East Zone knockout stage cast finalised

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

East Zone knockout stage cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the final team to book their spot in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 after a 3-2 win over Bangkok United on Wednesday.

The two-time AFC Champions League winners advanced as one of the three best runners-up from the East Zone, coming from behind to beat Bangkok United.

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Group F: Jeonbuk take final spot

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group F: Jeonbuk take final spot

Jeonju: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors secured their ticket to the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 after a 3-2 win over Group F winners Bangkok United on Wednesday was enough to see them advance as one of the three best runners-up.

Wanchai Jarunongkran opened the scoring for the visitors inside five minutes, but Moon Seon-min levelled for two-time champions Jeonbuk as half-time approached and the sides went into the interval all square.

Jeonbuk dominated the second half but had to wait until the final 15 minutes to secure the win when a quickfire Lee Dong-jun brace calmed any nerves inside Jeonju World Cup Stadium and, despite a late Rungrath Phumichantuk consolation, the hosts sealed their passage to the last 16.

Group F: Kitchee sign off on high note

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group F: Kitchee sign off on high note

Singapore: Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee finished their AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 campaign on a high on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Lion City Sailors in Singapore to pick up their first win in Group F of this year’s competition.

Chris van Huizen’s 11th minute own goal and a clinical finish by Fernando 16 minutes from time secured all three points for Kitchee and some pride for Kim Dong-jin’s team, who went into the clash at Jalan Besar Stadium already eliminated from the competition.

The win took Kitchee onto four points from their six AFC Champions League group matches and still leaves them bottom of the standings, two points behind Lion City. Bangkok United won the group with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in second.

Group G: Marinos win to advance

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group G: Marinos win to advance

Yokohama F Marinos gave departing manager Kevin Muscat the perfect send off on Wednesday with a convincing 3-0 win over Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan that takes the J1 League outfit into the last 16 of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24.

Elber struck four minutes into first half injury time to break Shandong’s stubborn resistance before second half goals from Anderson Lopes and Yan Matheus confirmed the three points for Yokohama and a first place finish in Group G in the Australia’s last game in charge.

Shandong, meanwhile, squeeze into the Round of 16 as one of the three best runners-up, pipping Incheon United to second in the group as a result of their better goal-difference in the head-to-head meetings between the top three, who all finished level on 12 points.

Group G: Heartbreak for Incheon

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group G: Heartbreak for Incheon

Manila: Incheon United narrowly missed out on a place in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 after their 3-1 victory over Kaya FC-Iloilo at Rizal Memorial Stadium on Wednesday was only enough to see them finish third in Group G.

Park Seung-ho opened the scoring 12 minutes into the game before Choi Woo-jin made it two in the 25th minute. But Simone Rota pulled one back for the home side eight minutes into the second half to leave the match on a knife edge before a late Kim Do-hyeok penalty secured the victory. 
 
However, with Yokohama F. Marinos beating Shandong Taishan 3-0 in the simultaneous Group G fixture, the three teams all wound up on 12 points. And it was Incheon – due to an inferior head-to-head goal difference against the other two – who missed out on progression to the next phase.

Hong: Ulsan have more to offer

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Hong: Ulsan have more to offer

Ulsan: Hong Myung-bo believes Ulsan Hyundai are capable of much more after reversing a two-goal deficit to hold Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 2-2 to secure their spot in the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24  Round of 16 on Tuesday.

The point earned was enough for two-time AFC Champions League winners Ulsan to take one of the three best runners-up berths from the East zone in the knockout stage following Melbourne City’s earlier draw with Zhejiang FC. The K League 1 champions finished on 10 points, with Kawasaki topping Group I with 16.

Shinoda proud of history-makers Ventforet

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Shinoda proud of history-makers Ventforet

Buriram: Japan's Ventforet Kofu ensured their fairytale run would continue after their 3-2 win over Buriram United in Tuesday’s AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group H tie saw them top the group and seal a historic spot in the Round of 16.

The tournament debutants needed all three points to become the first second division side to advance to the AFC Champions League knockout stage and head coach Yoshiyuki Shinoda was immensely proud of his team’s efforts. 

Group G: Mariners cruise into knockout stage

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group G: Mariners cruise into knockout stage

Binan: Central Coast Mariners FC defeated Stallion Laguna FC 3-0 to seal top spot in Group G of the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 on Wednesday.

The win took the Australians to 13 points and they can now set their eyes on the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals while Philippines’ side Stallion ended their campaign with just a point. 

Resilience powered Al Ahed, says Mohammad

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Resilience powered Al Ahed, says Mohammad

Muscat: Head coach Raafat Mohammad praised Al Ahed for showing tenacity in their come from behind 2-1 win over Syria’s Al Futuwa in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24, with Tuesday’s victory at the Seeb International Stadium sealing the Lebanese side a spot in the West Zonal semi-finals. 

Walid Shour’s penalty cancelled out Youssef Al Hamwi’s 75th minute opener and Mohamad Al Hallak netted the winning goal in the sixth minute of added time, with Al Ahed advancing as the best runners-up from the West Zone.

The 2019 AFC Cup winners will meet Iraq’s Al Kahrabaa SC in the West Zonal semi-finals with Al Riffa of Bahrain to play Oman’s Al Nahda. 

Kante warns Al Ittihad of tough Al Ahly challenge

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Kante warns Al Ittihad of tough Al Ahly challenge

Jeddah: N’Golo Kante led by example as he helped Al Ittihad FC reach the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 after a solid 3-0 win over New Zealand’s Auckland City FC on Tuesday.

The French midfielder shone throughout the match and applied the finish for the second goal with an incredibly well-taken volley for Al Ittihad to assume a commanding position in the game midway through the first half.

Kante was effusive in his praise of the Saudi Arabian champions’ performance but warned of bigger challenges to come in the shape of Egypt’s Al Ahly on Friday, urging his teammates to be ready.

Player to Watch: Musa Al Taamari (Jordan)

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Musa Al Taamari (Jordan)

Kuala Lumpur: Five years ago, Musa Al Taamari was making his first steps in the AFC Cup™ on loan at Jordanian club Al Jazira. Today he has already broken all sorts of records to stake a claim for being the greatest player his country has ever produced.

As Jordan dream of surpassing their best-ever AFC Asian Cup™ result - quarter-final finishes in 2004 and 2011 - the hopes of the nation rest on the shoulders of their 26-year-old mercurial winger Al Taamari, a man nicknamed by many as ‘The Jordanian Messi’.
 
The unlimited ambition of the Amman-born player has seen him climb new heights season after season since making his senior debut for Shabab Al Ordon and Jordan in 2016. His six AFC Cup goals at Al Jazeera helped the Jordanian side reach the West Zonal Final for the first time in their history in the 2018 edition, and soon after he was on his way to start a European adventure that has seen him play in three countries so far.