Group B - MD6: Al Khaldiya SC (BHR) 4-0 Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Group B - MD6: Al Khaldiya SC (BHR) 4-0 Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)

Riffa: Al Khaldiya confirmed their progress to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 on Wednesday as a second half hat-trick from Oussama Bellatreche secured a 4-0 win over Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr that guaranteed a top two finish in Group B.

The win moves the Bahraini club onto 12 points from six games and means Ali Ashoor’s team clinch second place in the standings ahead of Iraq's Air Force SC and behind Al Taawoun FC from Saudi Arabia.

Mahdi Abduljabbar put the hosts in front in the 10th minute but it was not until the second half that Al Khaldiya opened up a convincing lead, with Bellatreche scoring with a pair of headers in the 47th and 54th minutes to seal the win. He then hit his third with a minute left.

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Group B - MD6: Air Force SC (IRQ) 0-1 Al Taawoun FC (KSA)

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Group B - MD6: Air Force SC (IRQ) 0-1 Al Taawoun FC (KSA)

Baghdad: Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun FC topped Group B to seal their place in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 thanks to a 1-0 win against Air Force SC of Iraq on Wednesday.

Al Taawoun - who lost to Air Force in the reverse fixture in what was their only blip in an otherwise perfect campaign - qualified to the Round of 16 with 15 points, three ahead of runners-up Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya SC who also advanced.

Group G - MD6: Bangkok United (THA) 3-2 Nam Dinh FC (VIE)

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Group G - MD6: Bangkok United (THA) 3-2 Nam Dinh FC (VIE)

Pathum Thani: Bangkok United clinched top spot in Group G after defeating Nam Dinh FC 3-2 in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 at the Thammasat Stadium on Wednesday.

The Thai side finished on 13 points with Vietnam’s Nam Dinh two adrift in second place. 

Group G - MD6: Lee Man (HKG) 0-0 Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Group G - MD6: Lee Man (HKG) 0-0 Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)

Hong Kong: Lee Man ended their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 campaign on a positive note after holding Tampines Rovers FC to a goalless draw in their final Group G match on Wednesday.

It was the Hong Kong side’s first point as they finished bottom of the group while their Singaporean rivals ended their campaign in third with eight points.

Sharjah’s Olaroiu wants to go all the way

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Sharjah’s Olaroiu wants to go all the way

Amman: Head coach Cosmin Olaroiu was in a confident mood after his Sharjah FC side achieved their objective of beating Al Wehdat to finish top of Group C in the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 on Tuesday.

The 3-1 win means that Sharjah will be part of the knockout stage draw in Kuala Lumpur on December 12 , with the Romanian side looking to take the UAE side all the way to the title.

MD6: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 1-2 Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

MD6: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 1-2 Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

Shanghai: Former champions Ulsan HD kept their slender hopes of a place in the next round of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 alive on Wednesday as Kim Pan-gon’s side scored twice in the second half to come back from a goal down to win 2-1 against hosts Shanghai Shenhua.

The Korea Republic champions picked up their first points of the campaign as Yago Carillo and Kang Min-woo scored in the 58th and 66th minutes respectively to cancel out Andre Luis’ 23rd minute opener for the home side.

The result moves Ulsan off the bottom of the standings and, with two games remaining in the league phase, the two-time champions can still qualify for the last 16. Shenhua, meanwhile, remain on seven points and just outside the eight qualification places.

MD6: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4-0 Shandong Taishan FC (CHN)

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

MD6: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4-0 Shandong Taishan FC (CHN)

Kawasaki: Japan Kawasaki Frontale edged closer to the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage after cruising to a 4-0 win against China PR’s Shandong Taishan on Wednesday.

Goals from Marcinho, Yuki Yamamoto, Jesiel and Shin Yamada sealed the three points for Toru Oniki’s side and moved them up to 12 points

Jesus content as Al Hilal continue to cruise

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Jesus content as Al Hilal continue to cruise

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC's stellar campaign in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 continued unabated after a 3-0 success against Al Gharafa on Tuesday, a performance which delighted head coach Jorge Jesus.

Marcos Leonardo put the Saudi Arabian side ahead in the 18th minute but Jesus’ charges had to be patient as Al Gharafa goalkeeper Sergio Rico denied them several times before a blitz towards the end confirmed the win.

Al Ain's Jardim rues missed opportunity; Pakhtakor leave Shatskykh upbeat

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Al Ain's Jardim rues missed opportunity; Pakhtakor leave Shatskykh upbeat

Tashkent: Head coach Leonardo Jardim was left counting the cost of the 1-1 draw between his Al Ain FC and Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 which took qualification out of their hands.

Despite the second half improvements, Jardim felt his side didn’t compete sufficiently and with only two points collected thus far, the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 winners are in danger of missing out on the knockout stage.

Mixed emotions for JDT’s Bidoglio, Buriram’s Loss after stalemate

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Mixed emotions for JDT’s Bidoglio, Buriram’s Loss after stalemate

Johor Bahru: Johor Darul Ta’zim head coach Hector Bidoglio emphasised the need for more hard work and improvement to bolster the Malaysian side’s bid to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage following their 0-0 draw against Thailand’s Buriram United on Tuesday.

The stalemate took both teams to eight points, maintaining their hopes of progression to the next round.

Park applauds Pohang’s strong mindset

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Park applauds Pohang’s strong mindset

Pohang: Pohang Steelers head coach Park Tae-ha hailed his team’s work ethic after their 3-1 win over Japan’s Vissel Kobe in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Tuesday.

The K League 1 side achieved victory with two goals in a blistering seven-minute spell in the first half which kept them firmly in contention for a spot in the knockout stage.

Marinos’ Hutchinson celebrates return; Mariners disappoint Jackson

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Marinos’ Hutchinson celebrates return; Mariners disappoint Jackson

Gosford: Interim head coach John Hutchinson celebrated an emotional homecoming after guiding Yokohama F. Marinos to a commanding 4-0 win over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Tuesday.

Kenta Inoue scored an early brace and Anderson Lopes made it three before a dazzling free-kick from Jun Amano put an exclamation point on Yokohama’s dominant performance.

Japan legend Inamoto retires

Wed, 04 Dec, 2024

Japan legend Inamoto retires

Tokyo: Junichi Inamoto announced his retirement aged 45 on Wednesday, ending a career that saw the midfielder become the first Japanese player to appear in the English Premier League.

Inamoto joined Arsenal in 2001 but had to wait until moving to Fulham a year later before he made his debut in England's top flight, where he also played for West Bromwich Albion.