Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The official draw for the Knockout Stage of the AFC Champions League 2012 Final saw the honour of hosting the climax of this year’s edition of Asia’s premier Club competition go to the winner of Semi-final Two.
The AFC Champions League Final has been decided in a one-off match since 2009 and Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai will be looking to ensure that the most eagerly anticipated match in Asian club football remains in East Asia after the first two editions were held in neutral Tokyo before hosting the final would go to one of the competing teams and determined at the Knockout Stage draw, with Ulsan K-League rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors emerging as hosts of last year’s tournament.
Ulsan are aiming to become the fourth successive Korean finalists after last year’s runners-up Jeonbuk, Pohang Steelers and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, ACL champions in 2009 and 2010 respectively, but they must first overcome the challenge of experienced continental campaigners Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia.
Adelaide United’s appearance in the two-leg 2008 final marked only the second time the ACL decider had been played in the ASEAN Zone after BEC Tero Sasana hosted Al Ain in the second-leg of the inaugural final and contesting this year’s showdown would represent a major feather in the cap for Australian football ahead of their hosting of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
However, the Reds’ first hurdle in achieving that objective is another match against familiar foes Bunyodkor, who they played twice in the Group Stage of this year’s competition and twice in the 2008 ACL semi-final, which Adelaide won 3-1 on aggregate to set-up a final with Gamaba Osaka.
The first-leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals will take place on September 19 with the return fixture on October 2 or 3 while the first-leg of the semis is on October 24 with the second-leg scheduled for a week later.
The 2012 AFC Champions League Final will be held on November 3 or 3 depending on which teams are taking part.