Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The week that was in the 2020 AFC Cup witnessed some fantastic action with goals galore across the ASEAN, Central and South Zones, a record-breaking feat and two stunning Continental debuts among the highlights.
With 29 goals in just nine matches, there were a number of fabulous performances and the-AFC.com highlights five players who caught the eye in a thrilling couple of days.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/all-time.html
www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/video/group_d_fc_istiklol_2-0_fc_khujand.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/anisur_rahman_1.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dhaka: Bashundhara Kings enjoyed the perfect start to their debut AFC Cup campaign with the Bangladesh champions posting a 5-1 victory over the Maldives’ TC Sports Club in Group E on Wednesday as the 2020 AFC Cup’s South Zone got underway.
In a week that saw Ceres Negros’ Bienvenido Maranon become the AFC Cup’s all-time leading scorer, former Argentina international Hernan Barcos showed there was plenty of attacking talent elsewhere as he inspired the newcomers to three points at Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: A 1-0 win over Singapore's Hougang United took unbeaten Yangon United into pole position in Group F, behind Ho Chi Minh City FC of Vietnam on goal difference at the midway point of the 2020 AFC Cup group stage.
In terms of scoreline, it looked a close affair at Thuwunna Stadium on Tuesday.
But although Than Paing's close-range finish with nine minutes to go was the tie's only goal, the reality is that this was a match that the hosts controlled for long spells and could － and should － have scored more.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Bienvenido Marañón's brace in Ceres Negros' 4-0 victory over Bali United on Wednesday not only helped the Filipino side to three points, it also saw the Spaniard leapfrog Jordanian Mahmoud Shelbaieh to become the competition's all-time leading scorer on 35 goals.
Having begun the 2020 tournament on 30 goals, last year's top scorer wasted no time in picking up where he left off, with two goals in an opening-day victory over Cambodia's Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC, before a penalty against Vietnam's Than Quang Ninh saw him move within a goal of former Al Wehdat striker Shelbaieh.
Marañón's double against Bali saw the prolific striker move into pole position and there will likely be many more to follow if he continues in this form. The-AFC.com looks back at his achievement, as well as those of the iconic AFC Cup scorers who the 33-year-old has overtaken in recent years.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Chennai: Head coach Akbar Nawas believes Chennai City FC deserved three points rather than one after settling for a 2-2 draw with Maziya S&R in their 2020 AFC Cup Group E tie on Wednesday.
Spanish ace Fito gave the Indian side a 1-0 lead going into half-time but Maziya replied with goals from Mohammed Irufaan and Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain before Fito salvaged a point for Chennai with a late equaliser at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The result leaves both teams trailing Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings, who defeated Maldives' TC Sports Club 5-1 on Wednesday.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dushanbe: FC Istiklol head coach Vitalii Levchenko reflected with both satisfaction at three points gained and eagerness to discover the cause of a drop in second-half intensity after his side defeated FC Khujand 2-0 in their opening 2020 AFC Cup Group D clash on Wednesday.
An early double from returning national team star Manuchehr Dzhalilov put the Tajik champions two goals clear at half-time, but their countrymen gave them much more of a battle after the break, and Levchenko said his staff would analyse the reason for his side’s switch-off.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: Daniel Bennett was full of praise for Tampines Rovers' second-half display after the Singaporean side overcame first-half difficulties to post a 2-1 victory against Myanmar’s Shan United on Tuesday and move top of the Group H standings.
In testing conditions at Jurong West Stadium, neither side was able to break the deadlock in a goalless first half, before a close-range header from Boris Kiptovic and a Jordan Webb tap-in put Tampines firmly in control after the interval.
Shan netted a consolation in stoppage time but it was too little, too late as the hosts claimed all three points to move two points clear of Indonesia’s PSM Makassar at the Group H summit.