“A dream come true” – United City, Kaya FC-Iloilo set for historic Philippines AFC Champions League double act

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

“A dream come true” – United City, Kaya FC-Iloilo set for historic Philippines AFC Champions League double act

Tashkent: Football in the Philippines will mark a day like no other on Saturday, when the nation’s top teams take their first steps in the continent’s greatest club competition; the AFC Champions League.

On opposite sides of the continent, not one, but two clubs from the Philippines Football League will play their first ever AFC Champions League matches on Saturday, with United City facing off with Beijing FC in Tashkent, while Kaya FC-Iloilo will meet BG Pathum United more than 4,000 kilometres away in Thailand.

While the Philippines national team made history of its own by reaching the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, these are uncharted waters in club football.

Never before has even one Filipino club reached the group stage – and not since Pasay City’s 1995 participation in the former Asian Club Championship have any appeared at the equivalent level - but as can often be the case at this time of the year in the archipelago, when it rains, it pours.

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Preview - Group F: BG Pathum United, Kaya FC-Iloilo equally confident ahead of AFC Champions League showdown

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - Group F: BG Pathum United, Kaya FC-Iloilo equally confident ahead of AFC Champions League showdown

Bangkok: The all Southeast Asian-affair on Saturday will feature two debutants, BG Pathum United and Kaya FC-Iloilo, with both teams seeking to claim an early advantage in Group F of the 2021 AFC Champions League. 

Pathum Thani Stadium is set for an exciting clash with hosts BG Pathum United taking on Kaya FC, who clinched the last group stage ticket after beating China PR's Shanghai Port in the playoff on Tuesday.

Preview - Group F: Viettel unfazed by Ulsan Hyundai test in AFC Champions League bow

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - Group F: Viettel unfazed by Ulsan Hyundai test in AFC Champions League bow

Bangkok: Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai FC kick off their AFC Champions League title defence against Viettel FC of Vietnam in Group F of the 2021 AFC Champions League on Saturday. 

This fight is very much a David vs Goliath clash, as the reigning Asian champions meet a debutant team well known for their resilience on the domestic scene.

Preview - Group I: United City out to make history in AFC Champions League debut against Beijing FC

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - Group I: United City out to make history in AFC Champions League debut against Beijing FC

Tashkent: Long established as the premier club in the Philippines, United City will look to make a winning start in their maiden AFC Champions League group stage appearance against Beijing FC at Bunyodkor Stadium on Saturday.

Winners of the last four league titles in their homeland, the club formerly known as Ceres-Negros will make their AFC Champions League bow against an unfamiliar Beijing side packed with youngsters, and missing recognised stars like Renato Augusto and Cedric Bakambu.

Preview - Group I: Kawasaki Frontale, Daegu FC targeting triumphant start to AFC Champions League campaigns

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - Group I: Kawasaki Frontale, Daegu FC targeting triumphant start to AFC Champions League campaigns

Tashkent: The 2021 AFC Champions League Group I gets underway with a fiery Matchday One as J-League champions Kawasaki Frontale take on Korea Republic’s Daegu FC at the Lokomotiv Stadium on Saturday.

Having never faced each other before, the two sides are in a rich vein of form going into the competition with the Kawasaki-based side having gone unbeaten in all competitions since November 2020, which was also the last time they failed to score a goal. Their Daegu-based opponents have not lost a match since mid-April.

Group G: Johor Darul Ta'zim edge Ratchaburi to get AFC Champions League bid back on track

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group G: Johor Darul Ta'zim edge Ratchaburi to get AFC Champions League bid back on track

Bangkok: Johor Darul Ta'zim registered their first win of the 2021 AFC Champions League, edging Thailand's Ratchaburi FC 1-0 in a Group G tie at the Rajamangala Stadium on Friday. 

Leandro Velazquez’s second half strike was enough to give Benjamin Mora’s side all three points as Johor Darul Ta'zim sit second in Group G with three points, ahead of Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers on goal difference.

Group H: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors hold off Chiangrai United to kick off AFC Champions League hunt

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group H: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors hold off Chiangrai United to kick off AFC Champions League hunt

Tashkent: Two-time champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors started their 2021 AFC Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Thailand’s Chiangrai United in an entertaining clash on the opening day of Group H of the competition at Bunyodkor Stadium on Friday.

The win took Jeonbuk level on points with Japan's Gamba Osaka - who defeated Singapore's Tampines Rovers earlier on Friday.