Choi sets high target for Shandong after ousting Frontale

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Choi sets high target for Shandong after ousting Frontale

Kawasaki: Head coach Choi Kang-hee is hopeful that Shandong Taishan’s stunning AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 win against Kawasaki Frontale can act as a springboard for the Chinese Super League side to go the distance.

Shandong erased a 3-2 first leg defeat with a spectacular 4-2 victory at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium on Tuesday to advance to the quarter-final stage for the third time with the Korean tactician saying he wants his team to aim higher, having never featured in the semi-finals of the continental showpiece. 

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Jadson strikes late winner as Shandong stun Frontale in thriller

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Jadson strikes late winner as Shandong stun Frontale in thriller

Kawasaki: Brazilian centre-back Jadson scored a last-gasp winner as Shandong Taishan advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 with a 4-2 win against Kawasaki Frontale in the second leg of their Round of 16 tie on Tuesday.

After losing 3-2 at home last week, Shandong made a dream start to the away leg as goals from Cryzan and Gao Zhunyi had them lead the tie 4-3 on aggregate within 25 minutes at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium. But strikes from Sota Miura and Erison then gave Kawasaki the upper hand before Cryzan’s second in the 73rd minute put the last 16 tie firmly in the balance.  

However, it was Shandong who had the final say as Jadson came up with a big moment, flicking in a corner in the seventh minute of second-half injury time to knock Kawasaki out of the continental competition following a 6-5 aggregate win.

Jeonbuk hold off Pohang to book last eight spot

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Jeonbuk hold off Pohang to book last eight spot

Pohang: Jeong Tae-wook’s late header confirmed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ progress to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Tuesday as Dan Petrescu’s side drew 1-1 with Pohang Steelers to complete a 3-1 aggregate win over their fellow K League 1 outfit.

Jeong’s 76th minute goal cancelled out Park Chan-yong’s opener from the 12th minute for Pohang as two-time champions Jeonbuk banished any concerns they would throw away their hard-earned 2-0 first leg advantage.

Petrescu and his team will next face either compatriots Ulsan Hyundai or Japan’s Ventforet Kofu in the last eight, with Hong Myung-bo’s K League 1 champions holding a 3-0 first leg advantage going into Wednesday’s second leg.

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Ventforet Kofu (JPN) 0 v 3 Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Ventforet Kofu (JPN) 0 v 3 Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)

Tokyo: Ventforet Kofu will have to produce the extraordinary if their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 journey is to continue beyond Wednesday.

The Japanese side will host Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai in the return leg of their Round of 16 tie trailing by three goals with history against them. 

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2 v 2 Bangkok United FC (THA)

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2 v 2 Bangkok United FC (THA)

Yokohama: Bangkok United will be bidding to be just the fourth Thailand side to advance to the quarter-finals when they face Yokohama F. Marinos in the return leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 tie on Wednesday. 

Bangkok United showed tremendous grit to come from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw in the first leg and will be determined to be just as resilient when the two sides meet at the Yokohama International Stadium. 

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Al Ain FC (UAE) 0 v 0 FC Nasaf (UZB)

Thu, 22 Feb, 2024

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Al Ain FC (UAE) 0 v 0 FC Nasaf (UZB)

Al Ain: Al Ain FC will be looking to make home advantage count when they face FC Nasaf at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the second leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 tie on Wednesday.

A goalless draw in last week's first leg in Qarshi means a winner-take-all clash which Al Ain will feel is within reach, having not lost to Nasaf in three previous meetings. 

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Al Nassr (KSA) 1 v 0 Al Fayha (KSA)

Thu, 22 Feb, 2024

Preview - R16 2nd Leg: Al Nassr (KSA) 1 v 0 Al Fayha (KSA)

Riyadh: Al Nassr will be confident of securing progress into the quarter-finals when they host Al Fayha in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 return leg at the Al Awwal Stadium on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's strike gave Al Nassr a 1-0 win in the first leg with the Riyadh-based side looking to return to the quarter-finals for the first time since the 2021 edition.

ASEAN Zonal Final: Players to Watch

Tue, 20 Feb, 2024

ASEAN Zonal Final: Players to Watch

Sydney: The final of the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 ASEAN Zone is fast approaching, with Macarthur FC set to take on Australian rivals Central Coast Mariners at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Thursday. 

The two sides became the first from Australia to appear in the AFC Cup when they began the group stage back in September and, having taken the tournament by storm, they now face off to see who will emerge as the ASEAN champions and advance to the next phase of the continental competition. 
 
Ahead of the first-ever all-A-League clash in an AFC club competition, the-AFC.com picks out three players from each side who have the potential to light up the game. 

Al Ahed edge Al Kahrabaa on penalties to advance

Wed, 21 Feb, 2024

Al Ahed edge Al Kahrabaa on penalties to advance

Basra: Al Ahed beat Al Kahrabaa 4-2 on penalties after the two sides played out a 1-1 aggregate draw in their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 West Zonal semi-final, following Al Ahed’s 1-0 win in the second leg at the Basra International Stadium on Tuesday.

The win takes 2019 AFC Cup winners Al Ahed of Lebanon into a West Zonal final against Al Nahda of Oman in April.