Kim Min-jae, Minamino and two Australian hat-tricks: Vote for AFC International Player of the Week!

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Kim Min-jae, Minamino and two Australian hat-tricks: Vote for AFC International Player of the Week!

Kuala Lumpur:  Derby delight in Istanbul, hat-trick heroics in London and Glasgow and a poignant UEFA Women’s Champions League win highlight the latest batch of star showings from Asian players abroad.

Kim Min-jae reigned supreme in Turkey’s biggest fixture, Sam Kerr and Martin Boyle both bagged sensational trebles, and Saki Kumagai, Takumi Minamino and Masaya Okugawa all found the net for their respective clubs in another busy week of action. 

But who deserves the title of Asia’s best player outside the continent from November 16 to 22? Study our shortlist, and don’t forget to register your vote!

Jardim hails dominant Al Hilal after winning 2021 AFC Champions League

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Jardim hails dominant Al Hilal after winning 2021 AFC Champions League

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC head coach Leonardo Jardim hailed his side as deserving champions after defeating Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers 2-0 in the final to win the 2021 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

The Saudi powerhouse made it four titles in the competition and two in the last three years, also pipping their opponents to the title of the most successful club in the AFC Champions League history, having been joint holders of the record with Pohang Steelers.

Having joined Al Hilal in the summer, Jardim remains unbeaten across all competition and the 47-year-old capped off a scintillating AFC Champions League knockout stage journey by becoming the first Portuguese manager to win the title.

Pohang Steelers’ Kim bemoans loss of concentration after AFC Champions League final defeat

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Pohang Steelers’ Kim bemoans loss of concentration after AFC Champions League final defeat

Riyadh: Pohang Steelers head coach Kim Gi-dong admitted his side lost their focus after conceding inside the first 16 seconds of the 2021 AFC Champions League final against Al Hilal, ultimately going on to lose 2-0.

The Koreans returned to the final for the first time since winning the title in 2009 and were up against the only other side in the continent that could boast matching their three AFC Champions League titles.

Amazing 8 for Al Hilal SFC

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Amazing 8 for Al Hilal SFC

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC firmly cemented themselves as the most successful club in Asia by clinching the 2021 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

The 2-0 win over Korea Republic's FC Pohang Steelers at the majestic King Fahd International Stadium was their second in two years, with their 2019 triumph having ended a wait of 17 years to lay their hands on the AFC Champions League trophy.

Shaikh Salman congratulates Al Hilal SFC on securing historic Continental club victory

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Shaikh Salman congratulates Al Hilal SFC on securing historic Continental club victory

Riyadh: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC for clinching the AFC Champions League 2021 title after the West Asians defeated Korea Republic’s FC Pohang Steelers 2-0 in a thrilling final at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Winners of the AFC Champions League in 2019, along with two Asian Club Championship triumphs in 1991 and 2000, Tuesday’s victory saw the Saudi Arabian giants, who also finished as runners-up on four occasions, solidify their place as the most decorated side in the tournament’s history with four Continental club crowns.

2021 AFC Champions League MVP Al Dawsari hungry for more honours

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League MVP Al Dawsari hungry for more honours

Riyadh: Al Hilal winger Salem Al Dawsari was adamant he is more motivated than ever to win more honours, both for the team and individually, after being named the 2021 AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player.

The 30-year-old lifted his second AFC Champions League trophy in his fourth final, having started and lost the 2014 decider against Western Sydney Wanderers and the 2017 final against Urawa Red Diamonds, before helping the club win the next two against Urawa in 2019 and on Tuesday against Pohang Steelers.

He joins a select group of players to have competed in as many finals, dominated by Al Hilal players current and past such as Mohammed Al Shalhoub (2000, 2014, 2017 and 2019), Saud Kariri (2004, 2005, 2009 and 2014) as well as current teammates Yasser Al Shahrani and Salman Al Faraj.

Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga scoops 2021 AFC Champions League Top Scorer Award

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga scoops 2021 AFC Champions League Top Scorer Award

Riyadh: Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga was crowned the 2021 AFC Champions League’s top scorer on Tuesday, finishing with a tournament-best of nine goals.

Olunga’s feat of nine goals in six games makes him the first Kenyan and Al Duhail player to win the prestigious award, scoring in every group stage game with his goals coming from set-pieces, distance, inside the area or via headers.

The-AFC.com revisits Olunga’s complete forward’s display in the 2021 AFC Champions League, with the striker denied a chance to add to his tally after Al Duhail were eliminated at the group stage. 

Advocaat steps down as Iraq head coach

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Advocaat steps down as Iraq head coach

Baghdad: The Iraqi Football Federation announced the departure of head coach Dick Advocaat on Tuesday following the national team's recent poor results in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar.

The 74-year-old Advocaat, who vacates the post after only three months, will be replaced by Zeljko Petrovic for the upcoming FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.

Second half blitz takes IR Iran to CAFA U15 title

Wed, 24 Nov, 2021

Second half blitz takes IR Iran to CAFA U15 title

Dushanbe: A stunning six-goal second half ensured Islamic Republic of Iran won the CAFA U15 Championship, edging out hosts Tajikistan on goal difference on a dramatic final day.

Coming into Tuesday’s fixtures second on the table, the Iranians powered to an 8-0 win over Kyrgyz Republic, with Tajikistan’s 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan later in the day not enough to bridge the goal difference gap.

Held at Dushanbe’s Central Republican Stadium, the tournament gave some of Central Asia’s most promising youngsters crucial international experience ahead of next year’s AFC U17 Asian Cup Qualifiers.