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]
Teams
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 | 
Format
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]
Schedule
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 | 
Bracket
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]
Play-off West 1
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Al-Ain | 2 | |||||||||||||
|  Malkiya | 0 | |||||||||||||
Play-off West 2
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Zob Ahan | 3 | |||||||||||||
|  Aizawl | 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off West 3
 Al-Gharafa advanced to Group A. Al-Gharafa advanced to Group A.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Al-Gharafa | 2 | |||||||||||||
|  Pakhtakor | 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off West 4
 Nasaf Qarshi advanced to Group C. Nasaf Qarshi advanced to Group C.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Nasaf Qarshi | 5 | |||||||||||||
|  Al-Faisaly | 1 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 1
 Suwon Samsung Bluewings advanced to Group H. Suwon Samsung Bluewings advanced to Group H.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5 | |||||||||||||
|  FLC Thanh Hóa | 1 | |||||||||||||
|  Eastern | 2 | |||||||||||||
|  FLC Thanh Hóa | 4 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 2
 Kashiwa Reysol advanced to Group E. Kashiwa Reysol advanced to Group E.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Kashiwa Reysol | 3 | |||||||||||||
|  Muangthong United | 0 | |||||||||||||
|  Muangthong United | 5 | |||||||||||||
|  Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 3
 Shanghai SIPG advanced to Group F. Shanghai SIPG advanced to Group F.
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Play-off East 4
 Tianjin Quanjian advanced to Group E. Tianjin Quanjian advanced to Group E.
| Preliminary round 1 | Preliminary round 2 | Play-off round | ||||||||||||
|  Tianjin Quanjian | 2 | |||||||||||||
|  Ceres–Negros | 0 | |||||||||||||
| .svg.png.webp) Brisbane Roar | 2 | |||||||||||||
|  Shan United | 1 (3) |  Ceres–Negros | 3 | |||||||||||
|  Ceres–Negros (p) | 1 (4) | |||||||||||||
Preliminary round 1
Summary
A total of four teams played in the preliminary round 1.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | 
|---|---|---|
| Bali United  | 3–1 |  Tampines Rovers | 
| Shan United  | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) |  Ceres–Negros | 
East Region
| Bali United  | 3–1 |  Tampines Rovers | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
| Shan United  | 1–1 (a.e.t.) |  Ceres–Negros | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
| Penalties | ||
| 
 | 3–4 | |
Preliminary round 2
Summary
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 |  FLC Thanh Hóa | 
| Muangthong United  | 5–2 |  Johor Darul Ta'zim | 
| Chiangrai United  | 2–1 (a.e.t.) |  Bali United | 
| Brisbane Roar .svg.png.webp) | 2–3 |  Ceres–Negros | 
East Region
| Eastern  | 2–4 |  FLC Thanh Hóa | 
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
| Muangthong United  | 5–2 |  Johor Darul Ta'zim | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
Play-off round
Summary
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 |  Malkiya | 
| Zob Ahan  | 3–1 |  Aizawl | 
| Al-Gharafa  | 2–1 |  Pakhtakor | 
| Nasaf Qarshi  | 5–1 |  Al-Faisaly | 
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | 
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 
West Region
| Zob Ahan  | 3–1 |  Aizawl | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
| Al-Gharafa  | 2–1 |  Pakhtakor | 
|---|---|---|
| Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
| Nasaf Qarshi  | 5–1 |  Al-Faisaly | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
East Region
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings  | 5–1 |  FLC Thanh Hóa | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
 | 
| Tianjin Quanjian  | 2–0 |  Ceres–Negros | 
|---|---|---|
| 
 | Live Report Stats Report | 
Notes
References
- 1 2 "AFC Competitions Calendar 2018". AFC. 11 January 2018.
- 1 2 "2018 AFC Champions League Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
- ↑ "AFC Champions League 2018 draw concluded". AFC. 6 December 2017.
External links
- AFC Champions League, the-AFC.com
- AFC Champions League 2018, stats.the-AFC.com


