ACL knockout stage draw

The AFC Champions League quarter-final line-up will be clear on May 21 after the final round of group matches though only three groups (C, E and F) are yet to be decided.

The teams which have already qualified for the home-and-away knockout phase after topping their respective pools are Uzbekistan’s Kuruvchi (Group A), Saipa of Iran (Group B), Kuwait’s Al Qadsia (Group D) and Gamba Osaka of Japan (Group G).

Reigning Asian club champions Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, who received a bye through the group stage, join the fray at this point.

Important dates for the AFC Champions League knockout stage are September 17 and 24 (quarter-finals), October 8 and 22 (semi-finals) and November 5 and 12 (finals).

In the AFC Cup, Home United of Singapore (Group D) have booked their place in the last eight, and with the five group leaders and three second-best runners-up from among the groups advancing to the knockout stage, another team from Singapore, the Singapore Armed Forces FC are set to qualify as either Group E toppers or runners-up.

The AFC Cup quarter-finals are scheduled for September 16 and 23, followed by the semi-finals on October 7 and 21. The finals will be held on October 31 and November 7.