West Asia Domestic Wrap: Al Hilal down Al Ittihad again

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

West Asia Domestic Wrap: Al Hilal down Al Ittihad again

Jeddah: Just days after their 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals, Riyadh giants Al Hilal SFC confirmed their superiority over Al Ittihad when the two sides met in the Saudi Pro League League on Friday.

Sharjah, meanwhile, kicked off their defence of the UAE Pro League on a winning note while Al Arabi and Al Gharafa continue to sit on top of the Qatar Stars League.

Last weekend also saw the Lebanon and Bahrain seasons kicking off. the-AFC.com reviews the domestic action in West Asia.

West Zonal Final 1st Leg - Preview: Al Jazeera vs Al Ahed FC

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

West Zonal Final 1st Leg - Preview: Al Jazeera vs Al Ahed FC

Amman: Jordan’s Al Jazeera and Lebanon’s Al Ahed; two sides that have previously come close to continental glory without tasting it, face-off in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Cup West Zonal final on Tuesday.

It promises to be an epic as both teams set their eyes on the AFC Cup final on November 2.

Ellili issues Al Jazeera rallying cry

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Ellili issues Al Jazeera rallying cry

Amman: Al Jazeera coach Chiheb Ellili believes his side has a major responsibility to the people of Jordan as they prepare to host Lebanon’s Al Ahed FC in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Cup West Zonal Final.

Al Jazeera reached the same stage of the competition in 2018 before losing out to Iraq’s Air Force Club – defeat which dashed Jordanian hopes of the nation claiming a first AFC Cup title since Shabab Al Ordon’s triumph in 2007.

However, having successfully guided his side past former champions Kuwait SC and Al Ittihad in the group stage and then Syria’s Al Jaish in the Zonal Semi-finals, Ellili is adamant that Al Jazeera are more motivated than ever to claim this year’s Continental crown.

Small details will be decisive, says Al Ahed’s Marmar

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Small details will be decisive, says Al Ahed’s Marmar

Beirut: Al Ahed FC coach Bassem Marmar believes that the smallest of details could well be decisive when his side take on Jordan’s Al Jazeera in the West Zonal Final of the 2019 AFC Cup.

Speaking before flying to Amman for Tuesday’s first leg, Marmar said that there was little to choose between the two teams who had both impressed en route to the Zonal Final.

East Asia Domestic Wrap: Beijing gain ground on Guangzhou

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

East Asia Domestic Wrap: Beijing gain ground on Guangzhou

Kuala Lumpur: Having threatened to pull away from the chasing pack, Guangzhou Evergrande are back in a battle for the title after a surprise defeat to Wuhan Zall.

There were no league matches in Japan or Hong Kong, but there was some intriguing action in Korea Republic, Mongolia and Chinese Taipei as their respective championships begin to enter the final straits of their seasons.

Central Asian Domestic Wrap: Persepolis win derby, titles decided in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Central Asian Domestic Wrap: Persepolis win derby, titles decided in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan

Tehran: A late Mehdi Abdi goal helped Persepolis win the first Tehran derby of the new season in Islamic Republic of Iran, while FC Pakhtakor became champions of Uzbekistan in a significant week of Central Asian action.

Afghanistan’s Toofan Harirod also sealed a national title, while defending champions FC Dordoi racked up eight goals in their Kyrgyz Premier League clash.

Join the-AFC.com as we cover all the key results on from Shiraz to Samarkand and beyond.

Peerless Pakhtakor storm to Uzbekistan title

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Peerless Pakhtakor storm to Uzbekistan title

Bekabad: Dominant FC Pakhtakor sealed the Uzbekistan Super League title with six matches remaining, ending a four-year drought after Dostonbok Khamdanov scored both goals in a 2-1 win away at Metallurg Bekabad on Saturday.

The Tashkent-based club’s record-extending 12th domestic title comes following 12 consecutive league wins and secures direct qualification for the group stage of the 2020 AFC Champions League.

The runaway success also ends the championship streak of city rivals PFC Lokomotiv, who won three successive titles from 2016 to 2018.