Crespo urges Al Ain to stay focused; Al Nassr's Castro not giving up

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Crespo urges Al Ain to stay focused; Al Nassr's Castro not giving up

Al Ain: Hernan Crespo has reminded his players that the job is only half done after Al Ain defeated Al Nassr 1-0 in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final first leg tie on Monday. 

Soufiane Rahimi’s 44th minute strike separated the sides at the end of 90 minutes but Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr had their fair share of chances and Crespo knows the return leg will be a tough challenge for his side. 

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_quarter-finals_|_west_zone_|_al_ain_fc_uae_1-0_al_nassr_ksa.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3013409.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3013417.html

Rahimi strike gives Al Ain advantage over Al Nassr

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Rahimi strike gives Al Ain advantage over Al Nassr

Al Ain: Soufiane Rahimi’s first-half goal was the difference as Al Ain FC took an important 1-0 lead against Al Nassr in the first leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.

The two sides lock horns again in Riyadh in a week, with the aggregate winners set to face Al Hilal SFC or Al Ittihad in the semi-finals.

Preview - QF: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Wed, 06 Mar, 2024

Preview - QF: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s two most successful clubs, Al Hilal SFC and Al Ittihad FC go head-to-head at Kingdom Arena in the first leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final on Tuesday.

Between them, the two powerhouses have six Asian titles, with Al Hilal having lifted the trophy a record four times in 1991, 2000, 2019 and 2021 while Al Ittihad are the only side to have won it twice in a row, doing so in 2004 and 2005.

Preview - QF: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Preview - QF: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)

Jeonju: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC will have no room for error when they host Korea Republic rivals Ulsan Hyundai FC in the first leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final on Tuesday.

The sides will be meeting on the continental stage for the fourth time but crucially, it is Ulsan who hold the advantage in their recent match-ups.

Fall: Odisha will always fight and give our best for the nation

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Fall: Odisha will always fight and give our best for the nation

Bhubaneswar: It was Mourtada Fall’s header which helped Odisha FC win their final group stage match to become the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 South Zone champions.

The Indian Super League (ISL) side knew that only a victory would help them overtake their opponents Bashundhara Kings to top spot in Group D and Fall, a rock at the back for his side, this time delivered at the other end of the pitch.

Nisbet optimistic Mariners can go all the way

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Nisbet optimistic Mariners can go all the way

Gosford: The heartbeat of the Central Coast Mariners side, Joshua Nisbet has been crucial for his team this season as they continue to march forward in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24.

The 24-year-old has caught the eye by pulling the strings in midfield for the Mariners as they recently became the winners of the ASEAN Zone after defeating Australian rivals Macarthur FC 3-2 and are now set to take on India's Odisha FC in the Inter-Zone semi-finals.

Inter-Zone Semi-finals: Ones to Watch

Fri, 01 Mar, 2024

Inter-Zone Semi-finals: Ones to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: Four clubs representing four different countries will battle for their place in the next round of the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 when the first legs of the Inter-Zone semi-finals take place on March 6 and 7.

Kyrgyz Republic’s FK Abdysh-Ata Kant and Taichung Futuro FC of Chinese Taipei will face off in the first of the semi-final ties on Wednesday while Australia's Central Coast Mariners will take on India’s Odisha FC a day later.  
 
Ahead of the crunch match-ups, the-AFC.com takes a look at the players who could decide the fortunes of their respective sides.

Akhmedov confident Abdysh-Ata Kant will progress

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Akhmedov confident Abdysh-Ata Kant will progress

Bishkek: Head coach Islam Akhmedov will have a well prepared squad at his disposal when FK Abdysh-Ata Kant take on Taichung Futuro in the first leg of their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-final on Wednesday.

The two sides meet in Bishkek, with the return leg a week later. The winners will face either Australia’s Central Coast Mariners or Odisha FC of India in the Inter-Zone final.

Pen: Taichung Futuro living a dream

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Pen: Taichung Futuro living a dream

Gaoxiong: Their domestic season may not have started but that won’t stop Taichung Futuro from reaching for the stars in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-finals. 

The Chinese Taipei side face Kyrgyz Republic’s Abdysh-Ata Kant, with head coach Pen Wu-shung’s side travelling to Bishkek for Wednesday’s first leg.