East Asia Wrap: Daejeon widen lead; Shenhua, Sanga stay hot

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

East Asia Wrap: Daejeon widen lead; Shenhua, Sanga stay hot

Hong Kong: Daejeon Hana opened a five-point lead at the top of K League 1 with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Gangwon on Sunday.

Chinese Super League pacesetters Shanghai Shenhua also had to work hard to defeat Shandong Taishan while Kyoto Sanga maintained their grip on the top spot in Japan.
 
The title race in Hong Kong is set for an exciting finish after Lee Man closed in to within a point of leaders Tai Po, so join the-AFC.com in our weekly review of the domestic action across East Asia.

Semi-final sizzlers decided

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Semi-final sizzlers decided

Jeddah: The AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 is set for its penultimate stage after Kawasaki Frontale joined Saudi Arabian trio Al Hilal SFC, Al Ahli Saudi FC and Al Nassr Club as the teams still in the hunt to lift the ultimate prize.

Japan's Frontale booked their last four spot after defeating Al Sadd SC of Qatar 3-2 in a pulsating last eight tie that went to extra time on Sunday.

Q-final: Frontale edge Al Sadd to create history

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Q-final: Frontale edge Al Sadd to create history

Jeddah: Yasuto Wakizaka’s extra time goal earned Japan's Kawasaki Frontale a historic semi-final berth after they defeated Qatar's Al Sadd SC 3-2 in their AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 quarter-final tie on Sunday.

Having been denied at the last eight stage in three of their previous five appearances on the continental stage, Frontale showed grit to reach the semi-finals, setting up a date with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club on Wednesday.

Ronaldo, Mane set sights on more

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Ronaldo, Mane set sights on more

Jeddah: Cristiano Ronaldo was thrilled to see Al Nassr Club’s frontline firing on all cylinders after they booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 with a 4-1 success over Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.

The Portuguese took his tournament tally to eight with an opportunistic strike in the 38th minute, after earlier efforts from Jhon Duran and Sadio Mane had given Al Nassr a healthy lead.

Alioski: Belief powering Al Ahli Saudi

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Alioski: Belief powering Al Ahli Saudi

Jeddah: For Ezgjan Alioski, belief was the driving force behind Al Ahli Saudi FC’s 3-0 triumph over Buriram United of Thailand on Saturday, a result that propelled them into the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025.

The 33-year-old Macedonian international, who was replaced by Matteo Dams after putting in a good shift, highlighted Al Ahli’s mentality and team spirit as the keys behind their consistency this season..

Duran's return to form a relief for Pioli

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Duran's return to form a relief for Pioli

Jeddah: Head coach Stefano Pioli was delighted to see forward Jhon Duran finding his goalscoring form in Al Nassr Club’s 4-1 win against Yokohama F. Marinos in the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Saturday.

The Colombian - without a goal in his four previous matches - scored once in each half with Pioli hoping they serve as a confidence booster for the striker going into the semi-final encounter against either Kawasaki Frontale of Japan or Qatar’s Al Sadd SC.

Kisnorbo, Kato rue Marinos’ slow start

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Kisnorbo, Kato rue Marinos’ slow start

Jeddah: Head coach Patrick Kisnorbo and midfielder Ren Kato were in agreement that Yokohama F. Marinos’s 4-1 defeat to Al Nassr Club in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Saturday was down to a poor first half showing.

Al Nassr led 3-0 at the break thanks to efforts from Jhon Duran, Sadio Mane and Cristiano Ronaldo as the Marinos made their exit, with Kisnorbo feeling that it was out of sync with how his team performed in the opening minutes of the first half.

Jaissle applauds perfect Al Ahli

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Jaissle applauds perfect Al Ahli

Jeddah: Al Ahli Saudi FC head coach Matthias Jaissle hailed his side’s “perfect match” after their commanding 3-0 victory over Buriram United secured a place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Saturday.

Jaissle highlighted the energy from both his players and the home fans, saying it laid the foundation for their impressive victory, which set up an enticing semi-final against fellow Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal SFC.

Hyogo Takaki seeks redemption for Yokohama F. Marinos

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Hyogo Takaki seeks redemption for Yokohama F. Marinos

Jeddah: The final two quarter-finals of the AFC eChampions League Elite 2025 set the stage for an exciting last four showdown between Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club and Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos.

The two sides had met the night before in real-world action at the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025, where Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr stormed into the semi-finals with a 4-1 win, thereby providing Hyogo Takaki with an opportunity to avenge the defeat in the virtual arena.

Pakhtakor confident of ending Persepolis FC’s sizzling run

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Pakhtakor confident of ending Persepolis FC’s sizzling run

Jeddah: As Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor FC cruised into the semi-finals of the inaugural AFC eChampions League Elite 2025, the duo of Salokhiddin Esanov and Rashid Khakimov are confident their journey at the landmark event is far from over.

Having beaten one of the favourites, Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta'zim, in the quarter-finals, Khakimov said the team were pleased with the way they controlled the game and would come back stronger.

Final four set for AFC eChampions League Elite 2025

Sun, 27 Apr, 2025

Final four set for AFC eChampions League Elite 2025

Jeddah: The semi-finalists of the AFC eChampions League Elite 2025 were confirmed after a series of unforgettable clashes in Sunday’s quarter-finals at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

After four thrilling last eight showdowns, Monday’s semi-finals will see Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis FC face Pakhtakor FC of Uzbekistan, while Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos will square off against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club.