MD1: Esteghlal FC (IRN) 3-0 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Esteghlal FC (IRN) 3-0 Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Basra: Esteghlal FC took advantage of their chances to overcome Qatar’s Al Sadd SC 3-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ opener at the Basra International Stadium on Monday. 

Jasir Asani capitalised on a defensive error to fire the Islamic Republic of Iran outfit ahead in the ninth minute before Saeid Saharkhizan extended their lead two minutes after the break and Esmaeil Gholizadeh sealed the match five minutes into injury time.

In a match largely dominated by the 19-time Qatar Stars League champions, Razvan Lucescu’s side were let down by poor finishing, with only one shot on target and a goal overturned by VAR.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3191942

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3191944

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md1-esteghlal-fc-irn-v-al-sadd-sc-qat

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3192282

MD1: Al Qadsiah Club (KSA) 2-1 Al Wasl FC (UAE)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Al Qadsiah Club (KSA) 2-1 Al Wasl FC (UAE)

Dammam: Al Qadsiah Club got off to a dream debut in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ after they secured a 2-1 win against Al Wasl FC on Monday.

The Saudi Arabia outfit dominated the match but had to wait until the second half to find the goals through Julian Quinones and Mateo Retegui.

MD1: Al Shamal SC (QAT) 1-1 Al Ittihad Club (KSA)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Al Shamal SC (QAT) 1-1 Al Ittihad Club (KSA)

Al Khor: Georginio Wijnaldum salvaged a point for former champions Al Ittihad with virtually the last kick of the game as Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad drew 1-1 with tournament debutants Al Shamal in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on Monday.

The Dutch midfielder stole in to score deep into added time and cancel out Baghdad Bounedjah’s 63rd minute strike, which had looked like it would earn the Qatari side a dream debut in their first-ever appearance in the continental championship.
 
But Al Shamal, who qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time with a runners-up finish in the QSL last season, had been forced to defend desperately in the dying moments against the 2004 and 2005 champions and Wijnaldum eventually struck.

MD1: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 1-0 Tractor FC (IRN)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 1-0 Tractor FC (IRN)

Dubai: Shabab Al Ahli opened their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ campaign with a 1-0 win over Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC on Monday.

Yuri Cesar’s opportunistic 22nd-minute strike at the Rashid Stadium capped a well-rounded display by the United Arab Emirates side in their competition opener as they look to lift their first continental trophy.

MD1: PFC Neftchi (UZB) 1-0 Air Force SC (IRQ)

Tue, 15 Sep, 2026

MD1: PFC Neftchi (UZB) 1-0 Air Force SC (IRQ)

Fergana: Zoran Marusic’s late header earned PFC Neftchi a 1-0 victory over Iraq’s Air Force FC on Monday as the side from Uzbekistan made a winning start to their AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ campaign in Fergana.

The Serbian forward rose to meet Koffi Kouao’s cross from the right in the 83rd minute to ensure Islombek Ismoilov’s side saw their superiority reap a deserved win in the club’s first appearance in this season’s competition.

 

Neftchi had looked destined to end the evening frustrated by a series of missed opportunities that threatened to force the hosts into a share the points with their Iraqi visitors until Marusic nodded in the winner.

MD1 (W): Heavyweights lead the way

Mon, 14 Sep, 2026

MD1 (W): Heavyweights lead the way

Kuala Lumpur: Japan, Korea Republic, DPR Korea, China PR and Chinese Taipei secured winning starts to their Asian Games 2026 campaign on Monday.

Uzbekistan and Philippines, meanwhile, played to a 1-1 stalemate.