The eight survivors from the AFC Cup group stage and the first ever Round of 16 match-ups - a total of 104 games - came out of the hat to be drawn for the quarter-final stage.

Syrian giants Al Karamah, who vanquished Bahrain’s Busaiteen in the last 16, will have to make their way past against Al Arabi of Kuwait, who beat Lebanon’s Safa, if their dreams of getting some continental silverware into their trophy cabinet is to come true.

Mohamed Kwid’s Karamah will play the first leg at their citadel of Homs.

Kuwait SC, another favourite for the title, are up against Arbil of Iraq. Kuwait SC trounced Dempo SC of India while Arbil got the better of another Iraqi side Al Zawra’a in the Round of 16.

Quarter-final 3 will feature Uzbek heavyweights Neftchi and Hong Kong’s storied outfit South China with the first leg in Fergana. Neftchi edged Jordan’s Al Maged on penalties while South China brushed aside Home United of Singapore in their one-off last 16 matches.

Completing the quarter-final line-up are Thailand’s impressive Chonburi FC who clash with Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong. The Thais crushed PSMS Medan of Indonesia in the Round of 16 while Binh Duong ran riot against Malaysia’s Kedah.

Teams from the same country and same group were separated for this phase of the competition, while only one team from the same country can play at home on a match day.

The two-legged quarter-finals will be played on September 15 and 30 while the semi-finals will be played on October 15 and 21. The venue for the one-off November 3 final is the home ground of the semi-final 2 winners.

AFC Cup 2009 QF Draw Results

* QUARTER-FINALS (September 15 and 30)
* QF 1 - Al Karamah (Syria) vs Al Arabi (Kuwait)
* QF2 - Kuwait SC (Kuwait) vs Arbil (Iraq)
* QF3 - Neftchi (Uzbekistan) vs South China (Hong Kong)
* QF4- Chonburi FC (Thailand) vs Becamex Binh Duong (Vietnam)

SEMI-FINALS (October 15 and 21)

* SF 1 - QF 4 winners vs QF 1 winners
* SF 2 - QF 2 winners vs QF 3 winners

FINAL (November 3)*
* SF 2 winners vs SF 1 winners

*The final is one leg. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played over two legs.