Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: Kashima Antlers sealed their place in the Round of 16 on Wednesday night, but for close to an hour at Kashima Soccer Stadium it had looked like they were heading for elimination before they eventually defeated Group E winners Shandong Luneng.
The 2018 AFC Champions League winners made hard work of it at time, but thanks to a stunning two-goal cameo off the bench from substitute striker Sho Ito - who also scored a brace against Shandong in the first meeting - the J.League club are once more in the Round of 16 of the Continent's most prestigious club tournament.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: While Brazilian superstar Oscar may have taken the majority of the plaudits – and the match ball – after Shanghai SIPG’s 5-0 AFC Champions League Group H win over Ulsan Hyundai on Tuesday, for one player it was an extra-special night at Shanghai Stadium.
Needing a win to secure a place in the last 16, Oscar’s first-half brace calmed any nerves among the Chinese Super League champions, before Li Shenglong added a third – his first-ever goal in the competition – to effectively secure the three points and qualification.
Oscar grabbed his hat-trick soon after and Hu Jinghang rounded off the scoring late on as Shanghai progressed to the knockout rounds for the fourth successive year and Li was left with a night to remember.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Paulinho hailed the fighting performance from Guangzhou Evergrande as the Brazilian scored the game's only goal in a 1-0 win over Daegu FC to secure a place in the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday.
The two-time champions went close to exiting at the Group Stage for just the second time in their proud eight-tournament history, but they were indebted to their former FC Barcelona midfielder once more.
Only victory over visitors Daegu FC would suffice for Fabio Cannavaro's side to leapfrog the Koreans into the runners-up spot in Group F and it was Paulinho's 64th minute intervention that proved to be the difference-maker.
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.
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.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: Substitute Sho Ito scored two goals in the second half to rescue Kashima Antlers’ 2019 AFC Champions League campaign on Wednesday, as Go Oiwa’s side came from behind to defeat Shandong Luneng FC 2-1 and qualify for the Round of 16.
Marouane Fellaini gave Shandong the lead 11 minutes into the game and Kashima looked to be heading for the exit until Ito’s intervention from the bench in the last quarter of the game gave the holders all three points to seal second place in Group E.
The result means Kashima will take on fellow J.League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the last 16 next month while Shandong finish top of the group, despite the defeat, and will take on fellow Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande in the next round.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changwon: Luc Castaignos’ second half goal and a late Takahiro Kunimoto strike earned Gyeongnam FC a 2-0 win over Johor Darul Ta’zim on Wednesday, but it was not enough to take the K League side into the knockout rounds of the 2019 AFC Champions League.
Gyeongnam finished the group phase of the Continental championship with eight points in third place in Group E, two adrift of Kashima Antlers after the Japanese side’s 2-1 win over Shandong Luneng ensured the holders take second place in the group and advance to the last 16.
Shandong top the final standings while JDT finished bottom as they proved unable to add to their four-point haul.