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.

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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.

Quarter-finals: 5 things to look out for

Sun, 03 Mar, 2024

Quarter-finals: 5 things to look out for

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-finals are drawing ever nearer as the eight remaining sides in the continental competition get set to take to the field once more in the coming week.

With three clubs still vying for the title, Saudi Arabia has more representatives than any other nation, while teams from Korea Republic (2), China PR, Japan and the United Arab Emirates also remain in the hunt. 
 
Ahead of the matches between March 4 and 6, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for.

Quarter-finals: Ones to Watch

Fri, 01 Mar, 2024

Quarter-finals: Ones to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: From the 40 clubs that began the journey in the group stage last September, we are now down to the final eight sides in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 as the race to be crowned kings of the continent heats up. 

The tournament has again showcased a host of stars, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane still in contention to add an AFC Champions League title to the UEFA Champions League titles they have won previously, while plenty of other big-name players have also turned on the style. 
 
With the first legs of the quarter-finals set to take place between March 4-6, the-AFC.com highlights eight players who could be the difference makers for their respective sides. 

Race for the Top Scorer award

Thu, 29 Feb, 2024

Race for the Top Scorer award

Kuala Lumpur: Only eight of Asia’s top clubs remain in contention for the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 title as the continental competition enters the quarter-final stage – the first leg of which will be held between March 4 and 6. 

While the fierce battle to crown the Asian champions gathers momentum, the race to become the tournament’s top scorer is also heating up.
 
From the current leading marksman Cryzan to Aleksandar Mitrovic and Cristiano Ronaldo, join the-AFC.com as we look at eight players who could compete for the top scorer award. 

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.

Australia’s Trimis credits half-time insights for win

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Australia’s Trimis credits half-time insights for win

Tashkent: Player of the Match Peta Trimis credited Australia’s come-from-behind victory in their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ 2024 Group A opener against Korea Republic on Sunday to the tactical insights shared by head coach Leah Blayney.

Australia were on the verge of defeat after Jeon Yug-yeong’s 25th-minute goal before Trimis sparked their comeback with the equaliser with Naomi Chinnama hitting the winner late in the match.
 
Leah Blaney’s charges are second in the standings behind Chinese Taipei, who defeated hosts Uzbekistan 2-0 in the group's other fixture.