Chaotic finale overshadows inaugural Elite league stage

Shandong Taishan's final-day withdrawal undermines the Asian Champions League Elite's first season under the new format

- JOHN DUERDEN

The story of the group stage of the AFC Champions League Elite is one dominated by Saudi Arabia and Japan and a final-day controversy that cast a shadow over the east.

The league phase of the continental tournament looked very different this time around where, instead of the ten groups of four, 24 teams were split into two, 12 in the western half of the continent and 12 in the east. Each played eight games (well, not quite, but more on that later), with the top eight going through. In total, there were 96 matches scheduled over five months or so, which meant a lot of work, travel and preparation just to eliminate eight clubs.

It also meant that progression was not that taxing for some. The sight of Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor getting through to the knockout stages despite winning just once and averaging less than a point a game - relegation form in most leagues - was not a great advert for the new format. Al Wasl of the United Arab Emirates also made it through as did Qatari pair Al Sadd and Al Rayyan, while Esteghlal are flying the flag for Iran.