Choi Kang-hee steps down as Dalian Yifang head coach 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Choi Kang-hee steps down as Dalian Yifang head coach 

Kuala Lumpur: Dalian Yifang FC have announced that Choi Kang-hee has relinquished his position as head coach of the Chinese Super League side.

Korea Republic's Choi, 60, had been at the helm since February. He cited personal reasons for his decision to leave Dalian Yifang.

Dalian are currently 10th among 16 teams in the Chinese Super League with 17 points, 22 behind leaders Beijing Sinobo Guoan.

Asian clubs continue pursuit for glory

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asian clubs continue pursuit for glory

Kuala Lumpur: The chase for club glory in the 2019 AFC Champions League and AFC Cup will resume when Asian clubs learn their opponents in the quarter-finals and knockout stages respectively on Tuesday.

The excitement continues to build in the 2019 AFC Champions League after the thrilling group stage and Round of 16 encounters where four teams from the East Zone – title holders Kashima Antlers as well as 2017 champions Urawa Red Diamonds, both from Japan and China PR’s Guangzhou Evergrande FC, the 2015 winners, and Shanghai SIPG – confirmed their names in the pot.

Al Hilal name Romanian Lucescu as head coach

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Hilal name Romanian Lucescu as head coach

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC have announced the appointment of Romanian Razvan Lucescu as their new head coach.

The 50-year-old left Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki last month after guiding them to a historic unbeaten Greek Super League tile; their first since 1985.

Prior to his successful stint in Greece, Lucescu had managed Rapid Bucharest, Brasov and Petrolul Ploiesti in his native Romania. He also had a two-year spell in Asian football, which saw him win the Qatar Stars Cup with El Jaish in 2012-13.

Round of 16 2nd Leg: The Week In Numbers

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Round of 16 2nd Leg: The Week In Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The 2019 AFC Champions League saw plenty of action and spectacle this week as the Round of 16 in the East Zone concluded with four teams securing their tickets to the quarter-finals.

Defending champions Kashima Antlers, a pair of two-time winners in Guangzhou Evergrande and Urawa Red Diamonds, and former semi-finalists Shanghai SIPG emerged victorious from the East half of the AFC Champions League's Round of 16. The-AFC.com delves into some of the numbers that tell the story of the week's matches.

Round of 16, Second Leg: What They Said

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Round of 16, Second Leg: What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: The identity of four of the eight 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finalists was decided this week as East Asia's Round of 16 concluded with the second leg games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Social media posts, big game mentality and tears of joy all feature as the-AFC.com talks to those involved in the latest edition of the Continent's most presitigious competition.

ACL 2019 Allianz Goal of the Week: Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande FC)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

ACL 2019 Allianz Goal of the Week: Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande FC)

Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com has announced that Guangzhou Evergrande FC's Paulinho is the winner of this week’s Goal of the Week presented by Allianz for the second leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16.

ACL2019 Round of 16, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Shoma Doi

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

ACL2019 Round of 16, Second Leg Toyota Player of the Week: Shoma Doi

Kuala Lumpur: Kashima Antlers midfielder Shoma Doi has been named the Toyota Player of the Week for the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg.

Kashima Antlers midfielder Shoma Doi netted a brace to lead the defending champions into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday to earn this week's top accolade.

Doi scored the opener in Hiroshima but hosts Sanfrecce then produced a sterling comeback to level the scores on aggregate. The 27-year-old scored his second in the final minutes of the game to return the advantage to Kashima, with the Ibaraki club ultimately progressing on away goals.

The second strike, nominated for Goal of The Week, was of particular note while he also registered 41 touches, two shots on target and one chance created to gain a 9.1 rating to lead the Toyota Player of the Week standings.

Another J.League player, Shinzo Koroki (below, right) of Urawa Red Diamonds, took second place in the rankings as he also netted a double in their 3-0 away win over Ulsan Hyundai.