Photos

R16: Buriram win shootout to book spot

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

R16: Buriram win shootout to book spot

Buriram: Neil Etheridge was the hero with two saves in the shootout as Buriram United defeated Melbourne City FC 4-2 on penalties in their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 second leg tie on Tuesday.

Custodian Etheridge stepped up after the match at Buriram Stadium - which saw both sides reduced to 10 men - ended in a goalless stalemate after 120 minutes, having played to a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg.  

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/r16-2nd-leg-buriram-united-tha-v-melbourne-city-fc-aus

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/r16-2nd-leg-fc-machida-zelvia-jpn-v-gangwon-fc-kor

R16: Machida edge Gangwon to advance

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

R16: Machida edge Gangwon to advance

Machida: Japan’s Machida Zelvia squeezed into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ as Hotaka Nakamura’s 25th minute header earned the J1 League outfit a 1-0 win over Gangwon FC in the second leg of their Round of 16 encounter on Tuesday.

The victory at Machida Stadium ensured Go Kuroda’s side advanced after the teams had shared a goalless draw in the first leg in Korea Republic last week, allowing Machida to claim a 1-0 aggregate success.

Machida’s progress to the last eight is another remarkable achievement for a club that just two-and-a-half years ago was playing in their country's second tier but who have since established themselves in Japan’s top flight and won last year’s Emperor’s Cup.

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): Vissel Kobe (JPN) 1 v 0 FC Seoul (KOR)

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): Vissel Kobe (JPN) 1 v 0 FC Seoul (KOR)

Kobe: Vissel Kobe will be on a mission to maintain their perfect record against FC Seoul when the sides meet in the return leg of their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Japan's Vissel edged the first leg 1-0 and will hope to maximise home ground advantage against Korea Republic's FC Seoul.

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 1 v 3 Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) 1 v 3 Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)

Hiroshima: Sanfrecce Hiroshima will have to go for broke from the first blow of the whistle against Johor Darul Ta'zim in the return leg of their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

The Japanese side suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Malaysian champions, who are seeking to make the quarter-finals for the first time.

#ACLTwo - Q-finals Preview: East Zone (2nd Leg)

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

#ACLTwo - Q-finals Preview: East Zone (2nd Leg)

Kuala Lumpur: The East Zone semi-finalists of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ will be decided over the next two days with the conclusion of the last eight ties.

The face-offs promise to be intense with all four teams still very much in the running and the-AFC.com takes a look at just what lies in store as the sides seek continental glory.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/video/acltwo-preview-east-zone-quarter-finals-2nd-leg

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): Buriram United (THA) 1 v 1 Melbourne City FC (AUS)

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): Buriram United (THA) 1 v 1 Melbourne City FC (AUS)

Buriram: Buriram United will have to achieve what they have already failed to do twice this season - defeat Melbourne City FC - when the sides meet in the return leg of their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 tie on Tuesday.

The first leg ended 1-1, with Thailand's Buriram denied victory by Australia's Melbourne scoring a stoppage time equaliser.

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) 0 v 0 Gangwon FC (KOR)

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Preview – R16 (2nd Leg): FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) 0 v 0 Gangwon FC (KOR)

Machida: FC Machida Zelvia will be optimistic of their chances when they host Gangwon FC in the return leg of their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 tie on Tuesday.

The encounter is finely poised after the sides battled to a 0-0 draw in last week's first leg.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-preview-east-zone-round-of-16-2nd-leg

#ACLElite - R16 (East) 1st Leg: What they said

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

#ACLElite - R16 (East) 1st Leg: What they said

Kuala Lumpur: The first leg of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 (East) lived up to expectations.

The four matches had more than their fair share of exciting moments as some teams took a step towards the knockout stage while others were left with a mountain to climb.

The-AFC.com listened to what was said after the pulsating matches.