#AFCCup: Memorable Finals

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

#AFCCup: Memorable Finals

Doha: After 18 finals which produced 12 different champions representing nine different nations, the AFC Cup™ comes to an end with Al Ahed SC and Central Coast Mariners contesting the 2023-24 final, the last one before the competition makes way for a new AFC Clubs Competitions format.

Over the years, AFC Cup finals saw their fair share of goals, drama and unforgettable celebrations. Ahead of the last AFC Cup final, the-AFC.com looks back at five of the most memorable final showdowns in the history of the competition.

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#AFCCup: Records & Milestones

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

#AFCCup: Records & Milestones

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup™ 2023/24 final between Lebanon’s Al Ahed SC and Central Coast Mariners of Australia on Sunday marks the end of an era as the game will bring the curtain down on the continental competition for the last time.

The tournament’s 19th edition will be its last as a glorious chapter in Asian football comes to an end two decades after the AFC Cup was launched back in 2004.
 
As the-AFC.com continues its build-up towards the grand finale, we look back at some of the records and milestones from through the years.

#AFCCup - Revisited

Mon, 29 Apr, 2024

#AFCCup - Revisited

Riyadh: When Lebanon’s Al Ahed take on Australia’s Central Coast Mariners at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Sunday in the last ever AFC Cup™ final, the competition will have gone full circle in its two decades of existence.

Twenty years and three months earlier, it was another Lebanese team that kicked-off this iconic competition, and coincidentally, it was on the same famous ground in the Omani capital Muscat that Olympic Beirut then opened the 2004 edition against Syria’s Al Jaish.
 
After 19 editions and 12 different champions that could go up to 13 on Sunday, the curtain falls on the AFC Cup as the AFC club competitions enter a new era with the introduction of a three-tier system including the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Champions League 2 and the AFC Challenge League in 2024/25.

Europe Wrap: Ligue 1 triumph for Lee; Hwang returns to scoresheet

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Europe Wrap: Ligue 1 triumph for Lee; Hwang returns to scoresheet

Kuala Lumpur: Lee Kang-in's Paris Saint-Germain emerged as the champions of France this week after the Korea Republic attacking midfielder bagged an assist in their 3-3 draw with Le Havre while Hwang Hee-chan scored for Wolves for the first time since December in England.  

Japanese duo Moeka Minami and Saki Kumagai secured the women’s league title in Italy with AS Roma after their closest rivals Juventus slipped up while their compatriot Yuki Soma bagged a goal and an assist as Casa Pia overcame Chaves to distance themselves from the relegation scrap in Portugal.
 
Palestine’s Oday Dabbagh hit the winner for Charleroi in Belgium, Australia’s Hayley Raso scored in Real Madrid’s comeback win in Spain and Yuito Suzuki maintained his rich form in Denmark, so join the-AFC.com as we find out how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week. 

Paris beckons but Kapadze expects Uzbekistan to deliver silverware first

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Paris beckons but Kapadze expects Uzbekistan to deliver silverware first

Doha: As delighted as Timur Kapadze was that his side had achieved their target of qualifying for the Olympic Games for the time, the head coach stressed that he would only truly be satisfied if Uzbekistan lift the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ trophy a second time.

The Central Asian side were simply too strong for Indonesia in their Qatar 2024 semi-final on Monday, with Khusain Norchaev giving them the lead and Pratama Arhan turning the ball into his own net to send Uzbekistan into their third final in four editions.
 
Up next are Japan, with both teams bidding to become the first side to lift the coveted trophy for a second time. 

Oiwa: Japan yet to complete mission

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Oiwa: Japan yet to complete mission

Doha: Go Oiwa refused to rest on his laurels after steering his Japan team into the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final on Monday as a 2-0 win over Iraq also guaranteed his nation an eighth consecutive appearance at the Olympic Games.

Japan joined Uzbekistan in securing one of the three spots at the Paris Games with a victory that was delivered by first half goals from Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki, and Oiwa stressed he has already shifted his focus to Friday’s decider against Timur Kapadze’s team.

Our plan didn't work, admits Iraq's Shenaishil

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Our plan didn't work, admits Iraq's Shenaishil

Doha: Iraq head coach Radhi Shenaishil admitted his plan to contain Japan in the opening 45 minutes of their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ semi-final backfired as the West Asian side slipped to a 2-0 loss that leaves their hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games resting on Thursday’s playoff with Indonesia.

Goals from Mao Hosoya and Ryotaro Araki took the Japanese into their second AFC U23 Asian Cup final and guaranteed Go Oiwa’s team a place at the Olympic Games in Paris while Iraq will next take on Shin Tae-yong’s team in three days’ time.

Shin rallies Indonesia after semi-final heartbreak

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

Shin rallies Indonesia after semi-final heartbreak

Doha: Shin Tae-yong did not deny the fact that pressure may have gotten to his players in their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ semi-final defeat to Uzbekistan on Monday.

The Southeast Asian side hardly got going at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium as a dominant Uzbekistan side cruised to a 2-0 win, having also hit the woodwork four times. 

#ACFutsal2024 - Facts and Figures

Tue, 30 Apr, 2024

#ACFutsal2024 - Facts and Figures

Bangkok: The curtains came down on the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 on Sunday, with Islamic Republic of Iran reclaiming the crown with an impressive win over Thailand in the final. 

As Asia’s representatives set their eyes on the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 and the rest plan for the next edition of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures from Thailand 2024.