What the first round of the 2012 Asian Champions League lacked in quality, it made up for in unpredictability as three recent champions made early exits from the marquee continental club competition. A number of the usual challengers from the eastern half of the draw were markedly weaker than in recent years, with 2011 runner-up and 2006 champion Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea eliminated after conceding 15 goals in six games. However, Saudi Arabian powerhouses Al-Ittihad of Jeddah, the 2004 and 2005 champion, and Riyadh's Al-Hilal topped their groups with Al-Ahli making it three out of three Saudi entrants into the next stage. Three teams from Iran also advanced, with 2007 runnerup Sepahan joined in the second round by Tehran's Persepolis and Esteghlal. Qatar was allocated four slots in the tournament, but none of its teams survived the first stage. United Arab Emirates teams have struggled in recent years of the competition, but Bani Yas and Al Jazira both booked their spots in this tear's second round that starts place next week. Japan's Gamba Osaka, the 2008 winner, lost five games, while Pohang Steelers, the Korean team which lifted an unprecedented third Asian title in 2009, was eliminated in the last of the group matches. The fall of the past champions was not a result of other teams catching up, however, as even clubs which did progress to the second round failed to impress. this possibility.” Australia's Sasa Ognenovski, who led South Korean club Seongnam Ilwa to the title two years ago and through the group stage this year, was also part of the Adelaide United team that reached the final of the 2008 edition. He believes that 2012 has, so far, not been up to the standards of recent years. “Last year was good, but perhaps this year is just a bit of a lull,” Ognenovski told The Associated Press. “The field has evened up a bit. Recently it has been Korean teams dominating and Jeonbuk should have won last year, but has struggled this year and at the moment the other teams don't seem as strong.” Jeonbuk and Osaka both lost long-serving coaches in the offseason. Jeonbuk has also had to deal with injuries while Osaka sold some of its best talent. Pohang Steelers had two of its best players drafted to the military and others move on. The Koreans were knocked out by a Bunyodkor team that no longer has international stars such as 2002 World Player of the Year Rivaldo or Luiz Felipe Scolari, the coach who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title. “Teams such as Gamba, Pohang and Bunyodkor are not as good as they were,” Ognenovski said. “Pohang is mid-table in the K-League while Gamba is not the team Adelaide played in 2008.” Chinese teams were disappointing again. Tianjin Teda and Beijing Guoan failed to win a single game while big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande, tipped by many to be a title contender, started strongly but soon faded. Only a last-minute penalty in the last game took Guangzhou through from its group along with Japan's Kashiwa Reysol. Guangzhou has since fired coach Lee Jang-soo, despite that the fact that the South Korean manager helped the team win promotion in 2010 and the Chinese Super League title in 2011. Perhaps the two most impressive performers from the eastern half of the group stage were Ulsan Horangi, which finished sixth in last year's 2011 K-league, and FC Tokyo, promoted from the second tier in Japan. Both teams had little trouble disposing of Beijing and Australian champions Brisbane Roar in their group. While Adelaide won its group, the other Australian clubs struggled. Two-time defending A-League champion Brisbane failed to win a single game and Central Coast Mariners managed just one victory. Qatar was allocated four slots in the tournament, but none of its teams survived the first stage. United Arab Emirates teams have struggled in recent years of the competition, but Bani Yas and Al Jazira both booked their spots in this tear's second round that starts place next week.
