LATEST NEWS - CFA

Group C: China PR 4-1 Singapore

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Group C: China PR 4-1 Singapore

Tianjin: Branko Ivankovic secured his first win as China PR head coach as his side defeated Singapore 4-1 in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday. 

Wu Lei’s 21st-minute opener for China was cancelled out by a Faris Ramli header in the very next minute at Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, but second half goals from Fei Nanduo, another for Wu Lei, and a late strike from Wei Shihao gave the hosts their second win in Group C of the qualifiers. 
 
The two teams played out a 2-2 draw in Singapore last week as the hosts rescued a point with second-half goals from Faris and Jacob Mahler after Wu Lei’s brace had given China a 2-0 lead in Ivankovic’s first game in charge. 

Preview - Group C: China PR v Singapore; Thailand v Korea Republic

Sun, 24 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group C: China PR v Singapore; Thailand v Korea Republic

Tianjin: Branko Ivankovic will expect a response from his China PR side when they host Singapore in Group C of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

So will Korea Republic's interim head coach Hwang Sun-hong when his East Asian side face Thailand in Bangkok.

Ishii credits Thailand’s confidence; Korea Republic’s Son happy despite draw

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Ishii credits Thailand’s confidence; Korea Republic’s Son happy despite draw

Seoul: Thailand head coach Masatada Ishii credited his players' confidence after they held  Korea Republic to a 1-1 draw in Group C of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

Son Heung-min put Korea Republic in front going into the break before a resurgent Thailand levelled the tie through substitute Suphanat Mueanta.

Group C: Singapore 2-2 China PR

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group C: Singapore 2-2 China PR

Singapore: A spirited second half display saw Singapore come from behind to hold China PR to a 2-2 draw in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group C encounter on Thursday.

Tsutomu Ogura’s tactical changes in the second period saw Singapore earn their first point in the group, displaying plenty of fighting spirit to claw their way back from 2-0 down.
 
The two sides meet again at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium on Tuesday, with China PR on four points.

Preview - Group C: Korea Republic v Thailand; Singapore v China PR

Wed, 20 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group C: Korea Republic v Thailand; Singapore v China PR

Kuala Lumpur: All eyes will be on Korea Republic when they resume their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group C campaign on Thursday.

With German Jurgen Klinsmann having departed after their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ campaign, interim head coach Hwang Sun-hong will have the task of steering a Korea Republic side looking to qualify for an 11th consecutive FIFA World Cup.

Kewell proud of F. Marinos' resilience

Wed, 13 Mar, 2024

Kewell proud of F. Marinos' resilience

Yokohama: Harry Kewell praised his Yokohama F Marinos players as the J1 League outfit advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League for the first time with a 1-0 win on Wednesday that sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory over Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan.

Anderson Lopes’ 75th minute goal took Marinos through in front of their own fans despite playing much of the second half at Yokohama International Stadium with 10 men due to Katsuya Nagato’s sending off for a second yellow card in the 47th minute.

F. Marinos seal historic berth

Wed, 13 Mar, 2024

F. Marinos seal historic berth

Yokohama: Ten-man Yokohama F Marinos advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League™ for the first time in the club’s history as Anderson Lopes’ strike earned Harry Kewell’s team a 1-0 win over Shandong Taishan on Wednesday to complete a 3-1 aggregate win.

Lopes struck in the 75th minute with Marinos having played most of the second half shorthanded following Katsuya Nagato’s sending off two minutes after the interval for a second bookable offence.
 
The win means Marinos will play two-time champions Ulsan Hyundai from Korea Republic next month for a place in May’s final against either Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia or United Arab Emirates' Al Ain.

Preview - QF 2nd leg: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2 v 1 Shandong Taishan (Chn)

Wed, 13 Mar, 2024

Preview - QF 2nd leg: Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN) 2 v 1 Shandong Taishan (Chn)

Yokohama: Shandong Taishan have to do something they have failed three times already this season - defeat Yokohama F. Marinos when they two sides meet in the second leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Wednesday. 

F. Marinos walked away from the first leg with a 2-1 win and the Japanese side will be confident of finishing the job at the Yokohama International Stadium.

East Asia Wrap: Vissel fight back against Tokyo; Ulsan stay perfect

Mon, 11 Mar, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Vissel fight back against Tokyo; Ulsan stay perfect

Hong Kong: Yuya Osako's superb free-kick sealed reigning champions Vissel Kobe’s comeback win against FC Tokyo in the J1 League on Saturday while Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Sagan Tosu 4-0 to move to the top of the table. 

Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai posted their second win from as many matches in K League 1 as they denied a Gimcheon Sangmu comeback to post a 3-2 win on Saturday while Gwangju are the only other team to maintain their perfect start in Korea Republic after a 4-2 win against Gangwon on Sunday. 
 
Shanghai Shenhua defeated Qingdao West Coast 2-0 on Friday and are the only side to win their first two matches in the Chinese Super League and matches also took place in Hong Kong, Mongolia, Macau and Guam, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

China PR’s Wang, Vietnam’s Ijiri grateful for experience gained

Mon, 11 Mar, 2024

China PR’s Wang, Vietnam’s Ijiri grateful for experience gained

Tashkent: China PR and Vietnam bid farewell to the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 on Sunday after the East Asian side defeated their Southeast Asian opponents 6-1 in their final Group B fixture.

China PR head coach Wang Jun and his Vietnamese counterpart Akira Ijiri were, however, in agreement that the tournament was the perfect platform for their players to gain experience and gauge their standard.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/video/u20wac_|_group_b_|_china_pr_6_-_1_vietnam.html

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/photo/images_-_group_b_china_pr_v_vietnam.html