Iran Sports Press
December 12

The draw for 2004 Asian Champions League was held on Friday by the Asian Football Confederation.

While the current Iranian league leaders, Zobahan, would be happy with the draw, the current Iranian champions, Sepahan have been placed in a relatively tougher group.

Zobahan are in the same group as Al Riffa (Bahrain), Qatar Sports Club (Qatar), and Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).

Sepahan are grouped with Al Arabia (Kuwait), Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), and Neftchi (Uzbekistan).

The group stage of this competition starts in February and will last 4 months. Only the group winners advance to the knock-out stages of the competition which is scheduled to take place over two legs in September. The semi-finals will be held on 20 and 27 October, and the final is scheduled for 24 November and 1 December.

The 8 groups are as follows:

Group A
Zob Ahan (Iran)
Al Riffa (Bahrain)
Qatar Sports Club (Qatar)
Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)

Group B
Al Wahda (UAE)
Al Qadisiya (Kuwait)
Air Force (Iraq)
Al Sadd (Qatar)

Group C
Al Sharjah (UAE)
Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Al Ahli (Bahrain)
Police (Iraq)

Group D
Sepahan (Iran)
Al Arabi (Kuwait)
Al Ittihad (Saudi Arabia)
Neftchi (Uzbekistan)

Group E
Chonbuk Motors (Korea Republic)
Shanghai Shenhua (China)
BEC Tero Sasana (Thailand)
Jubilo Iwata (Japan)

Group F
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vietnam)
Dalian Shide (China)
Krung Thai Bank (Thailand)
PSM Makassar (Indonesia)

Group G
Binh Dinh (Vietnam)
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (Korea Republic)
Persik Kediri (Indonesia)
Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan)

AFC Champions League 2004 Schedule

Group Stage
Match Day 1 - 11th February, 2004
Match Day 2 - 25th February, 2004
Match Day 3 - 7th April, 2004
Match Day 4 - 21st April, 2004
Match Day 5 - 5th May, 2004
Match Day 6 - 19th May, 2004

Quarter-Finals

Match Day 7 - 15th September, 2004
Match Day 8 - 22nd September, 2004

Semi-Finals
Match Day 9 - 20th October, 2004
Match Day 10 - 27th October, 2004

Final
Match Day 11 - 24th November, 2004
Match Day 12 - 1st December, 2004

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