Hopefuls eye group stage action
4th February 2019
Kuala Lumpur: Six teams from the East and West region will begin their pursuit of reaching the 2019 AFC Champions League Finals as they clash on Tuesday, join the-AFC.com as we take a closer look of who, where and when the competition takes place.
Preliminary Stage 1 – West Zone
February 5: Al Wehdat (JOR) v Kuwait SC (KUW)
King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman, 1900 local time
Al Wehdat
A place in the competition’s preliminary phase is Al Wehdat’s reward for winning the Jordanian Pro League by some distance. The club from Amman’s first AFC Champions League appearance came during the 2002-03 qualifying rounds, and they have since failed to advance beyond the playoffs on three occasions – the most recent being in 2017.
How they qualified: Jordanian Pro League champions
Past ACLs: 2003 – Qualifying Round; 2015 – Play-offs; 2016 – Play-offs; 2017 – Play-offs
Kuwait SC
With an impressive 14 domestic league titles to their name, Kuwait SC enter the AFC Champions League fray for a sixth time following their last appearance in 2014 when they failed to progress from the playoffs. The club’s best performances to date have been group stage finishes in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
How they qualified: Kuwaiti Premier League champions
Past ACLs: 2002-03 – Qualifying Round; 2005 – Group Stage; 2007 – Group Stage; 2008 – Group Stage; 2014 – Play-offs
The winners of this tie will progress to Preliminary Stage 2 to face Islamic Republic of Iran’s Zobahan FC a week later.
Preliminary Stage 1 – East Zone
February 5: Ceres Negros FC (PHI) v Yangon United FC (MYA)
Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium, Bacolod, 1930 local time
Ceres Negros
Ceres Negros captured a second straight Philippine National League title to secure their place in the AFC Champions League qualifying rounds for the second year in a row. The club from Bacolod missed out on a berth in the group stage of the 2018 edition, losing to eventual quarter-finalists China PR’s Tianjin Quanjian after securing a surprise victory over Brisbane Roar.
How they qualified: Philippine National League champions
Past ACLs: 2018 – Play-offs
Yangon United
Yangon United will be making their second appearance in the qualifying rounds of the AFC Champions League having exited the competition during the playoff phase in 2016. They qualified for the 2019 edition after winning the Myanmar National League by a point ahead of Shan United.
How they qualified: Myanmar National League champions
Past ACLs: 2016 – Play-offs
Thailand’s Chiangrai United await the winners of this fixture in the Preliminary Stage 2 on February 12.
February 5: Home United FC (SIN) v Persija Jakarta (IDN)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore, 1930 local time
Home United
Home United make their first appearance in the AFC Champions League since being eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the competition’s inaugural season in 2002-03. The club has a strong record in the AFC Cup, reaching the semi-finals in 2004, the ASEAN Zonal Final in 2017 and – last season – the Inter-Zone Semi-finals.
How they qualified: Singapore Premier League runners-up
Past ACLs: 2002-03 – Playoffs
Persija Jakarta
Persija Jakarta are set to make their debut appearance in the AFC Champions League after claiming the 2018 Indonesia League 1 title. They competed in the AFC Cup last season, reaching the ASEAN Zonal Semi-finals before losing 6-3 on aggregate to Tuesday’s opponents.
How they qualified: Indonesia League 1 champions
No previous ACL appearances
The winners will then travel to Australia to play Newcastle Jets in the Preliminary Stage 2 a week later.
Source: the-afc.com