AFC Champions League

As Hernan Crespo and Harry Kewell look horns from the dugouts in the final of the last edition of the AFC Champions League in its present format, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the best head coaches to have won the coveted prize.

This time round, we rewind the clock to some of the most iconic and standout occasions in the tournament’s 21-year history with moments that will live long in the memory of Asian football fans.

As Al Ain FC and Yokohama F. Marinos prepare to conclude the era that started in 2003/04 with the final showdown at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, the-AFC.com recounts some of ever-lasting heartbreak moments for fans of some of Asia’s top clubs.

During its 21-year run, Asia’s premier club competition has witnessed some of the biggest stars in world football turn up for clubs from across the continent and leave an indelible mark on the tournament.

With the second leg of the final between Al Ain FC and Yokohama F. Marinos set to bring down the curtains on the tournament, the-AFC.com walks down memory lane to showcase some of the best imports to have graced the competition.

Over the tournament’s 21-year history, fans of Asian football have witnessed memorable matches, special teams and top-quality players from all over the world.

As the-AFC.com continues to look back at the AFC Champions League through the years, today we highlight some of the best Asian players to appear in the competition.

The past two decades of the competition have brought some thrilling encounters that will live long in the memory of Asian football fans. The-AFC.com recounts some of those classic AFC Champions League clashes.

Mohammed Abbas gave the Emiratis an early lead at Yokohama International Stadium before second-half strikes from Asahi Uenaka and Kota Watanabe meant the Marinos will take what could be a priceless lead to Al Ain for the second leg on May 25.

As the two teams now look ahead to the return meeting, the-AFC.com looks back at what some of those involved had to say about the first leg.

Mohammed Abbas gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, but Yokohama fought back with goals from Asahi Uenaka and Kouta Watanabe in the 72nd and 84th minutes to gain an upper hand at the halfway point of the title clash.

With the stage set for an exciting conclusion to another edition of the AFC Champions League in Al Ain later this month, the-AFC.com looks back at the stats and facts that caught the eye from a thrilling first leg.

Goals from Asahi Uenaka and Kota Watanabe in the final 18 minutes saw Yokohama turn the game on its head after Mohammed Abbas had given Al Ain a 12th minute lead and the result means the Japanese side will go into the second leg on May 25 as slight favourites to lift the trophy for the first time.

The United Arab Emirates side let slip a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 against Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos in a pulsating first leg on Saturday but Argentine Crespo is confident his team will have the edge in the reverse fixture at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

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.

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.

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.

.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

As Hernan Crespo and Harry Kewell look horns from the dugouts in the final of the last edition of the AFC Champions League in its present format, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the best head coaches to have won the coveted prize.

This time round, we rewind the clock to some of the most iconic and standout occasions in the tournament’s 21-year history with moments that will live long in the memory of Asian football fans.

As Al Ain FC and Yokohama F. Marinos prepare to conclude the era that started in 2003/04 with the final showdown at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, the-AFC.com recounts some of ever-lasting heartbreak moments for fans of some of Asia’s top clubs.

During its 21-year run, Asia’s premier club competition has witnessed some of the biggest stars in world football turn up for clubs from across the continent and leave an indelible mark on the tournament.

With the second leg of the final between Al Ain FC and Yokohama F. Marinos set to bring down the curtains on the tournament, the-AFC.com walks down memory lane to showcase some of the best imports to have graced the competition.

Taking place at a prestigious ceremony following the conclusion of the 34th AFC Congress 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand, a suite of dynamic brands was presented for each of the four new competitions: the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite), AFC Women’s Champions League™ (AWCL), AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) and AFC Challenge LeagueTM (ACGL).

Over the tournament’s 21-year history, fans of Asian football have witnessed memorable matches, special teams and top-quality players from all over the world.

As the-AFC.com continues to look back at the AFC Champions League through the years, today we highlight some of the best Asian players to appear in the competition.

The past two decades of the competition have brought some thrilling encounters that will live long in the memory of Asian football fans. The-AFC.com recounts some of those classic AFC Champions League clashes.

Mohammed Abbas gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute, but Yokohama fought back with goals from Asahi Uenaka and Kouta Watanabe in the 72nd and 84th minutes to gain an upper hand at the halfway point of the title clash.

With the stage set for an exciting conclusion to another edition of the AFC Champions League in Al Ain later this month, the-AFC.com looks back at the stats and facts that caught the eye from a thrilling first leg.

Goals from Asahi Uenaka and Kota Watanabe in the final 18 minutes saw Yokohama turn the game on its head after Mohammed Abbas had given Al Ain a 12th minute lead and the result means the Japanese side will go into the second leg on May 25 as slight favourites to lift the trophy for the first time.

The United Arab Emirates side let slip a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 against Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos in a pulsating first leg on Saturday but Argentine Crespo is confident his team will have the edge in the reverse fixture at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

#ACL through the years – Master Tacticians

#ACL through the years – Iconic Moments

#ACL through the years - Heartbreaks

#ACL through the years - Overseas Stars

#ACL through the years - Asian Legends

#ACL - Classic matches

#ACLFinal 1st Leg: What They Said

#ACL Final: 1st Leg in Numbers

Kewell proud but urges Yokohama to remain focused

Crespo confident Al Ain will turn it around in return leg

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

Henri: Shahr Khodro showed great determination to go through

FC Seoul are back where we belong, says Osmar

AFC Statement on AFC Champions League Group Stage matches

Majidi: Esteghlal have high ambitions in ACL 2020