The2005AFC Champions League was the 24th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 3rd edition under the current AFC Champions League title. The championship was retained by the Saudi Arabian clubAl-Ittihad with a 5–3 aggregate victory overAl Ain from the United Arab Emirates. Following a 1–1 draw at theTahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium in Al Ain in the first leg, Al-Ittihad recorded a 4–2 victory at thePrince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to lift the trophy for the second consecutive season. They also qualified for the2005 FIFA Club World Cup.
A total of 28 clubs were divided into 7 groups of four, based on region i.e. East Asian and Southeast Asian clubs were drawn in groups E to G, while the rest were grouped in groups A to D. Each club played double round-robin (home and away) against fellow three group members, a total of 6 matches each. Clubs received 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, 0pts for a loss. The clubs were ranked according to points and tie breakers were in the following order:
Points earned between the clubs in question
Goal Differential between the clubs in question
Goals For between the clubs in question
Points earned within the group
Goal Differential within the group
Goals For within the group
The seven group winners along with the defending champion advanced to the quarter-finals.
Knockout Round
All 8 clubs were randomly matched; however, the only restriction was that the clubs from the same country could not face each other in the quarter-finals. The games were conducted in 2 legs, home and away, and the aggregate score decided the match winner. If the aggregate score couldn't produce a winner, "away goals rule" was used. If still tied, clubs played extra time, where "away goals rule" still applied. If still tied, the game went to penalties.
Syria were promoted to 'mature' status (after both their representatives had reached the2004 AFC Cup final) while Bahrain were excluded from AFC competitions for 2005 following the withdrawal of both their Champions' League entrants in 2004.
Iraq (IRQ): Due to security issues and scheduling difficulties, the2003–04 Iraqi Premier League season was cancelled in June 2004 during the group stage. TheIraq Football Association decided that play-offs would be held between the top two teams from each Central Group at the time of cancellation (not includingAl-Talaba who had initially been invited to participate in theArab Champions League) to determine which clubs would qualify for the AFC Champions League. The play-offs were won byAl-Zawraa andAl-Shorta respectively.
Kuwait (KUW):Al-Qadsia were champions of the2003–04 Kuwaiti Premier League and winners of the2004 Kuwait Emir Cup but were banned from competing in all AFC competitions after Kuwaiti security personnel assaultedAl Sadd players following a match in last year's competition.
Al-Ittihad (2nd title)
Al Ain
Mohammed Kallon
PAS
Al Salmiya
Al Rayyan
Al Shurta
Al Wahda
Neftchi
Shenzhen Jianlibao
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Jubilo Iwata
Hoang Anh Gia Lai
PSM Makassar
BEC Tero
20',88'