Group E:  FC Goa, Al Rayyan kick off AFC Champions League campaign with stalemate

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group E:  FC Goa, Al Rayyan kick off AFC Champions League campaign with stalemate

Goa: India’s FC Goa kicked off their AFC Champions League debut with a 0-0 draw against Al Rayyan of Qatar in a Group E tie at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday.

The draw means FC Goa and Al Rayyan are third in Group E, two points behind Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis FC, who defeated Al Wahda of UAE 1-0 in their match earlier on Wednesday.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/fc_goa_v_al_rayyan-acl2021.html

Group E: Persepolis edge Al Wahda for winning start to AFC Champions League campaign

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group E: Persepolis edge Al Wahda for winning start to AFC Champions League campaign

Goa: Veteran defender Seyed Jalal Hosseini scored five minutes before halftime to earn last season’s AFC Champions League finalists Persepolis a 1-0 win over Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates in their opening Group E clash in Goa on Wednesday.

Persepolis, who lost last year's final to Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai, kicked off their 2021 campaign with a hard-fought win at the Pandit Jawaharial Nehru Stadium that gives Yahya Golmohammadi’s side the ideal start to their quest for an elusive continental club title.

Group B: Pakhtakor, Tractor settle for thrilling draw in AFC Champions League opener

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Group B: Pakhtakor, Tractor settle for thrilling draw in AFC Champions League opener

Sharjah: A fine display of attacking football saw Pakhtakor and Tractor FC play out a thrilling 3-3 draw at Sharjah Stadium in the opening match of the 2021 AFC Champions League Group B on Wednesday.

After a shy start to the game from both sides, it was Pakhtakor who took the initiative at the quarter-hour mark as Dragan Ceran advanced down the middle and supplied a fine through pass for Erin Derdiok who fired low from inside the box, but Tractor goalkeeper Mohammadreza Akhbari produced a quick save with his feet at the near post.

2021 AFC Champions League West: Host Venues

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League West: Host Venues

Riyadh: The 2021 AFC Champions League gets underway in an expanded new format with 40 clubs competing in 10 groups and we take look at the six venues that will be hosting the centralised West Groups A to E over the next three weeks.

Following the success of the 2020 competition held in Qatar, this year’s group stage takes place in a centralised format but across four cities in three different countries as the AFC continues to find solutions for the beautiful game in the continent to navigate the challenges of the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and - for the first time - India are hosting the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage games. the-AFC.com profiles the host grounds.

2021 AFC Champions League (West): Six Forwards in Form 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League (West): Six Forwards in Form 

Kuala Lumpur: With the 2021 AFC Champions League kick off just around the corner, the-AFC.com takes a look at the strikers who are poised to make a difference in the western side of the continent.

With no shortage of attacking talent on display, we shine the spotlight on six frontmen who are on fire in their clubs’ domestic campaigns and could be set to bring those hot streaks onto the Asian stage in this year's continental club competition.

2021 AFC Champions League (West): Six Starlets to watch

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League (West): Six Starlets to watch

Kuala Lumpur: With the newly expanded AFC Champions League 2021 group stage just around the corner, the-AFC.com picked six up and coming youngsters who could be set to break through in this year’s edition of the competition.

Some of these starlets are established players for their club sides and some have even appeared in previous AFC Champions League seasons, while several are just breaking into the starting XI, but those U23 players are all eyeing a milestone campaign over the next three weeks.

2021 AFC Champions League In Numbers

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League In Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The 2021 AFC Champions League will get underway in West Asia on Wednesday with 20 sides facing two weeks of intense action as they battle it out for qualification to the knockout rounds. 

With the 20 remaining teams from East Asia set to begin their continental campaigns a little later in the year, the-AFC.com looks at some of the numbers that stand out ahead of the start of the 19th edition of the AFC Champions League.