Mixed feelings for Al Hilal's Jesus, Navbahor's Babayan

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Mixed feelings for Al Hilal's Jesus, Navbahor's Babayan

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC head coach Jorge Jesus and his Navhabor counterpart Samvel Babayan had mixed emotions after their sides settled for a 1-1 draw in their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group D opener on Monday.

Georgian forward Toma Tabatadze's 55th minute strike looked to have sealed Uzbekistan's Navbahor a sensational result but defender Ali Al Bulayhi's header in the 10th minute of stoppage time rescued two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Hilal a point at the King Fahd International Stadium.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_d__|_al_hilal_sfc_ksa_1_-_1_navbahor_uzb.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2979002.html

Debutants Nassaji Mazandaran make Rahmati proud

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Debutants Nassaji Mazandaran make Rahmati proud

Pune: Nassaji Mazandaran head coach Sayyed Mehdi Rahmati hailed his players after the Islamic Republic of Iran club marked their AFC Champions League™ debut with a 2-0 win over India's Mumbai City on Monday.

Goals from Ehsan Hosseini and Mohammadreza Azadi earned Rahmati's side a win which sees them occupying the Group D top spot after two-time champions Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan's Navbahor played to a 1-1 draw in the group's other fixture on Monday. 

Al Ittihad's focus pleases Santo

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Al Ittihad's focus pleases Santo

Jeddah: Al Ittihad head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted with his team's performance as the two-time AFC Champions League™ winners kicked off their 2023/24 campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over AGMK of Uzbekistan on Monday.

Two goals in four minutes early in the first half sent the 2004 and 2005 champions on their way to a well-deserved victory in their Group C clash, with Haroune Camara and Romarinho on target in the opening 15 minutes to break AGMK’s resistance. Romarinho then slotted home a penalty three minutes from the break to confirm the points. 

Morais rues Sepahan's dropped points

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Morais rues Sepahan's dropped points

Erbil: Head coach Jose Morais was left to rue a missed opportunity after Sepahan FC were held to a 2-2 draw by Air Force Club in Group C of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Monday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran side looked to have the points in the bag after goals from Mohammad Daneshgar and Mohammad Ghorbani overturned Ali Jasim's opener. The 19-year-old, however, struck again in the 89th minute for the Iraqi side to deny Sepahan the win. 

Al Ahed's Mohammed boosted by win over Al Nahda

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Al Ahed's Mohammed boosted by win over Al Nahda

Muscat: Al Ahed head coach Raafat Mohammed believes his side's AFC Cup™ 2023/24 win over Al Nahda will galvanise his players into reaching the knockout stage.

Lebanon's Al Ahed, the 2019 AFC Cup winners, fought back from a goal down to defeat Oman's Al Nahda 2-1 in the Group A tie at the Seeb Sports Stadium.

Europe Wrap: Taremi winner for Porto; Oda nets in Hearts victory

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

Europe Wrap: Taremi winner for Porto; Oda nets in Hearts victory

Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Republic of Iran striker Mehdi Taremi opened his account for the new Primeira Liga season in Portugal as his first-half strike proved enough for FC Porto to edge Estrela da Amadora 1-0 and maintain their unbeaten start to their new campaign. 

In Scotland, Japan U-23 winger Yutaro Oda scored his second goal of the season in Hearts’ 2-0 win against Aberdeen while his compatriot and Samurai Blue striker Kyogo Furuhashi bagged a goal and an assist to send defending champions Celtic two points clear at the top following a 3-0 win over Dundee. 
 
Ange Postecolgou’s Tottenham Hotspur posted a thrilling win in England, Japanese duo Daiki Hashioka and Ryotaro Ito scored for Sint-Truiden in Belgium and India’s Manisha Kalyan netted in Apollon’s Super Cup triumph in Cyprus, so join the-AFC.com as we find out how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week. 

German international Draxler joins Qatar's Al Ahli

Tue, 19 Sep, 2023

German international Draxler joins Qatar's Al Ahli

Paris: German international midfielder Julian Draxler has left Paris Saint-Germain to sign for Al Ahli of Qatar, the French club announced on Monday.

PSG said Draxler, 29, had joined the Doha-based side on a permanent deal. Al Ahli, who came eighth in the 12-team Qatar Stars League last season, said Draxler had signed a deal until 2025 after completing his medical on Sunday.