Al Hilal ready to fight for title, says Al Faraj

Thu, 13 Apr, 2023

Al Hilal ready to fight for title, says Al Faraj

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC captain Salman Al Faraj is in a race against time as he tries to recover from injury to lead his boyhood club in their defence of the  AFC Champions League™ title when they take on Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2022 final.

The 33-year-old midfielder is also pursuing a personal record as he aims to join an elite group of players to appear in five AFC Champions League finals; a feat he could share with teammates Salem Al Dawsari, Yasser Al Shahrani and goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf.
 
The quartet represented Al Hilal in the 2014 and 2017 finals which they lost to Western Sydney Wanderers and Urawa respectively, before picking up the trophy against Urawa in 2019 and against Pohang Steelers in 2021, while Al Mayouf only joined Al Hilal in 2015, but had already appeared in the 2012 final in Al Ahli Saudi colours.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2022_sfwest_-_al_duhail_qat_0-7_al_hilal_sfc_ksa.html

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#FIFAWWC Watch: How are Asia's teams shaping up

Wed, 12 Apr, 2023

#FIFAWWC Watch: How are Asia's teams shaping up

Kuala Lumpur: Asia's six representatives were all in action during the International Break as they ramped up their preparations for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

While the Philippines and Vietnam contested in Round 1 of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 Asian Qualifiers, Australia, China PR, Japan and Korea Republic were involved in friendlies.
 
With less than a hundred days to go the FIFA Women's World Cup, the-AFC.com takes a look at what Asia's representatives can take back from the international break.

Qualifiers Round 2 cast finalised

Wed, 12 Apr, 2023

Qualifiers Round 2 cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: Another three teams advanced as Round 1 of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 Asian Qualifiers concluded on Tuesday.

The seven Round 1 group winners - Uzbekistan (Group A), Islamic Republic of Iran (Group B), Vietnam (Group C), Thailand (Group D), Philippines (Group E), Chinese Taipei (Group F) and India (Group G) will now join the five highest seeded teams - DPR Korea, Japan, Australia, China PR and Korea Republic in Round 2 which will be divided into three groups. 
 
Four teams - the three group winners and the best-ranked runners-up - will then progress to Round 3 to play two pairs of home and away matches with the eventual winners qualifying for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024.

Europe Wrap: Son hits century; Kubo seals Sociedad win

Tue, 11 Apr, 2023

Europe Wrap: Son hits century; Kubo seals Sociedad win

Kuala Lumpur: Korea Republic and Tottenham Hotspur ace Son Heung-min scripted history when he scored his 100th goal in England’s Premier League with a stunning strike in a 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, becoming the first Asian to enter the elite club with his seventh strike of the season.

Japan youngster Takefusa Kubo found the back of the net against Getafe in Spain to strengthen Real Sociedad’s bid for a place in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, while his compatriot Hiroki Ito scored a stunner for his first Bundesliga goal of the season in Germany as VfB Stuttgart edged VfL Bochum 3-2 in a relegation six-pointer.  
 
Islamic Republic of Iran striker Mehdi Taremi scored the winner for FC Porto in O Classico against Benfica in Portugal and Kyogo Furuhashi hit a double in Scotland as leaders Celtic dispatched Rangers in the Old Firm derby, so join the-AFC.com as we look at how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week.