Skibee’s second half tinkering pays off for Sanfrecce

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Skibee’s second half tinkering pays off for Sanfrecce

Nam Dinh: Sanfrecce Hiroshima head coach Michael Skibee was proud of his charges following their 3-0 win over Vietnam’s Nam Dinh in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Nam Dinh held their own for the opening 45 minutes before Sanfrecce turned on the power in the second half with goals from Sota Nakamura, Satoshi Tanaka and Sota Koshimichi to give the Japanese an overwhelming advantage going into the return leg.

The introduction of Koshimichi and Nakamura in the second half paid off handsomely for Skibee, who took advantage of Nam Dinh’s fatigue. 

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/video/acltwo | r16-1st-leg-nam-dinh-fc-vie-0-3-sanfrecce-hiroshima-jpn

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R16, 1st Leg: Nam Dinh FC (VIE) 0-3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN)

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

R16, 1st Leg: Nam Dinh FC (VIE) 0-3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN)

Nam Dinh: Sanfrecce Hiroshima produced a splendid second half display to cruise 3-0 past Nam Dinh FC of Vietnam in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Wednesday.

Goals from Sota Nakamura, Satoshi Tanaka and Sota Koshimichi means the Japanese side have one foot in the quarter-finals, with Nam Dinh needing a strong performance to stand a chance of going through.

R16, 1st Leg: Sydney FC (AUS) 2-2 Bangkok United (THA)

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

R16, 1st Leg: Sydney FC (AUS) 2-2 Bangkok United (THA)

Sydney: Thitiphan Puangjan scored deep into injury time to earn Bangkok United a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 clash at Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday after Adrian Segicic scored twice for the hosts.

Richairo Zivkovic put the visitors in front from the penalty spot five minutes after the interval before Segicic netted in the 60th and 78th minutes, but Thitiphan’s 95th minute strike leaves the tie finely poised ahead of the return in Bangkok next week.

Sydney had dominated much of the game and looked to have taken a deserved win through Segicic’s double.

R16, 1st Leg: Al Wakrah SC (QAT) 2-2 Al Taawoun SC (KSA)

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

R16, 1st Leg: Al Wakrah SC (QAT) 2-2 Al Taawoun SC (KSA)

Al Wakrah: It remains all to play for between Al Wakrah SC and Al Taawoun FC after they played out an entertaining 2-2 stalemate in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Wednesday.

The Qatari side showed plenty of resilience as they twice fought back to hold their Saudi Arabian counterparts at Khalifa International Stadium to set up a tantalising return leg.

R16, 1st Leg: Al Wehdat (JOR) 0-2 Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

R16, 1st Leg: Al Wehdat (JOR) 0-2 Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Amman: Shabab Al Ahli turned on the power in the second half to defeat Al Wehdat 2-0 in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie at the Amman International Stadium on Wednesday.

Sardar Azmoun scored both goals to give Shabab Al Ahli a comfortable advantage to take home, with the sides to meet again on February 19. 

Kobe’s Yuruki expects more after Shanghai Port masterclass

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Kobe’s Yuruki expects more after Shanghai Port masterclass

Kobe: Koya Yuruki is confident Vissel Kobe can continue raising the bar after leading his team from start to finish in their 4-0 defeat of Shanghai Port in their penultimate AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25  tie on Tuesday.

Yuruki starred with a goal and an assist as Kobe swept past Shanghai with Yoshinori Muto, Yuya Kuwasaki and Yuya Osako also finding the net to confirm the Japanese side their place in the knockout stage.

Cryzan: Hard work during winter key to Shandong’s triumph

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Cryzan: Hard work during winter key to Shandong’s triumph

Jinan: Cryzan attributed Shandong Taishan FC’s pre-season training in wintry conditions for Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Gwangju FC, a result which has strengthened their claim for a place in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25.

The dominant win achieved over the Korea Republic outfit saw Cryzan producing a noteworthy performance in which he assisted Zeca for the second goal after Valeri Qazaishvili had put the China PR side ahead.

Cryzan then put the icing on the cake for Shandong with the third goal in first half added time and the Brazilian wants the win to be the springboard for them to reach the Round of 16.

Frontale make new boss Hasebe proud

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Frontale make new boss Hasebe proud

Pohang: Head coach Shigetoshi Hasebe had a debut to remember after he guided Kawasaki Frontale to a 4-0 success against FC Pohang Steelers as his new side marched into the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Tuesday.

Frontale were impressive in Hasebe’s first competitive outing since replacing the legendary Toru Oniki, with the Japanese side ending Pohang’s three-match winning streak at home in the competition as they sealed progression with a game to spare.

Bidoglio confident JDT will progress

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Bidoglio confident JDT will progress

Gosford: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Hector Bidoglio is confident the 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday will be the platform for qualification to the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage.

The Malaysian champions took a significant step towards a place in the Round of 16 as the win - their first on the road this season - took them to 11 points, leaving destiny in their own hands ahead of a crunch final League Stage fixture against FC Pohang Steelers next week.

Jovanovic: Australia can only get better

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Jovanovic: Australia can only get better

Shenzhen: Two-goal hero Luka Jovanovic believes Australia, despite their 5-1 win, should have done better in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 opener against Kyrgyz Republic on Wednesday.

Jovanovic scored in the fourth and 26th minutes to add to Musa Toure’s brace and Daniel Benne’s solo strike at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium to ensure an empathic start to their Group A campaign.

China PR players delight Djurdjevic; Sarriugarte laments Qatar’s slow start

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

China PR players delight Djurdjevic; Sarriugarte laments Qatar’s slow start

Shenzhen: Head coach Dejan Djurdjevic was full of praise for his China PR side after they passed their first test at the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 with flying colours.

China PR began their Group A campaign with a 2-1 success against Qatar that showcased Djurdjevic’s desire to play entertaining football with a high-octane performance - particularly in the first half.