Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Football Federation Australia (FFA), determined to ensure A-League clubs are at their best in the 2018 AFC Champions League, have rescheduled several domestic matches.
The changes made to the A-League 2017/18 season draw support the international ambitions of Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC who will represent Australia in the 2018 AFC Champions League, FFA said in a statement on Thursday.
The changes also deliver on FFA’s commitment to A-League clubs – made in June last year – to enhance player welfare by extending the time between matches throughout the busy AFC Champions League period, while still fulfilling obligations to the competition’s key stakeholders.
In Round 25 Perth Glory’s home match against Sydney FC has been shifted from Saturday, 31 March to Thursday, 29 March. This will provide Sydney FC with two extra days preparation for their mid-week away AFC Champions League fixture fixture against a yet to be determined qualifier.
In Round 27 Sydney FC’s home match against Melbourne Victory has been moved from Saturday, 14 April to Friday, 13 April. This change will provide Sydney FC with an extra day to prepare for their mid-week home match against Chinese heavyweights Shanghai Shenhua, and Melbourne Victory with an additional day to prepare for their mid-week home match against a yet to be determined qualifier.
Due to the final round Big Blue being moved, the F3 Derby between Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets will now be played on Saturday, 14 April at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bali: Bali United overcame stiff resistance from Tampines Rovers FC to seal a spot in the second round of the 2018 AFC Champions League preliminary stage on Tuesday.
Bali United triumphed 3-1 but Singapore club Tampines were no pushovers, drawing level after going a goal down early in the match.
Indonesian side Bali United will play Thailand's Chiangrai United in the second stage of the preliminary round on January 23.
Fadhli Sausu gave Bali United the lead in the 17th minute to send their fans into raptures but Tampines defender Shannon Stephen drew his side level three minutes before the half time break.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Ceres Negros of the Philippines beat Shan United FC 4-3 on penalties at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Tuesday to seal a place in the second stage of the AFC Champions League 2018 Qualifiers.
Penalties were needed after the match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes of play. Ceres Negros will meet Australia's Brisbane Roar in the second stage of the preliminary round.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, the match burst into life in extra time with Cameroonian William Biassi Nyakwe scoring an own goal in the 94th minute to give 2017 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal champions Ceres Negros the lead.
Myanmar National League champions Shan United, however, responded four minutes later with Ghanaian forward Patrick Asare equalising for them.
Ceres Negros, however, proved the better of the two teams from the penalty spot and will now face Brisbane Roar on January 23.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: The man named Asia's best player in 2015 joins the 2016 winner Omar Abdulrahman at the Garden City side, ahead of their 2018 AFC Champions League Play-off.
The inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain made a strong statement of their intention to not only participate in this year's group stage, but also go deep in the tournament once again with the marquee signing of 2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil from Al Jazira.
The 26-year-old United Arab Emirates international joins on a six-month deal ahead of Al Ain's AFC Champions League play-off tie with Bahrain's Al Malkiya on January 30.