Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Altyn Asyr’s upcoming appearance in the AFC Cup Inter-Zone Semi-finals marks the first time a side from Turkmenistan has reached the competition’s knockout rounds, having also done so with an unbeaten record.
The Ashgabat-based club were crowned Central Asia Zonal champions after Mihail Titow’s 97th-minute goal in May ousted Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol to book a date with India’s JSW Bengaluru, who Istiklol eliminated in last year’s competition en route to their second appearance in the final.
With Central Asian sides having been represented in the AFC Cup in every edition but one since the inaugural tournament in 2004, the-AFC.com looks back at how its sides have performed over the years as Altyn Asyr look to continue the region’s recent upward trajectory.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/nasaf_v_kuwait-sc_afcc-final_2011_4_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/istiklol_2015.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/istiklol_celebrate_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/video/fc_istiklol_2-3_altyn_asyr_afc_cup_2018_group_stage.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As the 2018 AFC Cup enters the final stages, we look at some of the players who have set the competition alight this season.
Seven remaining teams vie for the 2018 AFC Cup title as the action returns after the summer break, and from DPR Korea to Iraq to the Philippines and Turkmenistan, players have put their talent on display as they aim for personal and team glory. Here are four names who have shone brightly this term and will hope to continue impressing as their sides pursue continental glory.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bengaluru: With the 2018 AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-finals fast approaching, India's Bengaluru FC have kicked off their preparations with a fresh look as newly-appointed head coach Carles Cuadrat and seven new signings took their bow in an open training session at the Bangalore Stadium on Saturday.
Bengaluru, who face Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr in the 2018 AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-finals, have signed Kean Lewis, Rino Anto, Sairuat Kima, Gursimrat Gill, Soram Poirei, Chencho Gyeltshen and Xisco Hernandez for the 2018-19 season.
The first leg of the AFC Cup Inter-Zone semi-final on August 22 will be Bengaluru's first competitive match and Cuadrat is determined to prepare his squad for what promises to be a challenging assignment.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Iraq’s Air Force Club have announced Basim Qasim's appointment as head coach ahead of the 2018 AFC Cup West Zonal Final.
The 59-year-old former Iraqi international's most recent appointment was as the Iraq national team head coach, with a friendly against Palestine earlier in August his final match in charge.
Qasim also previously handled the Iraq U-17 and U-19 teams as well as several clubs in Iraq and Yemen.
His major success was guiding Air Force Club to their inaugural AFC Cup title in 2016, before leaving shortly after to coach the Iraqi team.
The Falcons went on to secure their second consecutive club Continental title the following year.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: Goalscorers have consistently grabbed the headlines in the 2018 AFC Cup, and none more so that Home United’s prolific forward Song Ui-young, who has eight to his name and has found the back of the net in his last seven matches on the continent.
The attacking midfielder, from Korea Republic, sits two goals behind the tournament’s leading scorers, Bienvenido Maranon of Ceres Negros and Yangon United’s Sekou Sylla, and one adrift of Persija Jakarta’s Marko Simic – a trio who have all been eliminated from the competition.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: A second-half blitz from Home United saw them overcome an undermanned Ceres Negros 2-0 to be crowned 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal champions on Wednesday.
The 3-1 aggregate win heals the wounds from their loss to Ceres at the same point of the competition in 2017, and sets up an intriguing clash against DPR Korea side 4.25 SC in the Inter-Zone semi-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: One of Jordan's historic clubs is mounting an unlikely 2018 AFC Cup challenge after years of struggle as Al Jazeera dream of replicating the Continental success of domestic rivals Al Faisaly.
Jordan’s biggest rivalry today is the famous Amman derby between Al Faisaly and Al Wehdat, but long before Al Wehdat had become a dominant force in Jordanian football, there was the duopoly of Al Faisaly and Al Ahli. Al Jazeera were the first side to break that duopoly when they lifted their maiden Jordan League title in 1952, just five years into their existence.
Back-to-back league triumphs followed in 1955 and 1956, as Al Jazeera replaced Al Faisaly as Al Ahli’s main rivals and the country’s second most successful club with the league now expanding to six teams.