2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs


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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:

  • 4 teams entered in the preliminary round 1.
  • 6 teams entered in the preliminary round 2.
  • 12 teams entered in the play-off round.
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]

Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Al-Ain 2
  Malkiya 0
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Zob Ahan 3
  Aizawl 1
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Al-Gharafa 2
  Pakhtakor 1
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Nasaf Qarshi 5
  Al-Faisaly 1
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Suwon Samsung Bluewings 5
  FLC Thanh Hóa 1
  Eastern 2
  FLC Thanh Hóa 4
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Kashiwa Reysol 3
  Muangthong United 0
  Muangthong United 5
  Johor Darul Ta'zim 2
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Shanghai SIPG 1
  Chiangrai United 0
  Chiangrai United (a.e.t.) 2
  Bali United 3   Bali United 1
  Tampines Rovers 1
Preliminary round 1 Preliminary round 2 Play-off round
  Tianjin Quanjian 2
  Ceres–Negros 0
  Brisbane Roar 2
  Shan United 1 (3)   Ceres–Negros 3
  Ceres–Negros (p) 1 (4)

A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.

Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Bali United   3–1   Tampines Rovers
Shan United   1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p) 		  Ceres–Negros

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
East Region
Eastern   2–4   FLC Thanh Hóa
Muangthong United   5–2   Johor Darul Ta'zim
Chiangrai United   2–1 (a.e.t.)   Bali United
Brisbane Roar   2–3   Ceres–Negros

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
West Region
Al-Ain   2–0   Malkiya
Zob Ahan   3–1   Aizawl
Al-Gharafa   2–1   Pakhtakor
Nasaf Qarshi   5–1   Al-Faisaly
Team 1  Score  Team 2
East Region
Suwon Samsung Bluewings   5–1   FLC Thanh Hóa
Kashiwa Reysol   3–0   Muangthong United
Shanghai SIPG   1–0   Chiangrai United
Tianjin Quanjian   2–0   Ceres–Negros
  1. ^ a b The identity of the play-off teams from Japan and Philippines was not known at the time of the group stage draw.
  2. ^ The kick-off of the Bali United v Tampines Rovers match was delayed from 19:30 to 20:30 local time due to bad weather.