Group H: Triumphant finish for PSM Makassar

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Group H: Triumphant finish for PSM Makassar

Kota Kinabalu: PSM Makassar produced a clinical performance to end their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 campaign on a high by beating Sabah FC 3-1 at Likas Stadium on Thursday.

Sabah,  who had already qualified for the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals on Matchday Five, were subpar on the night, allowing PSM the chance to salvage some pride after having been beaten 5-0 in the reverse fixture.

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Group E: FK Abdysh-Ata Kant sign off in style

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Group E: FK Abdysh-Ata Kant sign off in style

Bishkek: Abdysh-Ata Kant closed off their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Group E campaign in style after defeating FC Merw 8-3 at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium on Thursday.

Having already sealed top spot in Group E after seeing off Altyn Asyr with a 4-2 win on Matchday Five, the debutant side from Krygyz Republic finished on 16 points while Merw ended with three.

Group F: Macarthur take top spot

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Group F: Macarthur take top spot

Manila: Australia’s Macarthur FC sealed their place in the AFC Cup™ 2023/2024 ASEAN Zonal semi-finals after a comfortable 3-0 win over Dynamic Herb Cebu FC at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on Thursday.

Matthew Millar put the visitors in front on three minutes before substitute Jed Drew increased Macarthur’s lead midway through the second half. Ali Auglah added the icing on the cake in stoppage time in a match that the Australians dominated for long spells.
 
The victory saw Mile Sterjovski’s men seal top spot in Group F with 15 points from their six games, ahead of runners-up Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia, with Cebu finishing third above Myanmar’s Shan United.

Group F: Phnom Penh through despite suffering defeat

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Group F: Phnom Penh through despite suffering defeat

Yangon: Phnom Penh Crown FC are through to the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals of the AFC Cup™ 2023/2024 despite suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Myanmar’s Shan United in their final Group F fixture on Thursday. 

Andres Nieto gave the visitors the lead just past the half hour mark at Thuwunna Stadium, but goals from Racheen Bello and Ye Yint Aung late in the first half saw Shan head into the break with a 2-1 advantage. 

Though Phnom Penh failed to find an equaliser in a less eventful second period and finished behind Australia’s Macarthur FC in Group F, the Cambodians pipped Malaysia’s Terengganu FC on goal difference to finish as the best placed runners-up from the ASEAN Zone and qualify for the knockout stages. 

Group I: Must CPK end Tainan City's dream

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Group I: Must CPK end Tainan City's dream

Macau: Must CPK ended their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 on a positive note after stunning Tainan City 4-1 in their final Group I fixture at the Macau Olympic Stadium on Thursday.

Niki Torrao scored all four goals as the result sent Tainan crashing out of the competition, with the Chinese Taipei side needing a win to advance to the Inter-Zone semi-finals. Instead, it was Taichung Futuro who finished as the group winners, despite losing to FC Ulaanbaatar of Mongolia earlier on Thursday. 

Group I: Loss to Ulaanbaatar fails to stop Taichung Futuro

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Group I: Loss to Ulaanbaatar fails to stop Taichung Futuro

Kaohsiung: Taichung Futuro advanced to the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-finals despite falling to a 2-1 against FC Ulaanbaatar of Mongolia in their final Group I tie on Thursday.

With fellow Chinese Taipei side Tainan City losing 4-1 to Macau's Must CPK, Taichung booked a spot ahead of Ulaanbaatar on better head-to-head goal difference, with both sides finishing with 12 points. 

Jackson lauds Mariners’ strong finish

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Jackson lauds Mariners’ strong finish

Binan: Head coach Mark Jackson praised Central Coast Mariners’ determination in their 3-0 win over Stallion Laguna FC in their final AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Group G tie at the Binan Football Stadium on Wednesday.

The Australian side led from start to finish to seal top spot with 13 points, while the Philippines club ended their campaign with just a draw.

Preview - 2nd Round: Al Ahly FC (EGY) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Preview - 2nd Round: Al Ahly FC (EGY) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad FC are determined to rise to the occasion yet again when they face Al Ahly FC in a FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 second round tie on Friday.

The reigning Saudi Arabian champions played scintillating football to defeat New Zealand's Auckland City 3-0 in the first round on Tuesday and will be eager to carry that form into the tie against Al Ahly. 

Preview - 2nd Round: Club Leon (MEX) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Preview - 2nd Round: Club Leon (MEX) v Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Jeddah: Urawa Red Diamonds will look to put a difficult season behind them by launching an assault for the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 title when they open their campaign on Friday.

The three-time AFC Champions League™ winners meet Mexico's Club Leon in what promises to be an exciting second round clash at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.

#ACFutsal2024 Thailand cast discover opponents

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

#ACFutsal2024 Thailand cast discover opponents

Kuala Lumpur: Japan will begin the defence of their title in Group C following the draw for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

Islamic Republic of Iran's bid for a record-extending 13th title will kick off in Group D with the tournament scheduled for April 17-28, 2024. 

Player to Watch: Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Kuala Lumpur: Son Heung-min will line-up in Qatar for his fourth crack at leading Korea Republic to their first AFC Asian Cup™ title since 1960 in some of the best form of his career.

The 31-year-old returns to the scene of his first appearance at the continental championship and to where he scored his first goal in his nation’s colours, after coming off the bench to strike in a 4-1 group stage win over India back in 2011.
 
That campaign ended at the semi-final stage for the Koreans and while the nation’s continental drought has continued, Son has flourished to become one of Asian football’s best known faces.