Al Nassr's Castro satisfied despite Istiklol stalemate

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Al Nassr's Castro satisfied despite Istiklol stalemate

Dushanbe: Al Nassr were not able to end their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E campaign with a win but head coach Luis Castro was happy with his team's overall performance.

With Cristiano Ronaldo not in the squad and the likes of Anderson Talisca, Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane among those starting on the bench, Al Nassr needed an Abdulrahman Ghareeb goal for a share of the points against Tajikistan's FC Istiklol.
 
Castro said he opted for a relativily unfamiliar lineup to give the fringe players match exposure and to keep the regulars fresh for their Saudi Pro League 2023/24 campaign.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_e_|_fc_istiklol_tjk_1_-_1_al_nassr_ksa_1.html

Golmohammadi: Persepolis deserved more

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Golmohammadi: Persepolis deserved more

Tehran: Head coach Yahya Golmohammadi apologised to the fans but felt Persepolis FC deserved more from their final AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E tie against Al Duhail SC on Tuesday.

Needing a win to boost their hopes of advancing, the Islamic Republic of Iran side instead fell to a 2-1 defeat to exit the competition.

Focused Al Ain please Crespo

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Focused Al Ain please Crespo

Ashbagat: Hernan Crespo applauded his Al Ain players for their unwavering focus in their final AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group A match against Ahal FC on Tuesday.

The 2003 AFC Champions League winners raced into a two-goal lead following penalty strikes from Souifane Rahimi and Omer Atzili with Elman Tagayew reducing the deficit.
 
With all the goals coming in the first half, Al Ain had to show resolve in the remaining period to end their campaign with 15 points. 

#ACL - West: Round of 16 cast finalised

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

#ACL - West: Round of 16 cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 West Zone Round of 16 cast was finalised on Tuesday following the conclusion of the group stage.

Three former champions were among the eight teams who advanced, with the draw to be conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 28.

Group E: Al Duhail end Persepolis' run

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group E: Al Duhail end Persepolis' run

Tehran: Al Duhail came from behind to beat Persepolis 2-1 in the final game of Group E of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 at Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.

Al Duhail had already been eliminated going into their final match while Persepolis' slim hopes depended on them collecting the three points at home, with the defeat ending their campaign.

Group E: Istiklol hold Al Nassr

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group E: Istiklol hold Al Nassr

Dushanbe: Abdulrahman Ghareeb scored five minutes into the second half to earn Al Nassr a 1-1 draw with FC Istiklol in Dushanbe on Tuesday as the Saudi Pro League side ended their Group E campaign in the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 unbeaten.

Ghareeb netted the equaliser after Alisher Dzhalilov had given the lead to the home side, who had already been eliminated, in the 32nd minute as Istiklol picked up their third draw of the group phase while Al Nassr moved onto 14 points from six games.

With their place in the last 16 already secured, Luis Castro made a host of changes to Al Nassr team with Cristiano Ronaldo not included in the match day squad and Anderson Talisca, Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane among those starting on the bench.

Group A: Al Fayha upstage Pakhtakor to advance

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group A: Al Fayha upstage Pakhtakor to advance

Tashkent: Al Fayha came from behind to defeat Pakhtakor 4-1 in Group A of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 at the Bunyodkor Stadium on Tuesday.

The result saw AFC Champions League debutants Al Fayha finish as runners-up in the group, with their nine points taking them into the Round of 16 as one of the three best second-placed teams in the West Zone. 

Group A: Al Ain edge gritty Ahal

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group A: Al Ain edge gritty Ahal

Ashgabat: A pair of first half penalties earned Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates a 2-1 win in Group A of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 over Turkmenistan’s Ahal FC on Tuesday as Hernan Crespo’s much-changed side finished the group phase on a high.

Souifane Rahimi put the former champions ahead from the spot in the 13th minute before another penalty from Omer Atzili gave Al Ain a two-goal cushion in the 32nd minute that was soon reduced by Elman Tagayew’s strike three minutes later.

The win moves Al Ain, who had already secured their spot in the last 16 as group winners, onto 15 points from their six games while Ahal remain rooted to the bottom of the standings.

Player to Watch: Wu Lei (China PR)

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Wu Lei (China PR)

Kuala Lumpur: Wu Lei has been the standout name on the China PR team sheet for a number of years, and with that comes the weight of expectation from a nation that has yet to win the most prestigious prize in Asian football. 

The forward has twice fired Shanghai Port to the Chinese Super League title, became the first player from his country to score in Spain’s top flight, and has netted more than 250 goals since making his senior club debut as a 14-year-old back in 2006.
 
Now 32 and set to appear in his third AFC Asian Cup™, Wu will look to inspire China to a strong showing at Qatar 2023.