AFC Cup 2020 Archive

KJSMWorld Corp.’s exclusive deal includes all major AFC national team and club competitions, including but not limited to the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Final Round, the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup from the 2021 season, the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 and the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals in 2022 and 2024.

The deal includes all major AFC national team and club competitions, including but not limited to the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Final Round, the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup from the 2021 season, the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 and the AFC U23 Asian Cup Finals 2022 and 2024.

Arguably the finest player the Maldives has ever produced, Ali Ashfaq's wonder goal in 2013, scored in Indonesia against Persibo Bojonegoro, emerged top of the 32-goal AFC Cup Bracket Challenge.

A stunning solo goal, having already rounded the 'keeper it appeared Ashfaq had an easy tap-in, but the striker seemed intent on tormenting the Persibo backline, twisting one way and then the next before coolly finishing into the centre of the goal for a memorable effort that Asia's football fans clearly haven't forgotten.

In a showdown between arguably the biggest talents in their respective countries, Malaysian Safawi - currently on loan at Portuguese side Portimonense - polled 70 percent of the votes against Vietnamese sensation Quang Hai.

Thirty-two players from all five of the AFC's Zones began the contest more than six weeks ago and that number has now been whittled down to just two as fans voted in their masses to help Ashfaq and Chan reach the showpiece event.

The final pits South Asia against East Asia as Maldivian superstar Ashfaq's superb solo goal for Male side New Radiant in 2013 goes up against a wonderful strike by Chan for Hong Kong's South China AA in 2013.

Football lovers voted in their masses to ensure both former South China AA player Chan edged past Johor Darul Ta'zim's Malaysian superstar Safawi Rasid and ex-New Radiant forward Ashfaq overcame Nguyen Quang Hai of Vietnam's Hanoi FC in the semi-finals.

Chan's goal against Malaysia's Pahang sealed the tie for South China AA and the former Hong Kong international will now face off against Ali Ashfaq of Maldives side New Radiant in the final which kicks off on Wednesday.

Urawa Red Diamonds, meanwhile, won the East Zone of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 with the opponents from the West to be decided in February.

The recently concluded edition witnessed several memorable moments with a total of 204 goals scored across 62 matches at an average of 3.29 per match.

The-AFC.com has selected the pick of the bunch from the tournament and asks you, the fans, to vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article.

Oman's Al Seeb Club were ultimately crowned champions after beating Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur City FC 3-0 in the final but there were also several standout individual performers and performances from players in the 18th edition of the tournament.

We break down the statistics to review some of the key categories and those who excelled in them.

The final at National Stadium Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur brought an end to a campaign that had seen a record 37 teams compete in the group stage with sides from ASEAN returning to join those in the Central, East, South and West Zones having missed the 2021 edition.

As fans of Asian football start to look forward to the 2023-24 AFC Cup, the-AFC.com looks back on some of the stats and facts that caught the eye in the tournament that was.

Three players found the back of the net to secure Al Seeb a 3-0 win over Kuala Lumpur City FC in the final at the National Stadium Bukit Jalil, a result which the Omani side richly deserved.

The visitors led from start to finish with Ali Al Busaidi and Abdulaziz Al Muqbali providing a two-goal cushion going into the break before Muhsen Al Ghassani scored the third as Al Seeb became the first side from Oman to win the AFC Cup.

The 35-year-old skipper played a crucial role in Al Seeb’s campaign, leading his side to their maiden AFC Cup title after beating Kuala Lumpur City FC 3-0 in the final on Saturday.

Paulo scored five goals and had one assist for Viettel, with the Vietnamese club seeing their AFC Cup 2022 campaign come to an end when they lost 6-5 to Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur City in the ASEAN Zonal Semi-finals.

First half goals from Ali Al Busaidi and Abdulaziz Al Maqbali put Al Seeb in control at the interval and a third from Muhsen Al Ghassani ensured the trophy would be going back to West Asia for the 16th time in the competition’s 18 editions.

The win secures Al Seeb a place in the preliminary rounds of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League while breaking the hearts of the majority of the almost 28,000 fans within the cavernous stadium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

His Al Seeb counterpart Rasheed Jabar, however, feels the final will be an even contest as both teams bid to cap their debut campaigns by lifting the coveted trophy.