2005 AFC Champions League
The 2005 AFC Champions League was the 24th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 3rd edition under the current AFC Champions League title. The championship was retained by the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad with a 5–3 aggregate victory over Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates. Following a 1–1 draw at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Ain in the first leg, Al-Ittihad recorded a 4–2 victory at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to lift the trophy for the second consecutive season. They also qualified  for the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup. 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: Format. The seven group winners  along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals. All 8 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. Group stage. Group A. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group B. < onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group C. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group D. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group E. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group F. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Group G. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Knock-out stage. Quarter-finals. Second leg. "Shenzhen Jianlibao won 4–3 on aggregate." "4–4 on aggregate, Al Ain won on away goals." "Busan IPark won 5–1 on aggregate." "Al-Ittihad won 8–3 on aggregate." Semi-finals. Second leg. "Al Ain won 6–0 on aggregate." "Al-Ittihad won 7–0 on aggregate." Final. Second leg. "Al-Ittihad won 5–3 on aggregate."