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Shah: Tampines have built on last season’s lessons

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Shah: Tampines have built on last season’s lessons

Pathum Thani: Shah Shahiran has urged Tampines Rovers FC to keep their eyes on the ball after the Singaporean side completed their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ Group H campaign with a swagger on Thursday.

The 2-0 win against Thailand’s BG Pathum United meant Tampines topped the group with 16 points, meeting the target of remaining undefeated after having failed to progress last season.

Goals from Koya Kazama and Trent Buhagiar sealed Thursday’s win, with Shah saying Tampines’ resurgence was built on lessons learned from last season.

Group H: Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) 0-1 FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Group H: Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) 0-1 FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Capas: A first-half strike from An Jae-jun gave FC Pohang Steelers a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo in their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ Group H tie on Thursday.

Pohang finished second in the standings with 13 points, three adrift of Singapore’s Tampines Rovers, who claimed top spot with Kaya rooted at the bottom with no points below BG Pathum United of Thailand.

Resilient Melbourne make Vidmar proud; Seoul’s Kim disappointed

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Resilient Melbourne make Vidmar proud; Seoul’s Kim disappointed

Seoul: Head coach Aurelio Vidmar was proud of his side’s resilience after substitute Takeshi Kanamori’s late strike earned Melbourne City FC a 1-1 draw with FC Seoul in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tie on Wednesday.

The point sees the Australian side sitting fourth in the East Zone standings with two matches remaining in the race for the eight Round of 16 spots.

MD6: FC Seoul (KOR) 1-1 Melbourne City FC (AUS)

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

MD6: FC Seoul (KOR) 1-1 Melbourne City FC (AUS)

Seoul: Melbourne City substitute Takeshi Kanamori struck 16 minutes from time to cancel out Jesse Lingard’s first-half opener for the hosts and earn the Australian side a 1-1 draw on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™.

Lingard, playing in his final game for the K League side, gave Kim Gi-dong’s side a 31st minute lead with a first-time finish but Kanamori ensured City extended their unbeaten run in the competition to four matches with a clinical strike into the corner of the home goal.
 
The result moves Melbourne City onto 10 points from six matches with FC Seoul a point behind with two games remaining in the eastern league phase of the competition, which resumes in February.

Buriram’s Jackson, Gangwon’s Chung satisfied with stalemate

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Buriram’s Jackson, Gangwon’s Chung satisfied with stalemate

Buriram: Mark Jackson and Chung Kyung-ho came away relatively pleased with the 2-2 draw between Buriram United and Gangwon FC in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Tuesday.

An action-packed encounter at Buriram Stadium saw the Thai side come from behind to lead 2-1 before Kim Dae-won’s 74th penalty meant a share of the points, with Jackson praising the response shown by his charges.

Kuroda warns Machida to stay focused

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Kuroda warns Machida to stay focused

Machida: Machida Zelvia head coach Go Kuroda insisted his side must remain focused and stay mentally sharp following a 3-1 victory over Ulsan HD in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 tie on Tuesday.

The win meant Machida surged to 11 points but Kuroda still sent a firm message to his players after seeing them drop their focus after the break.

MD6: Buriram United (THA) 2-2 Gangwon FC (KOR)

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

MD6: Buriram United (THA) 2-2 Gangwon FC (KOR)

Buriram: Buriram United and Gangwon FC fought tooth and nail but had to settle for a thrilling 2-2 draw in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 tie at the Buriram Stadium on Tuesday.

Mo Jae-hyeon’s first-half opportunistic strike and some fine work by keeper Park Chung-hyo were undone by Ko Myeong-seok and Suphanat Mueanta’s second-half goals before Kim Dae-won netted for a share of the points.

Thailand’s Buriram moved up to eight points while Korea Republic’s Gangwon are one adrift. 

MD6: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) 3-1 Ulsan HD (KOR)

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

MD6: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) 3-1 Ulsan HD (KOR)

Machida: Japan’s Machida Zelvia enhanced their hopes of a place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Tuesday as Go Kuroda’s side registered a 3-1 win over Ulsan HD at Machida Stadium.

Hokuto Shimoda opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Takuma Nishimura doubled the lead 15 minutes later while Oh Se-hun headed in Machida’s third two minutes into the second half.
 
Um Won-sang gave Ulsan a glimmer of hope eight minutes later with a close range finish but, despite the best efforts of the side from Korea Republic, Machida held on to take a win that moves them onto 11 points after six matches. Ulsan remain on eight points.

Preview: FC Seoul (KOR) v Melbourne City FC (AUS)

Wed, 10 Dec, 2025

Preview: FC Seoul (KOR) v Melbourne City FC (AUS)

Seoul: : FC Seoul will be focused on giving Jesse Lingard a winning farewell when they host Melbourne City FC in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/25™ on Wednesday.

Former England international Lingard announced his decision to move on Friday, with FC Seoul effusive in their praise of the midfielder who has led the team as captain after overcoming a slow start.

Preview: Buriram United (THA) v Gangwon FC (KOR)

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Preview: Buriram United (THA) v Gangwon FC (KOR)

Buriram: Victory will be the only target for Buriram United and Gangwon FC when they square off in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/25™ on Tuesday.

Thailand's Buriram are eighth with seven points with Korea Republic's Gangwon one adrift.

Preview: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Ulsan HD (KOR)

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Preview: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Ulsan HD (KOR)

Machida: FC Machida Zelvia and Ulsan HD will be equally desperate for three points when they face off in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/25™ on Tuesday.

Tied on eight points, Japan's Machida sit third in the East Zone standings while Korea Republic's Ulsan HD are sixth.

East Asia Wrap: Double joy for Jeonbuk; Kashima, Beijing end long waits

Mon, 08 Dec, 2025

East Asia Wrap: Double joy for Jeonbuk; Kashima, Beijing end long waits

Seoul: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC sealed the domestic double in Korea Republic while Kashima Antlers lifted a record-extending ninth J.League crown on a dramatic final day in Japan.

Beijing FC celebrated Chinese FA Cup glory, while the race continues in Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei following a busy week of fixtures.

Join the the-AFC.com for a look back at the past week’s domestic action in East Asia.