# 2009 AFC Cup

The 2009 AFC Cup was the sixth season of the AFC Cup, a competition among clubs from member nations of the Asian Football Confederation.
With the Asian Football Confederation reviewed the format of the AFC Champions League and made significant changes to way the competition is run, the teams that qualified for the AFC Cup is also from different countries compared to the previous editions.

## Allocation of entries per association

A total of 32 clubs will participate in the 2009 AFC Cup. Below is the qualification scheme for the 2009 AFC Cup.
* 2 teams to qualify from each of the following associations:
** Hong Kong
** Iraq
** Jordan
** Kuwait
** Lebanon
** Malaysia
** Maldives
** Oman
** Syria
** Yemen
* 1 team to qualify from each of the following associations:
** Bahrain
** India
** Singapore
** Thailand
** Uzbekistan
** Vietnam
* 3 teams which did not satisfy the criteria to participate in the 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs (so each association had one additional team to qualify):
** Bahrain
** Lebanon
** Vietnam
* 3 losers from AFC Champions League 2009 qualifying play-offs

## Participating Countries in Region

Following are the 2009 AFC Cup Participants.
West Asia :
| Team | Qualifying method |
| Al-Muharraq$^1$ | 2008 AFC Cup winners 2007–08 Bahraini Premier League winners 2008 Bahraini King's Cup winners |
| Busaiteen | 2007–08 Bahraini Premier League runners-up |
| Mohun Bagan AC | 2008 Indian Federation Cup winners |
| Arbil | 2007–08 Iraqi Premier League champions |
| Al-Zawraa | 2007–08 Iraqi Premier League runners-up |
| Al-Wihdat | 2007–08 Jordan League champions |
| Al-Faisaly | 2007-08 Jordan FA Cup winners |
| Al-Kuwait | 2007–08 Kuwaiti Premier League champions |
| Al-Arabi | 2008 Kuwait Emir Cup winners |
| Safa$^1$ | 2008 AFC Cup runners-up |
| Al-Ahed | 2007–08 Lebanese Premier League champions |
| Al-Mabarrah | 2007–08 Lebanese FA Cup winners |
| Al-Orouba | 2007–08 Omani League champions |
| Al-Suwaiq | 2008 Sultan Qaboos Cup winners |
| Al-Karamah | 2007–08 Syrian Premier League champions 2007-08 Syrian Cup winners |
| Al-Majd | 2007–08 Syrian Premier League runners-up |
| Neftchi Farg'ona | 2008 Uzbek League 3rd place |
| Al-Hilal Al-Sahili | 2007–08 Yemeni League champions |
| Al-Tilal | 2007 Yemeni President Cup winners |
| Dempo | 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers |
East Asia :
| Team | Qualifying method |
| South China | 2007–08 Hong Kong First Division League champions |
| Eastern | 2007 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield winners |
| Kedah FA | 2007–08 Super League Malaysia champions 2008 Malaysia FA Cup winners |
| Johor FC | 2007–08 Super League Malaysia 3rd place |
| Club Valencia | 2008 Dhivehi League champions |
| VB Sports Club | 2008 Maldives FA Cup winners |
| Home United | 2008 S.League 3rd place |
| Chonburi | 2008 Thailand Premier League runners-up |
| Binh Duong$^1$ | 2008 V-League champions |
| Hanoi ACB | 2007–08 Vietnamese Cup winners |
| PSMS Medan | 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers |
| PEA | 2009 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off losers |
    $^1$ These clubs had qualified for the 2009 AFC Champions League, but were removed as their nations did not meet AFC Criteria.

## Round and draw dates

| Date | Match |
| 12 January | Draw for group stage |
| 10 March | Group stage Matchday 1 |
| 17 March | Group stage Matchday 2 |
| 7 April | Group stage Matchday 3 |
| 21 April | Group stage Matchday 4 |
| 5 May | Group stage Matchday 5 |
| 19 May | Group stage Matchday 6 |
| 26 May | Round of 16, West Asia |
| Date | Event |
| 23 June | Round of 16, East Asia |
| 29 June | Draw for remaining rounds |
| 15 September | Quarter-finals 1st leg |
| 30 September | Quarter-finals 2nd leg |
| 15 October | Semi-finals 1st leg |
| 21 October | Semi-finals 2nd leg |
| 3 November | Final |

## Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 12 January 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Each club plays double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs receive 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked according to points and tie breakers are in following order:
* Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
* Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply)
* Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned; (Away goals do not apply)
* Goal difference in all the group matches;
* Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
* Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
* Fewer score calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches; (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for each direct red card, 4 points for each yellow card followed by a direct red card)
* Drawing of lots.
Winners and runners-up of each group will qualify for the next round.

### Group A

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | BUS | NEF | AHD | TIL |
| Busaiteen | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 12 | | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–0 |
| Neftchi Farg'ona | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 11 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Al-Ahed | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 7 | 1–1 | 5–1 | | 3–0 |
| Al-Tilal | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 16 | −13 | 3 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 2–1 | |

### Group B

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ZAW | SAF | HIL | SUW |
| Al-Zawraa | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 13 | | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Safa | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 12 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 |
| Al-Hilal Al-Sahili | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 7 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 2–0 |
| Al-Suwaiq | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | |

### Group C

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | ARB | ARL | ORU | MAB |
| Al-Arabi | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 11 | | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Arbil | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 8 | 1–1 | | 3–0 | 3–2 |
| Al-Orouba | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 8 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 3–0 |
| Al-Mabarrah | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 6 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | |

### Group D

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | KUW | KAR | WAH | MOH |
| Al-Kuwait | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 13 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 6–0 |
| Al-Karamah | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 12 | 2–1 | | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Al-Wahdat | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 10 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 5–0 |
| Mohun Bagan | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 19 | −18 | 0 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | |

### Group E

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | MAJ | DEM | MHQ | FAI |
| Al-Majd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 13 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–3 |
| Dempo | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 10 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Al-Muharraq | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 6 | 2–3 | 1–1 | | 0–0 |
| Al-Faisaly | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −4 | 4 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 3–2 | |

### Group F

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | SC | MED | VB | JFC |
| South China | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 | +10 | 16 | | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| PSMS Medan | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 13 | 2–2 | | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| VB | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 4 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 2–0 |
| Johor FC | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 1 | 1–4 | 0–1 | 0–0 | |

### Group G

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | CHO | KED | EAS | HAN |
| 1 | Chonburi | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | +13 | 15 | Advance to knockout stage | | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 |
| 2 | Kedah | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage | 0–1 | | 2–0 | 7–0 |
| 3 | Eastern | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | −4 | 7 | | 2–1 | 3–3 | | 3–0 |
| 4 | Hanoi ACB | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 19 | −13 | 6 | | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | |

### Group H

| Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | BD | HU | PEA | VAL |
| Binh Duong | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 13 | | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Home United | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 12 | 2–1 | | 3–1 | 5–1 |
| PEA | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 10 | 1–3 | 2–1 | | 4–1 |
| Club Valencia | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 21 | −18 | 0 | 0–5 | 0–1 | 1–3 | |

## Knockout stage
### Round of 16

The draw for the round of 16 of the 2009 AFC Cup was held on 12 January 2009, along with the draw for the group stage. The Western Asia matches were played on 26 May, while the Eastern Asia matches were played on 23 June.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| West Asia |||
| Busaiteen | 1–2 (aet) | Al-Karamah |
| Al-Zawraa | 1–3 | Arbil |
| Al-Arabi | 2–1 (aet) | Safa |
| Al-Kuwait | 3–1 | Dempo |
| Al-Majd | 0–0 (aet) (1–3 p) | Neftchi Farg'ona |
| East Asia |||
| South China | 4–0 | Home United |
| Chonburi | 4–0 | PSMS Medan |
| Binh Duong | 8–2 | Kedah |

### Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals and the remaining knockout rounds took place at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 29 June 2009 starting 7:30 pm. The first leg matches were played on 15 September, with the second leg matches played on 30 September.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Al-Kuwait | 2–1 | Arbil | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Neftchi Farg'ona | 5–5 (a) | South China | 5–4 | 0–1 |
| Chonburi | 2–4 | Binh Duong | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Al-Karamah | 0–0 (5–4 p) | Al-Arabi | 0–0 | 0–0 (aet) |

### Semi-finals

The first leg matches were played on 15 October, with the second leg matches played on 21 October.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Al-Kuwait | 3–1 | South China | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Binh Duong | 2–4 | Al-Karamah | 2–1 | 0–3 |

### Final

The 2009 AFC Cup Final was played on 3 November at the home ground of Al Kuwait.
* AFC Cup 2009 Winners
* Al Kuwait First Title

## Statistics
### Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Club | MD1 | MD2 | MD3 | MD4 | MD5 | MD6 | R16 | QF1 | SF2 | Total |
| 1 | Robert Akaruye | Busaiteen | 2 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | | 1 | | | 8 |
| 1 | Mohamad Hamwi | Al-Karamah | 1 | | 2 | | | 1 | 1 | | 3 | 8 |
| 1 | Jehad Al Hussain | Al-Kuwait | | | | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | | | 8 |
| 1 | Huỳnh Kesley Alves | Binh Duong | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | 4 | | | 8 |
| 5 | Cacá | South China | 1 | | 1 | 2 | 2 | | 1 | | | 7 |
| 6 | Mohamed Koné | Chonburi | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | | 3 | | | 6 |
| 6 | Alisher Halikov | Neftchi Farg'ona | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 3 | | | | 6 |
| 8 | Mo'ayyad Abu Keshek | Al-Faisaly | | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | 5 |
| 8 | Mohd Farizal Rozali | Kedah | | | 1 | | 3 | | 1 | | | 5 |
| 8 | Ranty Martins Soleye | Dempo | 1 | 2 | | | | 2 | | | | 5 |
| 8 | Firas Al Khatib | Al-Arabi | 1 | 1 | | | | 2 | 1 | | | 5 |
| 8 | Pipob On-Mo | Chonburi | 1 | | | 1 | | 2 | | 1 | | 5 |
| 8 | Nguyễn Vũ Phong | Binh Duong | | | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 5 |