Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Macau: Tianjin Quanjian midfielder Zhang Xiuwei rued his side’s missed opportunities after the Chinese Super League team were eliminated from the 2018 AFC Champions League following a 3-0 defeat to Japan’s Kashima Antlers in the second leg of the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
After suffering a 2-0 loss in the first leg in Japan three weeks ago, Tianjin went into the return meeting at Macau Olympic Stadium needing to win by at least two goals to have any chance of remaining in the competition.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Macau: Kashima Antlers coach Go Oiwa credited his team’s poise as the key to their 3-0 second-leg win over Tianjin Quanjian in the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Goals from Serginho, Hiroki Abe, and Shoma Doi wrapped up a 5-0 aggregate victory for the Japanese side over their Chinese opponents, delivering them to a first ever semi-final in Asia’s premier club competition.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Suwon: It's not over till it's over is the message from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors veteran forward Lee Dong-gook despite the Jeonju-based club going into Wednesday's AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg against Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-0 down on aggregate.
In stunning scenes at Jeonju World Cup Stadium last month, visitors Suwon put three goals past the two-time AFC Champions League winners without reply and it has left Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with a mountain to climb in the return meeting.
Nevertheless, evergreen striker Lee Dong-gook, who turned 39-year-old in April, insists that there remains hope of a return to the semi-finals for the men in green.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Macau: Kashima Antlers of Japan cruised into a first AFC Champions League semi-final in style on Tuesday, progressing 5-0 on aggregate after an assured 3-0 win in their quarter-final second leg away to China’s Tianjin Quanjian.
The first leg finished 2-0 to Kashima three weeks ago, but Go Oiwa’s side almost offered Tianjin some early encouragement when they gifted Alexandre Pato a free sight of goal in just the third minute at Macau Olympic Stadium.
The former AC Milan star could only direct his close-range attempt straight at a relieved Kwoun Sun-Tae though, and within 10 minutes it was instead Kashima opening the scoring as Serginho nodded home a Yasushi Endo corner from in front of Tianjin goalkeeper Zhang Lu.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira didn't hide his relief after a 2-2 draw at home with Esteghlal in the second leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Monday sent his team to the last four of the competition.
The 2011 winners advanced to the next stage on the back of a 5-3 aggregate win, having defeated the Iranian team 3-1 in the first leg in Tehran.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Suwon: Star midfielder Yeom Ki-hun has warned his Suwon Samsung Bluewings teammates that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are capable of an unlikely comeback ahead of Wednesday's AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg tie.
An impressive 3-0 win in the first leg might have some penciling Suwon's name into the semi-finals, but you write off two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk at your peril.
And it's a mistake that Yeom is adamant his side will not be making at Suwon World Cup Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Winning a first leg does not always mean a straight route to the next round, and the AFC Champions League quarter-finals have seen some memorable comebacks over the years.
The first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals produced two wins for the home sides and as many for visitors. But the competition's history shows the four winners there can be no room for complacency following a first leg victory.
The quarter-finals were introduced in the AFC Champions League back in 2004, and since then we have witnessed some iconic returns after disappointing first leg ties, the-AFC.com recalls three extraordinary comebacks ahead of the second legs.