Korea lead in ACL points and goals

AFC – KUALA LUMPUR,  Korea’s four teams not only qualified for the AFC Champions League Round of 16 but also topped the combined points table.

Defending champions Pohang Steelers, former winners Jeonbuk Motors, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Suwon Bluewings amassed 50 points out of a maximum of 72 off 24 matches in the group stage.

The four Korean representatives won among themselves 16 matches and drew two. They lost six outings.

The quartet also lead the goals record after pumping in 49 goals.

Only two Japanese sides – Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers – might have advanced to the next round, which is a one-off elimination match, but they finished only five points behind the Korean teams on 45. Their goal tally is also five less than those of the leaders.

In third place are Iran’s four teams, three of which made the cut. Tehran giants Esteghlal, Zob Ahan and Mes Kerman (who clash with each other in the R16) posted 41 points (12w, 5d, 7l).

But, surprisingly, Iranian teams failed to pick the maximum points on offer and they finished fourth on this list. The honour of third place behind Japan (45 out of a maximum of 72) goes to Qatari teams – Al Gharafa, who qualified for the elimination phase, and Al Sadd, who didn’t .

From the available 36 points, Al Gharafa and Al Sadd did well to garner 21 points.

Saudi Arabia have two teams – Al Hilal and Al Shabab – in the R16 but their four representatives collected 35 points from 24 matches (12w, 5d, 7l), scoring 35 goals. They also have a not-so-good record in picking up the maximum points possible – just 36 out of 72.

Another country which had four clubs in the running was China but only one – Beijing Guoan – crossed the hurdle. The four outfits raked in 22 points (out of 72 on offer), scoring 25 goals.

Singapore (Singapore Armed Forces FC) and Indonesia (Persipura Jayapura) had one team each playing in the group stage and they managed just four and three points respectively out of a maximum of 18.

A total of 280 goals were scored in 96 matches, which averages out to 2.92 per game for the 32 teams.

ACL 2010 – Country by country record