Thailand flex muscles to take huge first leg advantage over Indonesia

Fri, 31 Dec, 2021

Thailand flex muscles to take huge first leg advantage over Indonesia

Singapore: Chanathip Songkrasin starred as Thailand defeated Indonesia 4-0 in the first leg of the 2020 AFF Cup final at Singapore’s National Stadium on Wednesday. 

The five-time champions all but secured yet another title as Chanathip Songkrasin netted a brace with Supachok Sarachat and Bordin Phala also getting in the scoring act.

Barring a remarkable comeback in Saturday’s return leg, Indonesia look set for a sixth runners-up finish.

Vote for your Best Goal of the 2021 AFC Champions League: The Final

Fri, 24 Dec, 2021

Vote for your Best Goal of the 2021 AFC Champions League: The Final

Kuala Lumpur: The fans have voted and whittled 20 of the finest goals from the 2021 AFC Champions League down to just 10, so now it's time to find out what you consider the best goal of the year from the continental competition. 

From Sharof Mukhiddinov's opening-day piledriver to Nasser Al Dawsari's screamer in the final, we've got 10 fabulous goals to choose from. Review the nominees once more and tell us whose strike was the best of the campaign by casting your vote at the foot of the article. 

Vote For Your Best 2021 AFC Champions League Team: Coach

Sun, 26 Dec, 2021

Vote For Your Best 2021 AFC Champions League Team: Coach

Kuala Lumpur: The 11 players for the 2021 AFC Champions League’s team of the tournament have been decided so now it’s time to pick who you think would be the ideal candidate to lead the side by selecting the best coach from the continental competition. 

As ever, there were a number of master tacticians who impressed, and we’ve picked three of the standout performers for you to review before voting at the foot of the article. 

AFC International Player of the Week: 2021’s most featured players

Wed, 29 Dec, 2021

AFC International Player of the Week: 2021’s most featured players

Kuala Lumpur: On a weekly basis throughout 2021, we’ve highlighted the 10 best Asian performers outside the continent. These are the players who stood out.

Over the last 12 months, the-AFC.com has published a total of 35 AFC International Player of the Week polls, with the top 10 Asian performers plying their trade outside the continent over the previous seven days highlighted, and fans from around the world casting their weekly votes.
 
In total, 115 players from 17 AFC nations were featured at least once in the weekly list, shining on a light of Asian footballers – male and female – based everywhere from Europe’s biggest leagues to competitions in Africa and North America.
 
As 2021 draws to a close, we’ve crunched the numbers in order to highlight the players who were among Asia’s weekly top 10 more often than anyone else, and whose exemplary consistency deserves recognition.
 
Join us as we highlight the players who lit up our weekly celebration of Asian players abroad, as well those who bucked the trend to earn recognition.

Shinzo Koroki leaves Urawa Reds for Consadole Sapporo

Wed, 29 Dec, 2021

Shinzo Koroki leaves Urawa Reds for Consadole Sapporo

Tokyo: AFC Champions League winner Shinzo Koroki will join Consadole Sapporo on a year-long loan deal next season, the 35-year-old’s parent club Urawa Red Diamonds announced on Wednesday.

Koroki was a key member of the Urawa side that won the AFC Champions League in 2017 and who also reached the final two years later, losing to Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

China PR's Tang Jiali spurred on with Tottenham

Wed, 29 Dec, 2021

China PR's Tang Jiali spurred on with Tottenham

London: Enjoying the revelry with her Tottenham Hotspur teammates; exchanging gifts and having a hot pot meal with Celtic midfielder Shen Mengyu - her former Shanghai Agricultural & Commercial Bank FC teammate, China PR international Tang Jiali was in an upbeat mood celebrating her first Christmas overseas. 

What made her even more excited was, however, the news that she had recently received a national team call-up. Tang played a pivotal role in China PR's qualification to the Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 but missed out on the global showpiece due to an injury.

Saudi Arabia's Al Taawoun sign Álvaro Medrán, Olsen joins UAE's Shabab Al Ahli

Wed, 29 Dec, 2021

Saudi Arabia's Al Taawoun sign Álvaro Medrán, Olsen joins UAE's Shabab Al Ahli

Buraidah: Saudi Pro League side Al Taawoun FC and UAE's Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC have strengthened their squads with the signings of Álvaro Medrán and Thomas Olsen respectively, the clubs announced on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old Medrán joins 2019 Saudi King’s Cup champions Al Taawoun from MSL outfit Chicago Fire on a season and a half contract.