Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Rayyan: Qatari side Al Rayyan will make their ninth appearance in the AFC Champions League following their 3-1 win over Islamic Republic of Iran's Saipa in Tuesday's play-off, and defender Mohammed Al Alawi believes that the 2019 edition could be a special one for The Lions.
So far the record reads: eight AFC Champions League appearances, eight AFC Champions League Group Stage eliminations for Al Rayyan.
But with a comeback win over Iranian side Saipa in the play-offs to confirm a ninth continental campaign, 2019 could be the year that breaks the knockout stage drought according to fullback Al Alawi.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: A last-minute double-salvo helped Al Rayyan come from behind to defeat Islamic Republic of Iran’s Saipa 3-1 in a 2019 AFC Champions League play-off match on Tuesday.
The home crowd at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium were left stunned as Saipa took an early lead inside four minutes as Mohammadreza Soleiman nodded the ball on to the path of Arman Ramezani who capitalised on a defensive mix-up to stab home the opener.
Three minutes later, Lucca Borges tested goalkeeper Hossein AKbarmonadi from distance, but the Saipa custodian was alert to the danger.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Goals from Dragan Ceran and Marat Bikmaev either side of the break helped Pakhtakor overcome UAE’s Al Nasr 2-1 to reach the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage.
In a game that saw three penalties awarded for handballs, it was the Uzbeks who emerged victorious at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
The hosts came racing off the blocks and had their first clear sight of goal when Brazilian Junior Dutra watched his second-minute header saved by the goalkeeper.
Pakhtakor responded swiftly as Jaloliddin Masharipov supplied a through pass for Bikmaev whose effort from a tight angle gave goalkeeper Ibrahim Essa his first test of the night.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Zobahan completed a remarkable comeback to overcome Al Gharafa 3-2 in a 2019 AFC Champions League Play-off tie on Tuesday.
The Iranian side had to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second half to progress to the group stage.
Al Gharafa broke the deadlock halfway through the opening period after midfielder Abdelaziz Hatim chested down a long pass and set up fellow Qatar international Ahmed Alaaeldin who fired first time with his left into the top corner for the hosts’ first of the game.
Alaaeldin turned from scorer to provider in the 36th minute, laying off the ball to Mehdi Taremi who slid home from the edge of the penalty box to double the Qatari side’s lead before the break.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: Al Nassr completed a quartet of Saudi clubs at the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage after cruising past Uzbekistan’s AGMK 4-0 on Tuesday night.
Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad had qualified directly to the group stage, but the Riyadh-based club had to navigate a play-off first to join the rest of the kingdom’s ‘Big four’.
The debutants from Uzbekistan had two clear-cut chances in an otherwise compact first half at Prince Faisal bin Fahad Stadium in the Saudi capital.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jinan: Shandong Luneng defender Liu Junshuai's equaliser set the Chinese Super League side on their way to their ninth appearance in the AFC Champions League after a 4-1 win over Hanoi FC on Tuesday.
Former quarter-finalists Shandong had kicked off their play-off match against Hanoi, yet to appear at the Group Stage, as favourites but the Vietnamese champions impressed in the first half, taking a deserved lead through captain Nguyen Van Quyet before the break.
Coach Li Xiaopeng responded by bringing on Liu Junshuai for Wu Xinghan after the restart and the 24-year-old made the difference, firing home after Hanoi's defence failed to deal with a Liu Binbin header across goal.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: Having joined AFC Champions League holders Kashima Antlers ahead of the 2019 season, and marked his debut with a goal in the Play-off win over Newcastle Jets, Sho Ito has his sights on Asian glory.
Of the 11 who started Tuesday's AFC Champions League Play-off for defending champions Kashima, only new signing Ito had not been a part of the historic triumph in Tehran last November.
But the former Yokohama F. Marinos forward took little time in adjusting to the continental game, opening the scoring at Kashima Soccer Stadium in the 18th minute with his maiden goal for the club.