Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: The effects of a long season caught up with Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Persepolis in their final 2019 AFC Champions League Group D match on Monday.
The defeat, with Mahdi Torabi and Ali Alipour scoring for 2018 finalists Persepolis, came just four days after Al Sadd had lost the Qatar Amir Cup final to Al Duhail.
It was not the farewell Al Sadd wanted to give retiring Spanish legend Xavi but forward Akram Afif admitted that Al Sadd had not been at their best in both matches.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/akram_afif-xavi-al_sadd.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Xavi Hernandez's dazzling career came to a low-key end when his Qatari side Al Sadd were beaten 2-0 by Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis in their last group match of the 2019 AFC Champions League on Monday.
The 39-year-old midfield genius, who helped Spain win the World Cup in 2010 and won four UEFA Champions League titles and eight La Liga titles with Barcelona, was cheered by fans at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran where already-eliminated Persepolis produced an improved display to register only their second win in six matches.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Persepolis FC ended their 2019 AFC Champions League Group D campaign on a high as the Iranian champions beat Qatar's Al Sadd SC 2-0 on Monday.
Having already secured their place in the Round of 16, Al Sadd needed a point to ensure they ended the group stage in top spot, while Persepolis had already been eliminated and sat bottom of the group with four points.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Wakrah: Al Duhail fought back from a goal down to defeat Al Sadd 4-1 in the final of the Qatar Amir Cup at the newly-built Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday.
Brazilian winger Edmilson was Al Duhail's star, scoring a brace and assisting another as Duhail denied Al Sadd the chance to add the Amir Cup to the 2018-19 Qatar Stars League title they had already won.
Defeat meant a losing end for Spanish legend Xavi, who was playing his final match for Al Sadd.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Esteghlal coach Farhad Majidi was full of praise for Al Ain fans on his return to the city where he won the AFC Champions League 16 years ago.
A pacey and clinical striker at his peak, Majidi was a key member of the Al Ain side that lifted the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2002-03.
In the semi-final against China PR’s Dalian Shide, Al Ain had won the first leg at home 4-2, but the Chinese side had clawed the difference, winning 4-2 in Dalian. That is until Majidi received the ball on the edge of the area, dribbled past one defender and finished into the bottom corner to send his side to the final with a 7-6 aggregate score.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Vitor Pereira hailed his players’ mental strength after Oscar-inspired Shanghai SIPG handed Ulsan Hyundai a 5-0 beating on Tuesday to book their place in the Round of 16 of the 2019 AFC Champions League.
The former Chelsea star claimed a hat-trick in a virtuoso display for the Chinese Super League champions, who claimed second place in Group H at the expense of J.League champions Kawasaki Frontale.
The win means Shanghai will take on Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the next round and Pereira was delighted with his team’s performance.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Urawa Red Diamonds forward Shinzo Koroki says the two-time champions are motivated by thoughts of a third AFC Champions League title after Tuesday's 3-0 win over Beijing FC secured passage to the Knockout Stage.
There is a feeling amongst those at Urawa Red Diamonds of unfinished business at the AFC Champions League. Winners in 2017, the Reds were unable to qualify for the 2018 edition and thus never had the opportunity to retain their title.
The return to the Continental competition this year has, instead, been perceived as a belated defence of the championship they memorably lifted at Saitama Stadium after a victory over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.
And that aim, admitted Koroki, was a key motivating factor in the winner-take-all clash with Beijing FC on Matchday Six.