Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Al Duhail coach Rui Faria credited work on the training ground for his side’s qualification to the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw against Esteghlal at Azadi Stadium on Monday.
The Qatari side needed a single point from their trip to Tehran to book their place in the next stage, and they got exactly that. Roozbeh Cheshmi put Esteghlal in front in the 53rd minute, but Al Duhail responded within two minutes thanks to Edmilson’s maiden AFC Champions League goal.
“We worked hard in training in the build up to this match and it showed with our display on the pitch and the way we imposed our football on the opponents,” said the 43-year-old.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/esteghlal-al_duhail.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kawasaki: Kawasaki Frontale and Shanghai SIPG played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Tuesday with the share of the spoils meaning Group H will be decided after the last round of fixtures in two weeks’ time.
One of the games of the tournament so far witnessed some excellent attacking play as honours ended even and the fate of the sides remained in the balance.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jinan: Belgian star midfielder Marouane Fellaini was the hero on the night for Shandong Luneng with his late goal on Wednesday sealing the side's progression to the Round of 16 after a 2-1 win over Gyeongnam FC.
Ahead of Matchday Five, Italian striker Graziano Pelle had scored in every one of Shandong Luneng's 2019 AFC Champions League fixtures, and the loss of this year's second highest scorer in the competition would have been keenly felt ahead of the visit of their opponents from Korea Republic.
And, indeed, it proved a struggle from the outset with Shandong forced to opt for a different setup, with three midfielders behind a lone frontman as oppose to their usual 4-4-2 formation.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kawasaki: Kawasaki Frontale coach Toru Oniki knows his team face an uphill struggle to qualify for the knockout rounds of the 2019 AFC Champions League following their 2-2 draw with Shanghai SIPG at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium on Tuesday.
The result leaves Frontale in third place in Group H, one point behind SIPG and adrift of already-qualified Ulsan Hyundai with only one round of matches remaining.
And that means Kawasaki must defeat Sydney FC in Australia on May 21 and hope SIPG do not win their clash with the club from Korea Republic due to be played on the same day at Shanghai Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: Yu Dabao has insisted that Beijing FC can still make the knockout rounds of the 2019 AFC Champions League despite suffering a 1-0 home defeat to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Tuesday.
The hosts went into the game in second place in the Group G standings, two points behind their opponents and three ahead of Urawa Red Diamonds with two games to play.
But Korea Republic international Kim Shin-wook’s first-half goal proved decisive as the 1-0 victory for the two-time champions sealed top spot, while Urawa’s 2-1 win over Buriram United saw the Japanese team move above Beijing on goal difference.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Daegu: Kim Dae-won has described his feeling of delight upon seeing his fabulous goal put Daegu FC three up against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday as the team from Korea Republic recorded a resounding 4-0 victory to move second in Group F of the 2019 AFC Champions League.
Having lost their past two games, both against Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Daegu had fallen from first to third in the standings and were in desperate need of a win at Forest Arena to reignite their hopes of reaching the Round of 16.
With the score at 2-0 and just 10 minutes to play against already-eliminated Melbourne, Kim received the ball just outside the right side of the penalty area, maneuvered into space and fired a stunning left-footed shot into the far top corner to secure all three points with arguably one of the goals of the tournament so far.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Al Sadd defender Tarek Salman commended his side for earning a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Al Ahli which sent the Qatari side to the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 on Monday.
Ali Asad and Akram Afif scored inside the opening 15 minutes and Omar Al Somah pulled one back for Al Ahli in the second half in Doha as the hosts sealed the three points to book their place in the knock-out stage with a game to spare.
With qualification confirmed, the 2011 AFC Champions League winners can now take a breather following a busy season in which they lifted the Qatar Stars League title for the first time in six years and reached the Emir Cup semi-final just four days ahead of their win over Al Ahli.