Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals saw some high impact debuts across the continent, we look back into the archives to pick four of the best performances by newcomers from the history of the ACL's last eight.
Whethere it was the goals of Kashima Antlers' Serginho and Han Eui-kwon of Suwon Samsung Bluewings, or the midfield performance by Al Sadd's Gabi and Jung Woo-yung, there were impressive first outings for a number of footballers in Asia as the AFC Champions League re-commenced after the three month break.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Al Sadd captain Xavi Hernandez believes that his side have taken an important step towards the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League, following the 3-1 win away victory over Esteghlal in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
Speaking exclusively to the-AFC.com, Xavi expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance at the Azadi Stadium, adding that Al Sadd were much better than their hosts.
"I think we did well but there's one more game," said the 38-year-old World Cup winner. "It could be just 90 minutes or it could even go to extra time. We don't know; in football, we never know.
"At least, we did a really good job in Tehran. It was a very good performance and I think we were much better than Esteghlal, especially in the second half. Also, in the first half, we could have scored at least one goal."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League returned with a bang last week, with Al Duhail, Al Sadd, Kashima Antlers and Suwon Samsung Bluewings all gaining valuable wins in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
Esteghlal, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Persepolis and Tianjin Quanjian all face tough tasks ahead of the second legs in just over two weeks' time, before which the-AFC.com looks back at the numbers that caught the eye as the competition entered the last eight.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals saw some exciting games and shock results, the-AFC.com looks back at the reactions of some of the players involved in the final eight.
Baghdad Bounedjah may be the 2018 AFC Champions League's leading scorer, but the Al Sadd striker is intent on avoiding complacency, despite the side holding a 3-1 advantage over Esteghlal after the first leg in Tehran.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com has announced that Al Sadd's Baghdad Bounedjah is the winner of this week’s Goal of the Week presented by Allianz for the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
We picked four great goals from this week's games for you to select your favourite.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeonju: Two-goal hero Dejan Damjanovic praised his teammates for overcoming adversity on and off the field to defeat Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-0 in Wednesday's AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The resignation of head coach Seo Jung-won just days before their opening quarter-final tie against two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors rocked Suwon Samung Bluewings' players.
But, according to star striker Damjanovic, it was also the moment that the players stood up to be counted: holding Jeonbuk to a goalless stalemate for 75 minutes before firing in three goals to take a giant step towards the semi-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: A brace from Suwon Samsung Bluewings' Dejan Damjanovic in the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-final, first leg against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors has seen the Montenegrin striker named as the Toyota Player of the Week.
Kuala Lumpur: Dejan Damjanovic was at the double as Suwon Samsung Bluewings shocked two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-0 in Jeonju, with the man from Montenegro earning himself the Toyota Player of the Week accolade.
Damjanovic's brace took his total AFC Champions League tally to 34 goals, just two off the all-time record held by Jeonbuk veteran Lee Dong-gook.
The 37-year-old's strikes came from three shots on target and he also won eight duels, had 48 touches and completed 27 passes to earn an impressive 8.9 rating.
Second in this week’s ranking is another player who shone in the East, Serginho (pictured below), whose stunning strike helped Kashima Antlers to a 2-0 win at home over Chinese Super League visitors Tianjin Quanjian.