Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hiroshima: Sanfrecce Hiroshima will look to return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2016 when they host Thailand’s Chiangrai United in the Play-off round at Hiroshima Athletic Stadium on Tuesday.
The three-time J.League champions finished second in the league last year, having only narrowly avoided relegation a year earlier. But while they have long since been a force in their homeland, they have failed to emulate that on the continent.
Sanfrecce’s best performance in the AFC Champions League came in 2014 when they advanced to the Round of 16 before defeat to eventual champions Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia, while in 2010, 2013 and 2016 they fell at the group stage.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jinan: China’s Shandong Luneng and Hanoi FC of Vietnam will kick off the AFC Champions League Play-off round when they meet at Jinan Olympic Sports Centre on Tuesday.
Shandong have made the group stage of the tournament eight times, with their last appearance coming in 2016 when they reached the quarter-finals before elimination to FC Seoul.
A third-place finish in the 2018 Chinese Super League ensured the Jinan side moved within 90 minutes of returning to the competition, while they warmed up for the match by winning the Lunar New Year Cup pre-season tournament in Hong Kong two weeks ago.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The final eight places in the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage will be confirmed on Tuesday, with four mouth-watering games to be held in East Asia.
In total, seven countries will be represented with two sides from Japan and a team apiece from Australia, China, Korea Republic, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam all aiming to secure their places in the competition proper.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Eight spots remain up for grabs in the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage ahead of the final Play-off round on Tuesday when four crucial fixtures will take place in West Asia.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, Qatar and Uzbekistan each have two clubs vying to reach the Continental competition while both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have one, with all to be decided in the one-legged match-ups.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the 2019 AFC Champions League East Asia play-offs to take place on Tuesday, the-AFC.com picks out eight players who could inspire their sides to group stage qualification.
Defending champions Kashima Antlers from Japan are joined by domestic rivals Sanfrecce Hiroshima, while 2012 winners Ulsan Hyundai of Korea Republic and China’s Shandong Luneng make up the four seeded teams with Australia’s Newcastle Jets, Thailand’s Chiangrai United, Malaysia’s Perak and Hanoi FC of Vietnam having joined after victories in the Preliminary Stage 2.
An AFC Champions League MVP, an Italian international and a pair of AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Cup finalists are among our players to look out for as the Continental tournament draws nearer.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Ahead of the 2019 AFC Champions League West Asia play-offs, the-AFC.com looks at eight players who could make the difference for their respective sides.
Two teams from Uzbekistan (Pakhtakor and AGMK) and as many from IR Iran (Zobahan and Saipa) made their way to the play-off stage, joining Qatari duo Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan, while Al Nasr of the UAE and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia round off the West Asian sides competing for four spots in the AFC Champions League group stage.
From those who starred in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 to a former Premier League and a journeyman of Asian football, these eight players will be key for their teams' chances of progressing to the next stage.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Leandro Damiao was the match winner as J. League champions Kawasaki Frontale defeated 2018 Emperor’s Cup winners Urawa Red Diamonds to lift the season-opening Super Cup on Saturday.
Kawasaki deserved victory, having dominated a match in which they had 12 shots on goal to Urawa's one.
Damiao, who had a goal disallowed in the first half for offside, scored in the 52nd minute with a left footed shot following a rebound.
The win sets the champions up nicely for the 2019 J. League, which kicks off next week, and the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage, which gets underway in March.