knockout Round

All eight clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were conducted in 2 legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the match winner. If the aggregate score couldn't produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where "away goals rule" still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.

## Participating clubs

After their admission into the AFC, Australia were granted two entries. Because of this, both Thailand and Vietnam were restricted to entering just one club, with a second club from each country playing in the AFC Cup.
| West Asia | West Asia | East Asia | East Asia |
| Quarter-finals ||||
| Team | Qualifying method | Team | Qualifying method |
| | | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Defending champions |
| Group Stage ||||
| Team | Qualifying method | Team | Qualifying method |
| Esteghlal | 2005–06 Iran Pro League champions | Adelaide United | 2005–06 A-League premiers |
| Sepahan | 2005–06 Hazfi Cup winners | Sydney FC | 2006 A-League Grand Final winners |
| Al-Zawraa | 2005–06 Iraqi Premier League champions | Shandong Luneng Taishan | 2006 Chinese Super League champions & 2006 Chinese FA Cup winners |
| Al-Najaf | 2005–06 Iraqi Premier League runners-up | Shanghai Shenhua | 2006 Chinese Super League runners-up |
| Kuwait SC | 2005–06 Kuwaiti Premier League champions | Persik Kediri | 2006 Liga Indonesia Premier Division champions |
| Al-Arabi | 2006 Kuwait Emir Cup winners | Arema Malang | 2006 Copa Indonesia winners |
| Al Sadd | 2005–06 Qatar Stars League champions | Urawa Red Diamonds | 2006 J.League Division 1 champions & 2006 Emperor's Cup winners |
| Al-Rayyan | 2005–06 Emir of Qatar Cup winners | Kawasaki Frontale | 2006 J.League Division 1 runners-up |
| Al Shabab | 2005–06 Saudi Premier League champions | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 2006 K League champions |
| Al Hilal | 2005–06 Saudi Crown Prince Cup winners | Chunnam Dragons | 2006 Korean FA Cup winners |
| Al-Karamah | 2005–06 Syrian Premier League champions | Bangkok University FC | 2006 Thailand Premier League champions |
| Al-Ittihad | 2005–06 Syrian Cup winners | Gach Dong Tam Long An | 2006 V-League winners |
| Al Wahda | 2005–06 UAE Football League runners-up |
| Al Ain | 2005–06 UAE President's Cup winners |
| Pakhtakor | 2006 Uzbek League champions & 2006 Uzbekistan Cup winners |
| Neftchi Fergana | 2006 Uzbek League runners-up |

### Notes

* ^ Esteghlal were disqualified from the competition by the AFC for failing to submit their player registration form in time. Consequently, Group B was reduced to three teams.

## Group stage

The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur on 22 December, allocating teams into seven groups. In February, the AFC disqualified Esteghlal Tehran from Group B for failing to register their players in time.
Group matches were scheduled to be played over match days on 7 March 21 March 11 April 25 April 9 and 23 May 2007.

### Group A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Al-Wahda | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 13 |
| Al-Zawraa | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 11 |
| Al-Arabi | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 7 |
| Al-Rayyan | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 2 |

### Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Al-Hilal | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 8 |
| Pakhtakor | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 6 |
| Al Kuwait | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 2 |
| Esteghlal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* ↑ Esteghlal was disqualified for failing to submit their players list in time.

### Group C

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Al-Karamah | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 11 |
| Neftchi | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 10 |
| Najaf FC | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 8 |
| Al Sadd | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 4 |

### Group D

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Sepahan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 13 |
| Al-Shabab | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 10 |
| Al Ain | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 6 |
| Al-Ittihad | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | −10 | 3 |

### Group E

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 10 |
| Sydney FC | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 9 |
| Persik Kediri | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 16 | −10 | 7 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 5 |

### Group F

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 16 |
| Chunnam Dragons | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 10 |
| Arema Malang | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 4 |
| Bangkok University | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 |

### Group G

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 6 | +7 | 13 |
| Shandong Luneng Taishan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 8 | +4 | 13 |
| Adelaide United | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 8 |
| Gach Dong Tam Long An | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 18 | −14 | 0 |

## Knock-out stage
### Bracket

| Quarter finals | Quarter finals | Quarter finals | Quarter finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Sepahan (p) | 0 | 0 | 0 (5) | | | | | | | | |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 0 | 0 | 0 (4) | | | | | | | | |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 0 | 0 | 0 (4) | Sepahan | 3 | 0 | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | Al-Wahda | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | |
| Al-Wahda (a) | 0 | 1 | 1 | Al-Wahda | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | |
| Al-Hilal | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Hilal | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | Sepahan | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Seognam Ilhwa Chunma | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Al-Karamah | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Al-Karamah | 1 | 0 | 1 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 2 | 2 | 4 (3) | | | | |
| | | | | Urawa Red Diamonds (p) | 2 | 2 | 4 (5) | | | | |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2 | 2 | 4 | Urawa Red Diamonds (p) | 2 | 2 | 4 (5) | | | | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | |

### Quarter-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Sepahan | 0–0 (5–4p) | Kawasaki Frontale | 0–0 | 0–0 (a.e.t.) |
| Al-Wahda | 1–1 (a) | Al-Hilal | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Seognam Ilhwa Chunma | 4–1 | Al-Karamah | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 4–1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2006 Champion) | 2–1 | 2–0 |

#### Second leg

* Sepahan progress 5–4 on penalties after 0–0 aggregate score
* Al-Wahda progress on away goals rule with 1–1 aggregate score
* Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma progress 4–1 on aggregate
* Urawa Red Diamonds progress 4–1 on aggregate

### Semi-finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Sepahan | 3–1 | Al-Wahda | 3–1 | 0–0 |
| Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 4–4 (3–5p) | Urawa Red Diamonds | 2–2 | 2–2 (a.e.t.) |

#### Second leg

* Urawa Red Diamonds progress 5–3 on penalties after 4–4 aggregate score
* Sepahan progress 3–1 on aggregate

### Final

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Sepahan | 1–3 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 1–1 | 0–2 |

#### Second leg

* Urawa Red Diamonds win 3–1 on aggregate

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Mota | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 7 |
| 2 | Kim Dong-hyun | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 5 |
| 2 | Mehdi Seyed Salehi | Sepahan | 5 |
| 4 | Rodrigão | Al-Hilal | 4 |
| 4 | Firas Al Khatib | Al-Arabi | 4 |
| 4 | Saeed Mohsen | Najaf FC | 4 |
| 4 | Steve Corica | Sydney FC | 4 |
| 4 | Travis Dodd | Adelaide United | 4 |
| 4 | Robson Ponte | Urawa Red Diamonds | 4 |
| 10 | Magnum | Kawasaki Frontale | 3 |
| 10 | Juninho | Kawasaki Frontale | 3 |
| 10 | Kengo Nakamura | Kawasaki Frontale | 3 |
| 10 | Wang Yongpo | Shandong Luneng Taishan | 3 |
| 10 | Li Jinyu | Shandong Luneng Taishan | 3 |
| 10 | Emad Mohammed | Sepahan | 3 |
| 10 | Mahmoud Karimi | Sepahan | 3 |
| 10 | Mamadou Bagayoko | Al-Wahda | 3 |
| 10 | Waleed Al-Gizani | Al-Shabab | 3 |
| 10 | Diego Alonso | Shanghai Shenhua | 3 |
| 10 | Fernando | Adelaide United | 3 |
| 10 | Iyad Mando | Al-Karamah | 3 |
| 10 | Senghor Koupouleni | Al-Karamah | 3 |
| 10 | Tatsuya Tanaka | Urawa Red Diamonds | 3 |
| 10 | Yuichiro Nagai | Urawa Red Diamonds | 3 |
| 10 | Yuki Abe | Urawa Red Diamonds | 3 |
| 10 | Choi Sung-Kuk | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 3 |