Totchtawan optimistic of Bangkok’s chances after late fightback

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Totchtawan optimistic of Bangkok’s chances after late fightback

Sydney: Bangkok United head coach Totchtawan Sripan was filled with pride following his team's dramatic 2-2 draw with Sydney FC in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 on Wednesday.

Thitiphan Puangjan's last-minute heroics in stoppage time ensured the Thai side will head into the return leg at home on level terms.  

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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. 

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.

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. 

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.

MD7: Buriram United (THA) 2-1 Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

MD7: Buriram United (THA) 2-1 Ulsan HD FC (KOR)

Buriram: Former Asian champions Ulsan HD exited the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday as the side from Korea Republic suffered a late 2-1 loss to hosts Buriram United with Suphanat Mueanta scoring the winner deep into injury time.

Jang Si-young gave the Koreans hope in the first minute of first half injury time when he scored to cancel out Guilherme Bissoli’s 20th minute opener, but in the end the reigning K League champions fell short as Suphanat netted in the 93rd minute.

The loss leaves Ulsan, continental champions in 2012 and 2020, five adrift of the top eight places with one round of matches remaining and with no chance of securing a spot in the last 16.

Buriram, meanwhile, move up to six on 11 points from seven games and go into their final league phase encounter against already-qualified Gwangju FC on Tuesday knowing a draw would see Osmar Loss’ side advance to the knockout rounds.

Group A - MD1: China PR 2-1 Qatar

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Group A - MD1: China PR 2-1 Qatar

Shenzhen: China PR produced a strong start to defeat Qatar 2-1 in their opening AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group A match on Wednesday.

A dominant first half performance that saw China PR swarm Qatar paved the way for the victory as they went level on points with Australia, who beat Kyrgyz Republic 5-1 earlier in the day.

MD7: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 1-0 Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN)

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

MD7: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 1-0 Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN)

Yokohama: Yokohama F Marinos returned to the top of the eastern league standings in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday when Yan Matheus’ first half goal earned new manager Steve Holland a 1-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua at International Stadium.

The result moves the Japanese side, whose place in the knockout rounds of the competition had already been confirmed due to Tuesday’s results, onto 16 points from seven games and ahead of compatriots Vissel Kobe on goal difference.

Shenhua, meanwhile, remain in 10th position and a point outside the top eight places that qualify for the last 16 with one match – against Kobe on February 18 – remaining as the Chinese Super League side look to advance.

Group A - MD1: Australia 5-1 Kyrgyz Republic

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Group A - MD1: Australia 5-1 Kyrgyz Republic

Shenzhen: A rampant Australia waltzed 5-1 past Kyrgyz Republic in their opening AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group A tie at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium on Wednesday.

Luka Jovanovic and Musa Toure scored a brace each with Daniel Benne contributing one to ensure the Australians got off to a perfect start as they look to go beyond their AFC U20 Asian Cup™2023 quarter-final finish.

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.