AFC Cup 2016

This year two Hong Kong clubs take part in the annual AFC Cup, the second highest inter-club competition among Asian football federations and quasi the equivalent to the UEFA Europe League. Recently, the champion of the Hong Kong Premier League is also allowed to participate in the Asian Champions League qualification (the highest Asian inter-club competition in which Japan, China, Korea and Australia are represented among others), but until now no Hong Kong club has succeeded to qualify. However, for next year, there is a slight chance that Hong Kong might inherit a fixed group stage spot from Vietnam. In this case, local clubs would have to give up their AFC Cup participation.

Hong Kong – Group Stage Participants – 2016:
Kitchee (Premier League Champion)
South China (AFC Cup Season Play Off Winner)

The winner and runner-up of each group will advance to the final round of 16. In 2016, the AFC Cup will follow the model of the Asian Champions League that separates East and West region until the final. The round of 16 will be only one-legged, while the following quarter and semi-finals will have both home and away fixtures.


FINAL STAGE

Semi Finals

East
28 Sep 2016 – South China (HKG) / Johor Southern Tigers (MAS) -:- Bengaluru FC (IND) / Tampine Rovers (SIN)
19 Oct 2016 – Bengaluru FC (IND) / Tampine Rovers (SIN) -:- South China (HKG) / Johor Southern Tigers (MAS)

West
27 Sep 2016 – Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) / Al Jaish (SYR) -:- Al Ahed (LIB) / Al Muharraq (BHR)
18 Oct 2016 – Al Ahed (LIB) / Al Muharraq (BHR) -:- Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) / Al Jaish (SYR)

 

Quarter Finals

East
13 Sep 2016 – South China (HKG) -:- Johor Southern Tigers (MAS)
14 Sep 2016 – Bengaluru FC (IND) -:- Tampine Rovers (SIN)
20 Sep 2016 – Johor Southern Tigers (MAS) -:- South China (HKG)
21 Sep 2016 – Tampine Rovers (SIN) -:- Bengaluru FC (IND)

West
13 Sep 2016 – Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) -:- Al Jaish (SYR)
14 Sep 2016 – Al Ahed (LIB) -:- Al Muharraq (BHR)
20 Sep 2016 – Al Jaish (SYR) -:- Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ)
21 Sep 2016 – Al Muharraq (BHR) -:- Al Ahed (LIB)

 


Round of 16

East
24 May 2016 – Ceres (PHI) 0:1 South China (HKG)
24 May 2016 – Mohun Bagahn (IND) 1:2 Tampine Rovers (SIN)
25 May 2016 – Kitchee (HKG) 2:3 Bengaluru FC (IND)
25 May 2016 – Johor Southern Tigers (MAS) 7:2 Kaya FC (PHI)

West
24 May 2016 – Al Ahed (LIB) 4:0 Al Wahda (SYR)
24 May 2016 – Al Quwa Al Jawiya (IRQ) 2:1 Al Wehdat (JOR)
25 May 2016 – Naft Al Wasat (IRQ) 0:1 Al Jaish (SYR)
25 May 2016 – Al Muharraq (BHR) 1:0 Al Faisaly (JOR)


GROUP STAGE

Group F (Kitchee)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Kitchee (HKG) 6 4 1 1 8 1 7 13
2 Kaya (PHI) 6 3 1 2 5 2 3 10
3 Balestier Khalsa (SIN) 6 2 1 3 6 10 -4 7
4 New Radiant (MDV) 6 0 3 3 2 8 −6 3

23 Feb 2016 – Kitchee 1:0 Kaya
23 Feb 2016 – New Radiant 2:2 Balestier Khalsa
8 Mar 2016 – Balestier Khalsa 1:0 Kitchee
8 Mar 2016 – Kaya 1:0 New Radiant
15 Mar 2016 – Kitchee 0:0 New Radiant
15 Mar 2016 – Kaya 1:0 Balestier Khalsa
12 Apr 2016 – New Radiant 0:2 Kitchee
12 Apr 2016 – Balestier Khalsa 0:3 Kaya 
26 Apr 2016 – Kaya 0:1 Kitchee
26 Apr 2016 – Balestier Khalsa 3:0 New Radiant
10 May 2016 – Kitchee 4:0 Balestier Khalsa
10 May 2016 – New Radiant 0:0 Kaya

 

Group G (South China)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Mohun Bagan (IND) 6 3 2 1 14 9 5 11
2 South China (HKG) 6 3 0 3 9 9 0 9
3 Yangon United (MYA) 6 2 2 2 10 10 0 8
4 Maziya (MDV) 6 1 2 3 8 13 −5 5

24 Feb 2016 – Yangon United 2:1 South China
24 Feb 2016 – Mohun Bagan 5:2 Maziya
9 Mar 2016 – South China 0:4 Mohun Bagan
9 Mar 2016 – Maziya 1:1 Yangon United
16 Mar 2016 – Maziya 2:1 South China
16 Mar 2016 – Mohun Bagan 3:2 Yangon United
13 Apr 2016 – South China 2:0 Maziya
13 Apr 2016 – Yangon United 1:1 Mohun Baghan 
27 Apr 2016 – South China 2:1 Yangon United
27 Apr 2016 – Maziya 1:1 Mohun Bagan
11 May 2016 – Mohun Bagan 0:3 South China
11 May 2016 – Yangon United 3:2 Maziya

 



ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFICATION

As champion of Hong Kong’s first Premier League season Kitchee entered the second of three qualification rounds for the AFC Asian Champions League (ACL). The play-off was one-legged and hosted by the club with the FA’s higher AFC ranking.

2 Feb 2016 – Hanoi T&T (THA) 1:0 Kitchee (HKG)

If Kitchee would have won against Chonburi they would have faced Pohang Steelers (KOR) in the final qualification round, who eventually beat Hanoi 3-0 and qualified for the ACL.

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