Mota proud of Al Hussein’s versatility

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Mota proud of Al Hussein’s versatility

Kuwait City: Al Hussein head coach Joao Mota praised his team’s ability to adapt following their 2-2 draw against Kuwait SC in the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 on Wednesday.

The Jordanian side had to stave off a fightback from Kuwait SC with the result taking them to 10 points, three behind Group D winners Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/video/acltwo-|-group-d-kuwait-sc-kuw-2-2-al-hussein-jor

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Al Taawoun’s control thrills Arruabarrena

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Al Taawoun’s control thrills Arruabarrena

Baghdad: Rodolfo Arruabarrena heaped praise on his Al Taawoun players after they produced a controlled performance to defeat Air Force SC 1-0 in their final AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Group B match on Wednesday.

Andrei Girotto’s goal early in the second half turned out to be the difference as Al Taawoun secured their passage to the knockout stage as group winners, three points ahead of Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya SC.

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 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.

Kim revels in Ulsan HD’s perseverance

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Kim revels in Ulsan HD’s perseverance

Shanghai: A jubilant Kim Pan-gon highlighted his side’s resolve as Ulsan HD FC ended a run of five AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 defeats by beating China PR's Shanghai Shenhua FC 2-1 on Wednesday.

The Ulsan head coach knew, given their fragility after a poor run on the continental stage, the enormity of the task his side faced after Shenhua took the lead through Andre Luis in the 23rd minute.

Marcinho: Teamwork secured Frontale victory

Thu, 05 Dec, 2024

Marcinho: Teamwork secured Frontale victory

Kawasaki: A jubilant Marcinho hailed Kawasaki Frontale’s team effort after their emphatic 4-0 triumph over China PR’s Shandong Taishan in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday.

Marcinho set the tone with his strike in the third minute as the J1 League side led from start to finish, with further goals from Yuki Yamamoto, Jesiel and Shin Yamada moving Frontale within touching distance of the knockout stage.

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.