Muscat applauds gritty Yokohama, Hoang Anh Gia Lai's resilience pleases Kiatisuk

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Muscat applauds gritty Yokohama, Hoang Anh Gia Lai's resilience pleases Kiatisuk

Ho Chi Minh City: Kevin Muscat hailed his Yokohama F. Marinos players after the Japanese side kicked off their AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group H campaign with a 2-1 win over Hoang Anh Gia Lai on Saturday.

Yokohama looked to be well on the way to victory after Brazilian Leo Ceara gave them a 2-0 lead by the 25th minute but an own goal by captain Takuya Kida changed the complexion of the match as Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) found renewed vigour and made their opponents work hard for the win under sweltering conditions. 

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Group H: Leo Ceara double steers Yokohama F Marinos past Hoang Anh Gia Lai

Thu, 21 Apr, 2022

Group H: Leo Ceara double steers Yokohama F Marinos past Hoang Anh Gia Lai

Ho Chi Minh: Leo Ceara’s first half brace ensured Yokohama F Marinos made a winning start to Group H of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday as Kevin Muscat’s side handed Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai a 2-1 defeat.

The Brazilian opened the scoring with a cheeky flick in the 19th minute and doubled his side’s lead with a header six minutes later before an own goal by F Marinos captain Takuya Kida gave the Vietnamese side hope.

Group H: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Sydney FC settle for a stalemate

Sun, 17 Apr, 2022

Group H: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Sydney FC settle for a stalemate

Ho Chi Minh: Two-time winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were held to a 0-0 draw by Sydney FC as Kim Sang-sik’s side launched their Group H campaign in the AFC Champions League™ 2022 in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

Neither side could find a way through at the Thong Nhat Stadium on a humid evening to leave the pair trailing early group leaders Yokohama F Marinos by two points after the Japanese side defeated Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the day’s opening game.

Group J: Kitchee edge Chiangrai in opener

Sun, 17 Apr, 2022

Group J: Kitchee edge Chiangrai in opener

Buriram: A first-half goal from Ruslan Mingazov saw Kitchee SC get off to a winning start in Group J of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 following a narrow 1-0 win over Thailand's Chiangrai United on Saturday.

Kitchee went in front inside 20 minutes at Buriram City Stadium when Turkmenistan international Mingazov marked his debut with a goal and, after withstanding late Chiangrai pressure, the Hong Kong Premier League side held out for the victory. 

Lion City Sailors will close the gap, says coach Kim

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Lion City Sailors will close the gap, says coach Kim

Buriram: Singapore’s Lion City Sailors FC kicked off their maiden AFC Champions League™ campaign with a 4-1 defeat to Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, but head coach Kim Do-hoon has promised to ‘reduce the gap’ in their upcoming Group F matches. 

The J League side cruised to an opening day win with four different players etching their names on the scoresheet, and were denied a clean sheet by David Moberg’s first half on goal. 

Last gasp defeat tough to take, says United City’s Withe

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Last gasp defeat tough to take, says United City’s Withe

Pathum Thani: United City FC boss Jason Withe revealed his disappointment after a last gasp Jeonnam Dragons winner denied his side a draw in their opening AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group G clash at Pathum Thani Stadium on Friday.

The Filipino side kept the Korean FA Cup winners to few clear-cut chances during a strong first half performance, but Jeonnam took control after the interval, edging closer and closer to a breakthrough before Leonard Pllana’s 87th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win.

Mora rallies Johor Darul Ta’zim to build on historic victory

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Mora rallies Johor Darul Ta’zim to build on historic victory

Johor Bahru: Prior to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT)’s 5-0 masterclass against Guangzhou FC in Friday’s Group I opener, the Southern Tigers had managed just three victories since their debut in the AFC Champions League™ in 2019, with the single-goal margin the common denominator across all three triumphs.

Not only was Friday’s commanding spectacle JDT’s best-ever start to the AFC Champions League™, but it was also their biggest winning margin on Asia’s pinnacle club stage and head coach Benjamin Mora is confident his charges will carry the momentum as they seek to navigate past the group stage for the first time. 

Daegu’s Gama hails team for massive win

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Daegu’s Gama hails team for massive win

Buriram: Daegu FC head coach Alexandre Gama praised his team for executing their plans perfectly to pick up their first win in Group F of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 on Friday. 

The K League outfit scored seven unanswered goals to secure the three points against Shandong Taishan FC at the Buriram City Stadium to sit top of the standings, with Urawa Red Diamonds in second place on goal difference. 

Melbourne City’s Kisnorbo impressed by response to AFC Champions League™ challenge

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Melbourne City’s Kisnorbo impressed by response to AFC Champions League™ challenge

Pathum Thani: Melbourne City FC head coach Patrick Kisnorbo was full of praise for his players, after they emerged from the club’s first ever AFC Champions League™ fixture with a 1-1 draw against BG Pathum United in Group G on Friday. 

The Australian champions had to deal with warm conditions, the absence of a trio of key midfielders and the new experience of playing in Asia’s top competition at Pathum Thani Stadium, but a fast start saw them take the lead through Andrew Nabbout’s 25-yard rocket midway through the first half. 

In-form group hosts BG Pathum responded in style to draw level through veteran Thai international Teerasil Dangda in the 35th minute, before both sides had chances to claim all three points in a keenly contested second half.

Oniki lauds Kawasaki’s fighting spirit, Hong backs Ulsan’s Jo to rebound

Sat, 16 Apr, 2022

Oniki lauds Kawasaki’s fighting spirit, Hong backs Ulsan’s Jo to rebound

Johor Bahru: Kawasaki Frontale head coach Toru Oniki hailed his charges for their spirited display after the J.League leaders snatched an injury-time equaliser in their AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group I opener against two-time champions Ulsan Hyundai on Friday. 

Just when it seemed the Japanese side were on the brink of defeat, substitute Shintaro Kurumaya’s left footed shot towards the bottom right corner of Jo Hyeon-woo’s goal, after an uncharacteristic mid-air fumble by the Korea Republic custodian, gifted Kawasaki a precious point in an intense battle between the two East Asian giants.