Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Lining up against Shanghai SIPG's formidable forward line of Oscar, Hulk and Marko Arnautovic might fill some goalkeepers with dread, but Urawa Red Diamonds' custodian Shusaku Nishikawa is motivated by the challenge ahead of the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
A Continental champion with the J.League side in 2017, 33-year-old Nishikawa and teammates are set to face familiar foes in the AFC Champions League knockout stages after they played the Chinese club four times in the competition two years ago.
In that campaign, Nishikawa kept cleansheets in two of those meetings against Shanghai SIPG, with the most crucial coming in the second leg of the semi-final that enabled Urawa to progress to the final 2-1 on aggregate.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/wang_shenchao_hulk__oscar__v_jeonbuk_-_2019_acl.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: China PR defender He Guan admits that Shanghai SIPG simply must win Tuesday's home leg against Urawa Red Diamonds to keep alive their hopes of a place in the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals.
It will be a case of familiar foes for Shanghai SIPG and Urawa when the two meet in the first leg of the quarter-finals at Shanghai Stadium.
The pair faced off four times in the 2017 AFC Champions League with a win apiece in the Group Stage before Urawa overcame the Chinese Super League side in the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Yuki Abe had to wait 10 years to add a second AFC Champions League winner’s medal to the one he won with Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007, but the veteran defender is hoping he can secure a third Continental title by the time this year’s campaign comes to its conclusion.
Now 37 years old and in the twilight of his career, Abe is the only member of Urawa’s playing staff remaining from the side that defeated Sepahan of Islamic Republic of Iran in the final of the 2007 AFC Champions League as Reds became the first Japanese club to win the title.
Ten years later – and with Abe still in the team - Urawa repeated the feat, seeing off Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia to become only the fourth club – along with Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea Republic and China PR’s Guangzhou Evergrande – to win the trophy twice since the AFC Champions League was created in 2002.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals are sure to bring plenty of excitement for the Continent's football fans. Ahead of those much-anticipated ties, we have selected some of the clashes from the past editions to enjoy.
The quarter-finals were introduced in the AFC Champions League back in 2004, and since then we have witnessed some action-packed matches, particularly in recent times. the-AFC.com highlights five last eight ties that are worth reviewing and savouring.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The eight remaining teams in the 2019 AFC Champions League will return to action in the coming days with the first legs of the quarter-finals played between Monday and Wednesday.
Five former winners are aiming to lift the coveted trophy for the second or even third occasion, while three of the sides will look to create history and be crowned AFC Champions League winners for the first time.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tokyo: Shinzo Koroki’s goals have been instrumental for Urawa Red Diamonds in the AFC Champions League as the two-time champions have advanced to the last eight of this year’s competition, even if the 33-year-old claims he has yet to be at his best in the 2019 Continental championship.
Koroki scored three times during the group phase as Urawa emerged from Group G in second place behind Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to secure their spot in the knockout phase for the fifth time in the club’s history.
But it was his brace in the second leg of the Round of 16 win over Ulsan Hyundai in June that was of vital importance to his team as those goals spurred Urawa to a 3-0 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate victory overall to send the J.League side into the quarter-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Vitor Pereira is setting his sights on another trophy in the wake of Shanghai SIPG’s Chinese Super League triumph last year as the Portuguese tactician seeks to establish a culture of success at the club, with this season’s AFC Champions League a prime target.
Pereira guided Shanghai to the Chinese title last year as the club claimed their first-ever trophy before the Chinese Super Cup was added to their haul at the start of the current campaign with victory over Beijing Guoan.
But, with their quarter-final against Urawa Red Diamonds in the AFC Champions League looming, the former FC Porto coach is determined to secure another major trophy this season as he aims to create a winning habit at the Shanghai club.