AFC Champions League - Latest Photos

Debutants Ventforet Kofu determined to impress

Sun, 04 Jun, 2023

Debutants Ventforet Kofu determined to impress

Yamanashi: Japan’s Ventforet Kofu will become the first club to make their debut in the AFC Champions League™ as a second division outfit when they play in the next edition in September. 

the-AFC.com travelled to Yamanashi prefecture to meet the 2022 Emperor’s Cup winners.

Damjanovic, Kitchee part ways

Thu, 01 Jun, 2023

Damjanovic, Kitchee part ways

Hong Kong: Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee have announced the departure of Dejan Damjanovic, the AFC Champions League™’s all-time leading goal scorer, following the completion of the record-breaking striker’s two-and-a-half-year contract.

The 41-year-old, who passed Lee Dong-gook’s mark after joining Kitchee from Daegu FC in 2021, is one of four players to leave the club upon the completion of the season, alongside Alex Akande, Kyrgyz Republic international Bekzhan Sagynbaev and Maddox Kong.

Vote for your Best Goal of #ACL2022: Semi-final 1 (East)

Wed, 31 May, 2023

Vote for your Best Goal of #ACL2022: Semi-final 1 (East)

Kuala Lumpur: Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds last month became Asian champions for the third time when they overcame Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC in the title clash of the AFC Champions League 2022 – a tournament that saw 384 goals scored in 130 matches at an average of almost three goals every 90 minutes. 

Now it’s your turn, as the fans of Asian football, to select which among the lot deserves to be considered the best. In the first of the two semi-finals, the-AFC.com brings you eight fantastic goals from the East Asia section of the draw to look back on.
 
After reviewing our selection, don’t forget to vote for your favourite in the poll at the bottom of the article to help decide which of the goals will advance to a final to face the best goals from the West Asia side of the draw. 

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2022_best_goals_east.html

The Best #ACL2022 XI: Fans' Choice

Wed, 31 May, 2023

The Best #ACL2022 XI: Fans' Choice

Kuala Lumpur: After the conclusion of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 we asked you, the fans of Asian football, to vote for your Best XI from the 20th edition of the continental competition. 

After reaching a third final in the past four years, players from Al Hilal SFC feature heavily once more, while there are plenty of other star performers from across the continent. 
 
Below are the 11 players voted into the all-star team on the-AFC.com after another memorable edition of Asia’s most prestigious club tournament that saw Urawa Red Diamonds crowned champions for the third time. 

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Forwards

Thu, 25 May, 2023

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Forwards

Kuala Lumpur: The names of the goalkeeper, defenders and midfielders in the Best XI from the AFC Champions League™ 2022 have been locked in and now the-AFC.com asks you, the fans of Asian football, to vote for your favourite forwards from what was a memorable tournament. 

As we look to wrap up final slots in the Best XI, we have selected 10 of the star performers who led the line for their teams with aplomb during the 20th edition of the continental competition. 
 
Now it is your turn to review the list featuring some of the most impressive forwards from the AFC Champions League 2022 and pick your favourite by voting in the poll at the foot of the article.

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Midfielders

Mon, 22 May, 2023

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Midfielders

Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com continues its mission to find out who you, the fans of Asian football, think should be picked in the Best XI for the AFC Champions League™ 2022, which concluded earlier this month with Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds crowned champions for the third time in history. 

The goalkeeper and the four defenders in the Best XI have already been decided, so now it’s time to turn the focus to the midfielders who orchestrated the game for their sides in a memorable tournament.  
 
We’ve selected 10 of the standout performers from the 2022 edition of Asia's premier club competition and now it is your turn to review the candidates and vote for your favourites in the poll at the end of the article. 

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Defenders

Fri, 19 May, 2023

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Defenders

Kuala Lumpur: With yet another gripping AFC Champions League™ season now behind us, the-AFC.com continues its quest to find out who you, the fans, pick as the Best XI from this year's continental competition. 

Earlier in the week, we brought to you the nominees for the best goalkeeper from the 2022 edition of Asia’s premier club tournament, which was won by Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds after they defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, and now we present the candidates who could make up the back four of the Best XI. 
 
Here are the 12 players who are in contention for a place in the backline. Review the candidates and don't forget to select your favourite defenders for the AFC Champions League 2022 all-star XI in the polls below. 

ASEAN Wrap: Mariners gain upper hand; Nakhon Ratchasima relegated

Mon, 15 May, 2023

ASEAN Wrap: Mariners gain upper hand; Nakhon Ratchasima relegated

Kuala Lumpur: Goals from James McGarry and Jason Cummings gave Central Coast Mariners a 2-1 win over Adelaide United in the first leg of their A-League Finals Series semi-final on Saturday while Premiers Melbourne City were held to a 1-1 draw by Sydney FC leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of the return meeting. 

In Thailand, Nakhon Ratchasima’s eight-year stay in the top division came to an end after they became the third and final team to be relegated on the last day of the season following a 4-0 defeat to champions Buriram United, joining Nongbua Pitchaya and Lampang in the second division. 
 
Tampines Rovers defeated Tanjong Pagar United 3-0 in Singapore on Sunday to stay one point behind leaders Albirex Niigata (S) while there were also matches in Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across ASEAN. 

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Goalkeeper

Mon, 15 May, 2023

Vote For Your Best #ACL2022 Team: Goalkeeper

Kuala Lumpur: Urawa Red Diamonds were crowned champions of Asia for the third time earlier this month as they defeated Al Hilal SFC 2-1 on aggregate in the final to bring the curtains down on yet another engrossing edition of the AFC Champions League™. 

After Japan's Urawa dethroned Saudi Arabian outfit Al Hilal to add to their 2007 and 2017 triumphs and become the second most successful club on the continent alongside Pohang Steelers, the-AFC.com looks back on some of the standout performers from the competition to find out the Best XI from the 2022 edition.  
 
As always, we begin with the goalkeepers who are the last line of defence for their sides and ask you, the fans, to review our five nominees before casting your vote for the top performer at Asia’s premier club competition.

AFC Champions League™ 2022: The Stats Leaders

Sat, 13 May, 2023

AFC Champions League™ 2022: The Stats Leaders

Kuala Lumpur: After Urawa Red Diamonds’ victory over Al Hilal SFC in the 2022 AFC Champions League™ final at the beginning of May brought the 20th edition of the continental competition to its conclusion, the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the numbers and players that caught the eye during the campaign. 

There were numerous standout performers in another historic chapter of Asia’s premium club competition as we break down the statistics to review some of the key categories and those who excelled in them.

‘The next step is to be world No. 1': Urawa stars react to title triumph

Wed, 10 May, 2023

‘The next step is to be world No. 1': Urawa stars react to title triumph

Saitama: Urawa Red Diamonds created history by winning their third AFC Champions League™ title last Saturday when they defeated Al Hilal SFC 1-0 on the night to claim a 2-1 aggregate win in front of a rapturous Saitama Stadium. 

Andre Carrillo’s own goal early in the second half was enough to win it for Urawa, who added to the titles they won at the same venue in 2007 and 2017 as they also got revenge for their defeat to Al Hilal in Saitama in the 2019 final.
 
Following a night that will live long in the memory, not least because of the incredible atmosphere generated by the 53,000 inside the stadium, the-AFC.com looks back at what those involved from the winning side had to say.