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Muscat to leave Marinos

Thu, 07 Dec, 2023

Muscat to leave Marinos

Yokohama: Yokohama F Marinos have announced that J1 League title-winning head coach Kevin Muscat will leave the club at the end of the season.

Muscat took over from fellow Australian Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2021 before leading F Marinos to the title in 2022, and his last game in charge will be Wednesday’s AFC Champions League™ meeting with Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan.

Janas urges Urawa to move on from elimination heartbreak

Thu, 07 Dec, 2023

Janas urges Urawa to move on from elimination heartbreak

Hanoi: Assistant head coach Rafal Janas insists Urawa Red Diamonds must quickly forget Wednesday’s AFC Champions League™ 2023/2024 defeat to Vietnam’s Hanoi FC with the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 coming up next week for the Japanese side.

Bryan Linssen cancelled out Dao Van Nam’s opener before Hanoi scored the winner through Pham Tuan Hai’s 87th minute spot-kick as Urawa, who lifted the AFC Champions League title for the third time in May, crashed out. 

They play Mexico’s Club Leon in the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup on December 15. 

Pohang’s Kim disappointed with Wuhan draw

Thu, 07 Dec, 2023

Pohang’s Kim disappointed with Wuhan draw

Wuhan: Head coach Kim Gi-dong was disappointed that Pohang Steelers could not end their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group J campaign with a perfect record. 

The Korea Republic side have been a revelation all season long but had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 against China PR’s Wuhan Three Towns FC on Wednesday, having won all five previous matches in the group stage. 

Group J: Hanoi end Urawa's reign

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group J: Hanoi end Urawa's reign

Hanoi: Defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds exited the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 on Wednesday as the J1 League side slumped to a 2-1 loss against Hanoi FC at My Dinh Stadium with Maciej Skorza’s outfit needing to win to have any hope of advancing to the last 16.

Alex Scholz had his 10th minute penalty saved before Dao Van Nam gave Hanoi an unlikely lead eight minutes into the second half and, although Bryan Linssen equalised 12 minutes later, the home side took the points when Pham Tuan Hai converted an 87th minute spot-kick.
 
The result, coupled with Wuhan Three Towns’ 1-1 draw with Pohang Steelers, means Urawa finish second in Group J but their tally of seven points will not be enough to claim one of the three best runners-up berths in the Round of 16 draw later this month.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_j_|_hanoi_fc_vie_2-1_urawa_red_diamonds_jpn.html

Group J: Wuhan deny Pohang perfect finish

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Group J: Wuhan deny Pohang perfect finish

Wuhan: Pohang Steelers came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw against Wuhan Three Towns at Wuhan Sports Centre on Wednesday as they wrapped up their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 group stage campaign without tasting a defeat.

After a first half with little goalmouth action, Wuhan drew first blood four minutes into the restart as Lee Gyu-baek scored into his own goal. However, Lee Ho-jae headed in a 77th-minute equaliser for Pohang as they progressed to the Round of 16 with five wins and a draw in Group J. 

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_j_|_wuhan_three_towns_fc_chn_1-1_pohang_steelers_kor.html

Al Nassr's Castro satisfied despite Istiklol stalemate

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Al Nassr's Castro satisfied despite Istiklol stalemate

Dushanbe: Al Nassr were not able to end their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E campaign with a win but head coach Luis Castro was happy with his team's overall performance.

With Cristiano Ronaldo not in the squad and the likes of Anderson Talisca, Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane among those starting on the bench, Al Nassr needed an Abdulrahman Ghareeb goal for a share of the points against Tajikistan's FC Istiklol.
 
Castro said he opted for a relativily unfamiliar lineup to give the fringe players match exposure and to keep the regulars fresh for their Saudi Pro League 2023/24 campaign.

Golmohammadi: Persepolis deserved more

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Golmohammadi: Persepolis deserved more

Tehran: Head coach Yahya Golmohammadi apologised to the fans but felt Persepolis FC deserved more from their final AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group E tie against Al Duhail SC on Tuesday.

Needing a win to boost their hopes of advancing, the Islamic Republic of Iran side instead fell to a 2-1 defeat to exit the competition.

Focused Al Ain please Crespo

Wed, 06 Dec, 2023

Focused Al Ain please Crespo

Ashbagat: Hernan Crespo applauded his Al Ain players for their unwavering focus in their final AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Group A match against Ahal FC on Tuesday.

The 2003 AFC Champions League winners raced into a two-goal lead following penalty strikes from Souifane Rahimi and Omer Atzili with Elman Tagayew reducing the deficit.
 
With all the goals coming in the first half, Al Ain had to show resolve in the remaining period to end their campaign with 15 points. 

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_e_|_persepolis_fc_irn_1_-_2_al_duhail_sc_qat.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_group_e_|_fc_istiklol_tjk_1_-_1_al_nassr_ksa_1.html