LATEST NEWS - HKFA

East Asia Wrap: Zelvia return to top; Jeonbuk post back-to-back wins

Mon, 22 Apr, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Zelvia return to top; Jeonbuk post back-to-back wins

Hong Kong: Machida Zelvia returned to the top of the table in Japan after they edged FC Tokyo 2-1 on Sunday while Cerezo Osaka’s unbeaten start was snapped in a defeat at Nagoya Grampus leaving Sanfrecce Hiroshima as the only side yet to taste a loss so far this season.

After beginning the season without a win in six matches, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have now won two matches in a row in Korea Republic after they edged FC Seoul 3-2 as Pohang Steelers maintained a narrow lead in the table after sharing the spoils with Gimcheon Sangmu in a clash between the top two sides. 
 
Shanghai Shenhua defeated Nantong Zhiyun 2-0 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and preserve their one-point lead in the Chinese Super League, while matches also took place in Hong Kong, Mongolia and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

East Asia Wrap: Ulsan gain momentum; Port win thriller against Shandong

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Ulsan gain momentum; Port win thriller against Shandong

Hong Kong: Ulsan Hyundai warmed up for Wednesday’s AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 semi-final first leg against Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos with an impressive 4-0 defeat of Gangwon FC which saw the K League 1 defending champions move two points behind leaders Pohang Steelers. 

Wu Lei scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season to power reigning champions Shanghai Port to a comeback win against Shandong Taishan in China PR on Sunday as unbeaten Shanghai Shenhua continued to lead the standings despite a 1-1 draw with Beijing FC on Saturday. 
 
Cerezo Osaka emerged as the new frontrunners in Japan after posting a narrow 1-0 victory against Kawasaki Frontale while matches also took place in Hong Kong, Mongolia, Macau and Chinese Taipei, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

East Asia Wrap: Marinos defeat Vissel; Pohang go top

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Marinos defeat Vissel; Pohang go top

Hong Kong: An exquisite finish from Yan Matheus with seven minutes to play helped Yokohama F. Marinos overcome defending champions Vissel Kobe 2-1 on Sunday as Machida Zelvia stayed at the top of the table in Japan by beating former champions Kawasaki Frontale. 

Pohang Steelers, who were held by Suwon FC earlier in the week but bounced back to defeat Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sunday, have a one-point lead at the top in Korea Republic while Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors remain winless and bottom six games into the campaign.  
 
Reigning champions Shanghai Port and Beijing FC shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw in China PR while matches also took place in Hong Kong, Mongolia and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

East Asia Wrap: Jeonbuk fight back against Ulsan; Vissel hit six past Consadole

Mon, 01 Apr, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Jeonbuk fight back against Ulsan; Vissel hit six past Consadole

Hong Kong: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors came from two goals down against Ulsan Hyundai to earn a vital point against the defending champions while newcomers Gimcheon Sangmu stayed top of the league as domestic action resumed in Korea Republic after the international break.

It is a promoted side that lead the standings in Japan as well after Machida Zelvia overcame Sagan Tosu to stay two points clear while Vissel Kobe got the biggest win of the week as two goals each from Taisei Miyashiro and Yoshinori Muto helped the defending champions defeat Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 6-1. 
 
Shanghai Shenhua made it three wins out of three matches in China PR by defeating last year's runners-up Shandong Taishan 3-0 and matches also took place in Hong Kong, Mongolia and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

Ghalenoei wants a sharper IR Iran, Andersen sees positives in Hong Kong, China

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Ghalenoei wants a sharper IR Iran, Andersen sees positives in Hong Kong, China

Ashgabat: Amir Ghalenoei is demanding more potency from his Islamic Republic of Iran team despite having secured a spot at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ and reaching Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers following a 1-0 win over Turkmenistan on Tuesday.

The head coach, who steered Iran to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, was unhappy at the profligacy that could have been costly for Team Melli.

Group E: Uzbekistan 3-0 Hong Kong, China

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Group E: Uzbekistan 3-0 Hong Kong, China

Tashkent: Uzbekistan continued their fine form in the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, defeating Hong Kong, China 3-0 on Tuesday to seal early progression.

Eldor Shomurodov’s 40th international goal gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute at Bunyodkor Stadium before second-half goals from substitutes Khojimat Erkinov and Oston Urunov sealed the Uzbeks' third win in four Group E games.
 
Uzbekistan's spot in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Finals was confirmed following Islamic Republic of Iran's 1-0 win over Turkmenistan in the group's other tie, which also ensured they advanced. 

Preview - Group E: Uzbekistan v Hong Kong, China; Turkmenistan v IR Iran

Mon, 25 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group E: Uzbekistan v Hong Kong, China; Turkmenistan v IR Iran

Ashgabat: Islamic Republic of Iran will aim to confirm their place in the next stage when they face Turkmenistan in their Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group E match in Ashgabat on Tuesday.

Iran will go into the tie with confidence, having defeated Turkmenistan 5-0 on Thursday, but forward Mehdi Taremi has warned against complacency.

IR Iran, Uzbekistan set to book spots

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

IR Iran, Uzbekistan set to book spots

Hong Kong: Islamic Republic of Iran and Uzbekistan left themselves well placed to advance from Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with commanding wins on Thursday.

Iran defeated Turkmenistan 5-0 at the Azadi Stadium while Uzbekistan beat Hong Kong, China 2-0 to keep pace with the Central Asian side at the top of the standings, with both on seven points.

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei was pleased with the emphatic scoreline, given the limited time his side had to prepare for the tie.

Group E: Hong Kong, China 0-2 Uzbekistan

Thu, 21 Mar, 2024

Group E: Hong Kong, China 0-2 Uzbekistan

Hong Kong: Goals from Eldor Shomurodov and Rustamjon Ashurmatov earned Uzbekistan a 2-0 win over Hong Kong, China on Thursday to maintain their unbeaten start to the Preliminary Join Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Shomurodov and Ashurmatov scored in the 49th and 66th  minutes respectively at a sold-out Mongkok Stadium to earn Srecko Katanec’s side their second win in three games following a victory over Turkmenistan and a draw with the Islamic Republic of Iran in November.
 
The result moves the Central Asians onto seven points at the halfway stage in Group E and keeps them in a strong position to advance to the next phase of the preliminaries ahead of the return meeting with Jorn Andersen’s side in Tashkent on Tuesday.

Preview - Group E: Hong Kong, China v Uzbekistan; IR Iran v Turkmenistan

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group E: Hong Kong, China v Uzbekistan; IR Iran v Turkmenistan

Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan will welcome back star forward Eldor Shomurodov for the first of two matches against Hong Kong, China in Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

The AS Roma player, currently on loan at Cagliari, missed the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ through injury but is available again to give Srecko Katanec more attacking options.

Having collected four points from their opening two matches, head coach Katanec is determined for Uzbekistan to collect maximum points from their double header with Hong Kong, China.  

East Asia Wrap: Newcomers Machida rise to top; Sangmu edge Jeonbuk

Mon, 18 Mar, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Newcomers Machida rise to top; Sangmu edge Jeonbuk

Hong Kong: Machida Zelvia, who got promoted to the J1 League as the 2023 Japanese second division champions, climbed to the top of the table four games into the campaign when they defeated Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 2-1 at Sapporo Dome on Saturday. 

After scoring twice in a defeat to Ulsan Hyundai last week, Kim Hyeon-ug was again on target for Gimcheon Sangmu on Sunday as they defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-0 while reigning champions Ulsan have a one-point lead at the top despite a 3-3 draw with Incheon United. 
 
Kitchee SC moved two points behind leaders Lee Man with a 3-0 win against Sham Shui Po in the Hong Kong Premier League on Sunday while matches also took place in Mongolia, Macau and Guam, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

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.