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#ACLElite – Vote for your Matchday 5 Player of the Match Presented by STA

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

#ACLElite – Vote for your Matchday 5 Player of the Match Presented by STA

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday 5 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tightened the margins and turned cool heads into match-winners.

Below is a shortlist drawn from the Player of the Match winners - now it’s over to you to pick your favourite from the best of the best.

#ACLElite – Vote for your Top Goal of Matchday 5 presented by VISA

Sun, 30 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite – Vote for your Top Goal of Matchday 5 presented by VISA

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday 5 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ delivered the whole spectrum - lightning counters, postage-stamp curlers and training-ground routines finished with ruthless calm.

We've shortlisted the strikes that flipped momentum, silenced stadiums and sealed priceless points. 

Read the snapshots, replay the videos added below, and back your favourite. 

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: What they said

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: What they said

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 was a spectacular affair as Round of 16 spots began to be filled.

There were highs and lows as the race intensified and the-AFC.com listened to what the teams had to say.

#ACLElite - Matchday 5: Five Takeaways

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday 5: Five Takeaways

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 was a spectacular affair with Round of 16 spots being filled and heartbreak suffered.

The-AFC.com highlights five things that caught the eye.

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: In Numbers

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: In Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 was another spectacular affair with the continent lit up by exciting games.

The-AFC.com picks out several facts and figures that caught the eye from a pulsating matchday which saw Round of 16 spots being filled.

Vissel’s Ideguchi attributes win to focus

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

Vissel’s Ideguchi attributes win to focus

Shanghai: Yosuke Ideguchi was ecstatic after playing a starring role in Vissel Kobe’s 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 tie on Wednesday.

Midfielder Ideguchi opened Vissel’s account just after the half-hour mark before orchestrating the second with Tetsushi Yamakawa converting with a header.

Ulsan's Roh, Buriram's Jackson happy with draw

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Ulsan's Roh, Buriram's Jackson happy with draw

Ulsan: Ulsan HD head coach Roh Sang-rae praised his players’ commitment despite his side being held to a 0-0 draw by Buriram United in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 tie on Wednesday.

The result of the tightly contested affair moved Korea Republic's Ulsan to eight points, with Thailand's Buriram one behind.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-shanghai-shenhua-fc-chn-0-2-vissel-kobe-jpn

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-ulsan-hd-fc-kor-0-0-buriram-united-tha

MD5: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 0-2 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

MD5: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 0-2 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Shanghai: Vissel Kobe opened up a three-point gap at the top of the East Zone standings in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Wednesday as Takayuki Yoshida’s side secured a 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua at Shanghai Stadium.

Yosuke Ideguchi’s 31st minute opener was followed by Tetsushi Yamakawa’s header eight minutes later as the J1 League side notched their fourth win in five matches to pull clear of Melbourne City at the top of the standings.

Shenhua, who saw Andre Luis’ late penalty saved by Shuichi Gonda, remain on four points and in 11th place, three points outside the qualifying spots for March’s Round of 16.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md5-shanghai-shenhua-fc-chn-v-vissel-kobe-jpn

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md5-ulsan-hd-fc-kor-v-buriram-united-tha

Latest Photos

Gross to work on Al Ahli's attack ahead of group stage

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Gross to work on Al Ahli's attack ahead of group stage

Jeddah: Head coach Christian Gross will be working on improving Al Ahli Saudi FC's attacking qualities ahead of the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage.

The club from Saudi Arabia advanced from the play-offs with a 1-0 win over Tajikistan's Istiklol FC on Tuesday, with Youcef Belaïli converting a penalty in stoppage time to take Al Ahli into the group stage for the sixth consecutive year.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/photo/album_-_acl2020_play-offs.html

ALBUM - #ACL2020 Play-offs

Henri: Shahr Khodro showed great determination to go through

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Henri: Shahr Khodro showed great determination to go through

Doha: Head coach Stephane Henri hailed his players' determination as Shahr Khodro FC sealed a place in the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage for the first time on Tuesday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran club prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Qatar’s Al Sailiya FC after 120 minutes saw the play-off tie end in a 0-0 draw at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.

Goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati was the hero for Shahr Khodro, producing a brilliant shootout save to deny countryman Karim Ansarifard before Saeid Sadeghi struck the decisive blow to take his team through.

FC Seoul are back where we belong, says Osmar

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

FC Seoul are back where we belong, says Osmar

Seoul: Spaniard Osmar Barba went from zero to hero on Tuesday for FC Seoul, scoring an own goal before firing home a free-kick to restore the club's two-goal cushion on the way to a 4-1 victory over Malaysia's Kedah FA and a place in the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage.

The 31-year-old spoke exclusively to the-AFC.com following the play-off tie at Seoul World Cup Stadium and he reflected on the match, the importance of playing in the AFC Champions League, his favourite memories from the competition so far, and his hopes for 2020.

AFC Statement on AFC Champions League Group Stage matches

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Statement on AFC Champions League Group Stage matches

Kuala Lumpur: Following discussions with representatives of clubs from the Islamic Republic of Iran, held in Kuala Lumpur on January 23, 2020, it was agreed that any home matches involving clubs from IR Iran on match days 1,2 and 3 would be swapped to become away fixtures. 

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Majidi: Esteghlal have high ambitions in ACL 2020

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Majidi: Esteghlal have high ambitions in ACL 2020

Doha: Esteghlal FC head coach Farhad Majidi was a happy man following Tuesday’s victory against Qatar’s Al Rayyan in their 2020 AFC Champions League play-off match.

The former Islamic Republic of Iran national team forward saw Esteghlal score five goals against their hosts at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium to book their place in the group stage of the competition for the fourth consecutive year.

AFC Statement on AFC Champions League Group Stage matches

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Statement on AFC Champions League Group Stage matches

Kuala Lumpur: After close consultation with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) can confirm that the home matches of the Chinese clubs in the AFC Champions League Group Stage on Match Day (MD) 1, 2 and 3 will be rescheduled to be played as away matches by swapping the match order with opponent clubs. 

In the meantime, the AFC will closely monitor the situation before deciding further on the home matches of Chinese clubs on MD4, 5 and 6.

The decision, which was also made in conjunction with the competing clubs from the respective groups, is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of all participating players and teams in view of the current coronavirus outbreak in the People’s Republic of China.

Al Ain deserve to go through, says head coach Emanuel

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Ain deserve to go through, says head coach Emanuel

Al Ain: Head coach Pedro Emanuel said Al Ain FC were worthy winners over FC Bunyodkor as the UAE Pro League side advanced to the 2020 AFC Champions League group stage on Tuesday.

Despite Saeed Juma’s second-half strike ultimately deciding the tie, Al Ain dominated against the Uzbekistan club at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Nabbout ecstatic to be back at 'biggest competition in Asia'

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Nabbout ecstatic to be back at 'biggest competition in Asia'

Kashima: Melbourne Victory's match-winner Andrew Nabbout expressed his delight at returning to the AFC Champions League following the A-League side's 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers in the play-offs on Tuesday.

Having weathered a Kashima storm in the first half, Melbourne netted the tie's only goal on 54 minutes when Nabbout was on hand to fire home a deflected effort past Kwoun Sun-tae.

Custodian Lawrence Thomas then put on a goalkeeping clinic to deny the 2018 champions as the A-League side held out for a famous victory.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2020_-_play-offs_al_ahli_saudi_fc_1-0_fc_istiklol.html

Play-off: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 1-0 FC Istiklol (TJK)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Play-off: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) 1-0 FC Istiklol (TJK)

Jeddah: A penalty from Youcef Belaïli at the death helped Al Ahli Saudi FC overcome FC Istiklol of Tajikistan to reach the 2020 AFC Champions League Group Stage with a 1-0 win at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on Tuesday.

Istiklol had qualified to the play-off stage after stunning PFC Lokomotiv 1-0 in Tashkent in the Preliminary Round 2, while Al Ahli qualified as fourth placed in the 2018-19 Saudi Pro League.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2020_-_play-offs_al_sailiya_sc_0-0_shahr_khodro_fc.html

Videos

#ACLElite – Vote for your Matchday 5 Player of the Match Presented by STA

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

#ACLElite – Vote for your Matchday 5 Player of the Match Presented by STA

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday 5 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ tightened the margins and turned cool heads into match-winners.

Below is a shortlist drawn from the Player of the Match winners - now it’s over to you to pick your favourite from the best of the best.

#ACLElite – Vote for your Top Goal of Matchday 5 presented by VISA

Sun, 30 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite – Vote for your Top Goal of Matchday 5 presented by VISA

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday 5 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ delivered the whole spectrum - lightning counters, postage-stamp curlers and training-ground routines finished with ruthless calm.

We've shortlisted the strikes that flipped momentum, silenced stadiums and sealed priceless points. 

Read the snapshots, replay the videos added below, and back your favourite. 

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: What they said

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: What they said

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 was a spectacular affair as Round of 16 spots began to be filled.

There were highs and lows as the race intensified and the-AFC.com listened to what the teams had to say.

#ACLElite - Matchday 5: Five Takeaways

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday 5: Five Takeaways

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 was a spectacular affair with Round of 16 spots being filled and heartbreak suffered.

The-AFC.com highlights five things that caught the eye.

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: In Numbers

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

#ACLElite - Matchday Five: In Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Five of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 was another spectacular affair with the continent lit up by exciting games.

The-AFC.com picks out several facts and figures that caught the eye from a pulsating matchday which saw Round of 16 spots being filled.

Vissel’s Ideguchi attributes win to focus

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

Vissel’s Ideguchi attributes win to focus

Shanghai: Yosuke Ideguchi was ecstatic after playing a starring role in Vissel Kobe’s 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 tie on Wednesday.

Midfielder Ideguchi opened Vissel’s account just after the half-hour mark before orchestrating the second with Tetsushi Yamakawa converting with a header.

Ulsan's Roh, Buriram's Jackson happy with draw

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Ulsan's Roh, Buriram's Jackson happy with draw

Ulsan: Ulsan HD head coach Roh Sang-rae praised his players’ commitment despite his side being held to a 0-0 draw by Buriram United in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 tie on Wednesday.

The result of the tightly contested affair moved Korea Republic's Ulsan to eight points, with Thailand's Buriram one behind.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-shanghai-shenhua-fc-chn-0-2-vissel-kobe-jpn

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-ulsan-hd-fc-kor-0-0-buriram-united-tha

MD5: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 0-2 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

MD5: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 0-2 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Shanghai: Vissel Kobe opened up a three-point gap at the top of the East Zone standings in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Wednesday as Takayuki Yoshida’s side secured a 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua at Shanghai Stadium.

Yosuke Ideguchi’s 31st minute opener was followed by Tetsushi Yamakawa’s header eight minutes later as the J1 League side notched their fourth win in five matches to pull clear of Melbourne City at the top of the standings.

Shenhua, who saw Andre Luis’ late penalty saved by Shuichi Gonda, remain on four points and in 11th place, three points outside the qualifying spots for March’s Round of 16.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md5-shanghai-shenhua-fc-chn-v-vissel-kobe-jpn

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/md5-ulsan-hd-fc-kor-v-buriram-united-tha

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/acl_trophy.html