The 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 16 to 30 January 2018.[1] A total of 22 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide eight of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.[2]
The following 22 teams, split into two regions (West Region and East Region), entered the qualifying play-offs, consisting of three rounds:
Region | Teams entering in play-off round | Teams entering in preliminary round 2 | Teams entering in preliminary round 1 |
---|---|---|---|
West Region | |||
East Region |
In the qualifying play-offs, each tie was played as a single match. Extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary (Regulations Article 9.2). The eight winners of the play-off round advanced to the group stage to join the 24 direct entrants. All losers in each round from associations with only play-off slots entered the AFC Cup group stage.[2]
The schedule of each round was as follows.[1]
Round | Match date |
---|---|
Preliminary round 1 | 16 January 2018 |
Preliminary round 2 | 23 January 2018 |
Play-off round | 30 January 2018 |
The bracket of the qualifying play-offs for each region was determined by the AFC based on the association ranking of each team, with the team from the higher-ranked association hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be placed into the same play-off.[3]
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Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
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Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
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Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
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Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
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Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
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Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
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A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Bali United ![]() |
3–1 | ![]() |
Shan United ![]() |
1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) |
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Bali United ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 19,237
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Shan United ![]() | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
|
Penalties | ||
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3–4 |
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Attendance: 257
Referee: Ahmed Al-Ali (Jordan)
A total of eight teams played in the preliminary round 2: six teams which entered in this round, and two winners of the preliminary round 1.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Eastern ![]() |
2–4 | ![]() |
Muangthong United ![]() |
5–2 | ![]() |
Chiangrai United ![]() |
2–1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
Brisbane Roar ![]() |
2–3 | ![]() |
Eastern ![]() | 2–4 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 3,305
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)
Muangthong United ![]() | 5–2 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 7,949
Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan)
Chiangrai United ![]() | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 5,960
Referee: Rowan Arumughan (India)
Brisbane Roar ![]() | 2–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 1,279
Referee: Yudai Yamamoto (Japan)
A total of 16 teams played in the play-off round: twelve teams which entered in this round, and four winners of the preliminary round 2.
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Al-Ain ![]() |
2–0 | ![]() |
Zob Ahan ![]() |
3–1 | ![]() |
Al-Gharafa ![]() |
2–1 | ![]() |
Nasaf Qarshi ![]() |
5–1 | ![]() |
Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
---|---|---|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings ![]() |
5–1 | ![]() |
Kashiwa Reysol ![]() |
3–0 | ![]() |
Shanghai SIPG ![]() |
1–0 | ![]() |
Tianjin Quanjian ![]() |
2–0 | ![]() |
Al-Ain ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
Attendance: 5,063
Referee: Mohd Amirul Izwan Yaacob (Malaysia)
Zob Ahan ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Nivon Robesh Gamini (Sri Lanka)
Al-Gharafa ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 2,936
Referee: Mohanad Qassim (Iraq)
Nasaf Qarshi ![]() | 5–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 12,843
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Suwon Samsung Bluewings ![]() | 5–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
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Attendance: 4,790
Referee: Khamis Al-Marri (Qatar)
Kashiwa Reysol ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
Attendance: 6,598
Referee: Ammar Al-Jeneibi (United Arab Emirates)
Shanghai SIPG ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
Attendance: 17,300
Referee: Ali Abdulnabi (Bahrain)
Tianjin Quanjian ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
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Live Report Stats Report |
Attendance: 23,310
Referee: Masoud Tufayelieh (Syria)