2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage – 5 of the Best: Long-Range Goals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Group Stage – 5 of the Best: Long-Range Goals

Kuala Lumpur: The 2021 AFC Champions League group stage saw some great goals over the last few months and, with continental action on a temporary break, we've selected some of the very best from various categories.

Kicking off the-AFC.com's '5 of the Best' series, here are five long-range rockets for you to cast your eyes over before telling us which is your favourite by voting at the bottom of the article.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/sharof_mukhiddinov_pakhtakor_vs_tractor_fc.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/mehdi_ghaedi_esteghlal_vs_al_ahli_saudi_fc.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/yoichiro_kakitani_nagoya_grampus_vs_pohang_steelers.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/pakorn_prempak_cerezo_osaka_vs_port_fc.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/shu_kurata_gamba_osaka_vs_tampines_rovers.html

5 of the Best #ACL2021 - Long Range Goals

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: China PR's Steel Roses aim to lay early marker against Brazil

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: China PR's Steel Roses aim to lay early marker against Brazil

Tokyo: Jia Xiuquan’s China PR are determined to shine when they go head to head against South American powerhouse Brazil in Group F of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Women's football tournament at the Miyagi Stadium in Rifu on Wednesday.

There will be a sense of familiarity as the two also squared off in the 2016 Rio Olympics, with Brazil coming out 3-0 victors to finish as group winners ahead of second-placed China PR.

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Japan’s Nadeshiko fully focused ahead of opener against Canada

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Japan’s Nadeshiko fully focused ahead of opener against Canada

Hokkaido: Japan will be aiming to replicate the victory achieved the last time they played Canada in the Women’s Olympics football tournament when they face off in their opening Tokyo 2020 Group E match on Wednesday. 

The two teams met in the 2012 edition, where the Nadeshiko secured a 2-1 win over the Canadians in their group opener. It proved to be a vital victory as goalless draws with Sweden and South Africa followed, with Japan - then the reigning FIFA Women’s World Cup champions - advancing to the quarter-finals with Canada also ultimately going through.

Japan then beat Brazil and France to reach the final, losing 2-1 to the United States to secure their best-ever finish in the Olympics.

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's Matildas out to hit ground running in curtain-raiser against New Zealand

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics - Preview: Australia's Matildas out to hit ground running in curtain-raiser against New Zealand

Tokyo: It may be the opening match of the competition, but Australia will likely see Wednesday’s Tokyo Olympics clash against New Zealand as a must win proposition.

Winless in five matches under new head coach Tony Gustavsson, and with global heavyweights Sweden and USA still to come in a high-quality Group G, the match at Tokyo Stadium has taken on far greater importance than a usual tournament curtain-raiser.

So far, the Gustavsson era has been both experimental and made more difficult by various factors brought to the fore by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the time for tinkering is over, with the result of utmost importance for the Matildas.

AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ logo unveiled

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ logo unveiled

Kuala Lumpur: With six months to go to the Continent’s most prestigious women’s national team football competition, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ Local Organising Committee (LOC) have today launched the tournament logo of the upcoming edition, which will be held from January 20 to February 6 next year.

The 2022 edition will once again blaze a new trail in the development of the women’s game in Asia with an expanded 12 teams set to compete for Continental supremacy – four more than the last four editions – and will feature a newly-introduced Quarter-final stage for the first time in Asian women’s football history.

Rising star Song Min-kyu joins Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Rising star Song Min-kyu joins Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Seoul: Two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have announced the signing of 2020 K League Young Player of the Year Song Min-kyu from Pohang Steelers.

Song is currently in Japan with the Korea Republic Olympic squad ahead of their involvement in the Tokyo Games and will join his new club upon the conclusion of the tournament.

Sanchez's focus on Honduras as Qatar look to seal Gold Cup quarter-final spot

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Sanchez's focus on Honduras as Qatar look to seal Gold Cup quarter-final spot

Houston: Felix Sanchez is set to field his best players for Qatar's final 2021 Gold Cup Group D tie against Honduras on Tuesday.

Qatar - who are on four points - will advance to the quarter-finals should they avoid defeat against already qualified Honduras but Sanchez is aiming for his side to finish as group winners. Panama can pip Qatar on goal difference if they defeat Grenada in their final group tie and the reigning AFC Asian Cup holders lose.

Topping the group will mean facing Group A runners-up El Salvador in the next round and avoiding tournament favourites Mexico.