Chilling reporter pen, December 13, the AFC Champions League group stage war fell, Taishan team alone in the Chinese Super League, while the West Asian powerhouses, although the mighty, but in East Asia, Japan and South Korea still dominate. The Chinese super investment has been sharply reduced, the face of Southeast Asia brigade, but also difficult to show, can only survive in the competitive seams.
East Asia battlefield, the strength of the duel results as expected, Japan and South Korea three strong hand in hand to advance, the Chinese super Taishan alone.
In South Korea, Ulsan Hyundai, Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai all advanced. Incheon United, though a bit weaker, did well enough to beat Yokohama Marinos with 12 points. Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai were even stronger, with mediocre performances in the group stage, but advanced with victories in the final round. Coach Hong Myung-bo has to thank his former hosts Zhejiang for this, as Ulsan Hyundai would have been out of the tournament if it wasn't for a draw in Melbourne. Pohang Steelers were the best team in Korea, and even though they didn't have a full squad, they still finished first in the group with an all-Korean team.
J-League teams usually place more emphasis on the domestic league, but this year's AFC Champions League group stage is intertwined with the league championship and promotion sprints, and the technical strength of the teams is still outstanding. J2 League's Jaffa Wind Forest topped the group, both because of the advantages of the group and its own strength; Mariners did not send the main force, but beat Taishan 3-0 in the last match; Urawa Red Diamonds also had reservations at the critical moment of the end of the season in the fight for qualification to the AFC Champions League and eventually won nothing; Kawasaki Frontale lost the hope of winning the championship early, but deservedly advanced with an undefeated record. Kawasaki Frontale lost their hopes of winning the title early on, but went undefeated and deservedly so.
The Chinese Super League team returned to the first tier of the AFC Champions League after two years, with reduced investment and limited foreign aid, performing as expected. In addition to Taishan, three towns and Zhejiang team underachieved. The original port is stronger and the foreign aid is more outstanding. However, the cruel reality of the play-offs makes the overall real-world performance of the Chinese Super League comparable to the Thai Super League and the Australian Super League, and there is an obvious gap with Japan and South Korea.
Next year's AFC Champions League reform, the elite league champion prize money as high as 12 million U.S. dollars, the runner-up 4 million U.S. dollars, group stage win bonus and away subsidies will also be enhanced. For Chinese Super League clubs, the AFC Championship is no longer a "loss-making" business, but a battle for prize money. Bonus incentives, the Chinese super team is expected to introduce stronger foreign aid, help the league out of the trough. But next year, the East Asian region team reduced to 12, the competition is more intense.
The good news is that three teams - Harbour, Shenhua and Taishan - will represent China in the elite AFC Champions League next year and operate with relative stability.
In West Asia, Riyadh Crescent, Jeddah United and Riyadh Victory all advanced to the first place in the group, with only one loss in 18 group matches, a remarkable strength. The Saudi Arabian league has brought together top stars, raising their strength by at least one notch. Uzbek giants Mindanao also advanced to the second place in the group.
Riyadh Crescent, even without Neymar's help in the last four rounds of the group stage, remained undefeated and finished first in the group; Crow-led Riyadh Victory knocked out Dubai Young Nationals in the play-offs and remained undefeated in the group stage, with the advantage of the foreigner configuration on the attacking end.
Saad, Duhail, Persepolis and Tashkent Cotton Farmers failed to qualify for the West Asia Regional Championship. Ain advanced but was in a group without a Saudi team, reducing the gold content. The reform of the AFC Champions League next season will give Saudi Arabia three group stage places, with increased strength and the removal of restrictions on foreign aid registration, which will undoubtedly be good news for Saudi teams.
Qatar's summer city invested a record amount of money to bring in several star players, but most of them did not participate in the AFC Champions League. Saudi Arabia's team strength to improve, the future or monopoly of the AFC Champions League. Since 2006, West Asia has only won 17 AFC Champions League titles, and the AFC is constantly reforming to create opportunities for West Asia. In the elite league, the stronger Saudi teams are expected to win the championship under the tournament system.
