#ACL - Review: Matchday 1

Fri, 22 Sep, 2023

#ACL - Review: Matchday 1

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday One of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 lived up to expectations with high quality action across the continent.

With global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar making their debuts, eight former AFC Champions League winners in the fray and just as many teams making their first bows, the coming weeks promise more enthralling action.
 
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the thrills and spills of Matchday One.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_a_|_pakhtakor_uzb_0-3_al_ain_uae.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_b_|__faisaly_fc_jor_0_-_1_fc_nasaf_uzb.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_c_|_al_ittihad_ksa_3-0_agmk_fc_uzb.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_d__|_al_hilal_sfc_ksa_1_-_1_navbahor_uzb.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_e_|_persepolis_fc_irn_0_-_2_al_nassr_ksa.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_f_|_lion_city_sailors_fc_sgp_1-2_bangkok_united_tha.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_g_|_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn_2_-_4_incheon_united_fc_kor.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl__-_group_h_|_buriram_united_tha_4_-_1_zhejiang_fc_chn.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_i_|_ulsan_hyundai_fc_kor_3_-_1_bg_pathum_united_tha.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_j_|_wuhan_three_towns_fc_chn_2-2_urawa_red_diamonds_jpn.html

Totchtawan's tinkering steers Bangkok United past Sailors

Thu, 21 Sep, 2023

Totchtawan's tinkering steers Bangkok United past Sailors

Singapore: Tactical changes paved the way for Bangkok United FC's come from behind 2-1 win over Lion City Sailors in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group F opener on Wednesday.

The Singaporean side had taken a first half lead through Diego Lopes at the Jalan Besar Stadium but goals from Everton and Thitiphan Puangjan saw Bangkok United walk away with the points.

Wuhan's Tsutomu hails players, Skorza rues slow Urawa start

Thu, 21 Sep, 2023

Wuhan's Tsutomu hails players, Skorza rues slow Urawa start

Wuhan: Head coach Takahata Tsutomu praised his Wuhan Three Towns players despite the Chinese Super League side being forced to settle for a draw by a late Urawa Red Diamonds equaliser in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group J tie on Wednesday.

Wuhan looked set to mark their continental debut with a famous win after goals by Zhang Xiaobin and Davidson had given the reigning Chinese champions a 2-1 lead with the match in stoppage time.
 
Substitute Jose Kante, however, salvaged a point for defending champions Urawa of Japan in the fourth minute of added time. 

Castro pleased with Al Nassr's resilience in victory against Persepolis

Wed, 20 Sep, 2023

Castro pleased with Al Nassr's resilience in victory against Persepolis

Tehran: Luis Castro sported a satisfied look after his Al Nassr side defeated Persepolis FC 2-0 in their opening AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E tie on Tuesday.

With Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis having a rich history in the competition and playing in the Azadi Stadium, Al Nassr knew they were in for a tough 90 minutes but their patient approach and Milad Sarlak's sending off early in the second half turned the tide in the Saudi Arabian side's favour.
 
Abdulrahman Ghareeb slotted home the opener in the 62nd minute with left-back Mohammed Qassem confirming the win 10 minutes later.

F. Marinos' defensive frailties disappoint Muscat

Wed, 20 Sep, 2023

F. Marinos' defensive frailties disappoint Muscat

Yokohama: Kevin Muscat was left to rue Yokohama F. Marinos' defensive frailties after the Japanese side suffered a shock defeat to Incheon United in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group G tie on Tuesday.

Second half substitute Hernandez turned the game in Incheon United’s favour as the Brazilian came off the bench to score twice in the final 15 minutes to earn the debutants from Korea Republic a 4-2 win.
 
The result is an early blow for Japanese champions F. Marinos, with head coach Muscat having targeted an extended run in the competition.

Win delights Kawasaki’s Oniki, JDT’s Solari finds positives

Wed, 20 Sep, 2023

Win delights Kawasaki’s Oniki, JDT’s Solari finds positives

Johor Bahru: A spectacular Marcinho overhead kick gave Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale a winning start in Group I of the AFC Champions LeagueTM 2023/24, much to the delight of head coach Toru Oniki.

The 1-0 victory on Tuesday saw Kawasaki maintain their unbeaten record at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium against Johor Darul Ta’zim, having won one and drawn one in last year’s edition at the group stage.

Mixed feelings for Al Hilal's Jesus, Navbahor's Babayan

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Mixed feelings for Al Hilal's Jesus, Navbahor's Babayan

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC head coach Jorge Jesus and his Navhabor counterpart Samvel Babayan had mixed emotions after their sides settled for a 1-1 draw in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group D opener on Monday.

Georgian forward Toma Tabatadze's 55th minute strike looked to have sealed Uzbekistan's Navbahor a sensational result but defender Ali Al Bulayhi's header in the 10th minute of stoppage time rescued two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal a point at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Morais rues Sepahan's dropped points

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Morais rues Sepahan's dropped points

Erbil: Head coach Jose Morais was left to rue a missed opportunity after Sepahan FC were held to a 2-2 draw by Air Force Club in Group C of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Monday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran side looked to have the points in the bag after goals from Mohammad Daneshgar and Mohammad Ghorbani overturned Ali Jasim's opener. The 19-year-old, however, struck again in the 89th minute for the Iraqi side to deny Sepahan the win. 

Al Ittihad's focus pleases Santo

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Al Ittihad's focus pleases Santo

Jeddah: Al Ittihad head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted with his team's performance as the two-time AFC Champions League™ winners kicked off their 2023/24 campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over AGMK of Uzbekistan on Monday.

Two goals in four minutes early in the first half sent the 2004 and 2005 champions on their way to a well-deserved victory in their Group C clash, with Haroune Camara and Romarinho on target in the opening 15 minutes to break AGMK’s resistance. Romarinho then slotted home a penalty three minutes from the break to confirm the points. 

Debutants Nassaji Mazandaran make Rahmati proud

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Debutants Nassaji Mazandaran make Rahmati proud

Pune: Nassaji Mazandaran head coach Sayyed Mehdi Rahmati hailed his players after the Islamic Republic of Iran club marked their AFC Champions League™ debut with a 2-0 win over India's Mumbai City on Monday.

Goals from Ehsan Hosseini and Mohammadreza Azadi earned Rahmati's side a win which sees them occupying the Group D top spot after two-time champions Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan's Navbahor played to a 1-1 draw in the group's other fixture on Monday.