Munoz: Defeat can't hide how much Svay Rieng have progressed

Sun, 11 May, 2025

Munoz: Defeat can't hide how much Svay Rieng have progressed

Phnom Penh: Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC head coach Pep Munoz didn't let the disappointment of losing the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25 final cloud his view of the bigger picture.

The Cambodian side had to settle for second place despite a valiant performance, losing 2-1 to Turkmenistan's FC Arkadag in the decider that needed 120 minutes on Saturday.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_challenge_league.html/video/challengeleague-|-final-preah-khan-reach-svay-rieng-fc-cam-1-2-aet-fc-arkadag-tkm

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www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3089043

Arkadag are deserving winners, says Allaberdiyev

Sun, 11 May, 2025

Arkadag are deserving winners, says Allaberdiyev

Phnom Penh: They may have seemed to be have been on the ropes but head coach Ahmet Allaberdiyev said FC Arkadag fully deserved to lift the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25 trophy on Saturday.

The side from Turkmenistan had to work hard to defeat a spirited Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC, who had almost 52,000 fans willing them on in the final.

Arkadag, however, weathered the storm before taking the lead through Mekan Saparow. It was cancelled out by Saret Krya to force extra-time but Altymyrat Annadurdyyew came off the bench to score the winner in the 112th minute.

Arkadag edge Svay Rieng to lift title

Sun, 11 May, 2025

Arkadag edge Svay Rieng to lift title

Phnom Penh: FC Arkadag claimed the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25 title on Saturday as Altymyrat Annadurdyyew struck eight minutes from the end of extra-time to earn the Turkmen outfit a 2-1 win over Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC at a sold-out Morodok Techo National Stadium.

Annadurdyyew netted the winner after Mekan Saparow had seen his 59th minute opener for the side from Ashgabat cancelled out by Saret Krya’s header with eight minutes remaining to take the decider into extra-time in Phnom Penh.

Head coach Ahmet Allaberdiyev’s side prevailed to become the third club from Turkmenistan to win a continental title, with Arkadag following in the footsteps of Balkan and HTTU Asgabat, who won the AFC President’s Cup in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Arkadag's Tirkisow named MVP

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Arkadag's Tirkisow named MVP

Phnom Penh: Sanazar Tirkisow was named the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25 Most Valuable Player after playing a sterling role in FC Arkadag lifting the title with a 2-1 win against Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC on Saturday.

Tirkisow was an ever present in Arkadag's title run, which saw them becoming the third team from Turkmenistan to win a major Asian trophy.

Arkadag's Annadurdyyew bags Top Scorer honour

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Arkadag's Annadurdyyew bags Top Scorer honour

Phnom Penh: Altymyrat Annadurdyyew won the AFC Challenge League™ 2024/25 Top Scorer award after netting the winning goal in FC Arkadag's title triumph against Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC on Saturday.

The centre-forward scored in the 112th minute of the final before almost 52,000 fans at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh as Arkadag became the third side from Turkmenistan to lift a major Asian trophy.

Group A: China PR 3-1 Uzbekistan

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Group A: China PR 3-1 Uzbekistan

Hohhot: China PR defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 to stay perfect in Group A of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 on Saturday.

The hosts finished with nine points with Chinese Taipei three adrift as both advanced to the quarter-finals, while Uzbekistan will need to wait for the remaining fixtures to be completed to know if they qualify as one of the two best third-placed teams.

Group A: Chinese Taipei 1-0 Australia

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Group A: Chinese Taipei 1-0 Australia

Hohhot: Chinese Taipei booked their place in the next round of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 on Saturday with a 1-0 defeat of Australia in their final group stage match.

The East Asians, who reached the quarter-finals on their debut in 2018, repeated the feat at the Hohhot Sports Centre and joined China PR in advancing from Group A.

It also meant elimination for debutants Australia, who put in their best display of the tournament so far and were perhaps unfortunate not to return home with a point.

Preview - Group B: Hong Kong, China v Philippines; IR Iran v Vietnam

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Preview - Group B: Hong Kong, China v Philippines; IR Iran v Vietnam

Hohhot: Hong Kong, China and Philippines will give it their all when they meet in their concluding AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B tie on Sunday.

Both teams, who have yet to get points on the board, will battle to earn a spot as one of the best third-placed teams in the quarter-finals.

Islamic Republic of Iran booked their spot in the knockout stage after seeing off Hong Kong, China 3-1 and joining them are Vietnam, who hit three unanswered goals against the Philippines with both teams clashing for top spot.

Preview - Group C: Indonesia v Bahrain; Thailand v Japan

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Preview - Group C: Indonesia v Bahrain; Thailand v Japan

Hohhot: The final round of matches in Group C will see three of the four teams still in with a chance to advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025.

Japan have sealed their place in the next round after withstanding a second-half barrage from Bahrain to edge their encounter 3-2 on Matchday 2, which took them to six points. 

Thailand were held by Indonesia 0-0 and need one more point to finish in the top two when they face Japan, while Bahrain know that anything less than victory against Indonesia will result in their elimination.

Australia’s Karrys-Stahl: We play for our future generations

Fri, 09 May, 2025

Australia’s Karrys-Stahl: We play for our future generations

Hohhot: When Football Australia decided to form their first ever women’s national team to compete in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 Qualifiers in late 2024, it was an opening that Alexia Karrys-Stahl could not pass up.

The small-sided game has been a part of her life since young, along with the 11-a-side version, but opportunities to pursue futsal had been few and far between compared to football. Karrys-Stahl turned out for Gungahlin United before being selected for the academy of Canberra United, for whom she made her A-League Women’s in the 2020/21 season. 

Her second stint in the A-League came in the 2023/24 campaign with 16 appearances for the Central Coast Mariners, after which followed the chance to don the Australia jersey again - having done so for the young Matildas at the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers 2015 - and Karrys-Stahl leapt at it.

Iraq appoint Arnold as head coach

Sat, 10 May, 2025

Iraq appoint Arnold as head coach

Baghdad: Iraq have named Australian Graham Arnold as their new head coach ahead of next month’s vital AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 clashes with Korea Republic and Jordan as the nation seeks to secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Arnold replaces Jesus Casas, with the Iraqis in third place in Group B with two matches remaining.