Europe Wrap: Abdulhamid shines for Lens

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Europe Wrap: Abdulhamid shines for Lens

Kuala Lumpur: Saudi Arabia defender Saud Abdulhamid scored his first Ligue 1 goal of the season for Lens in 18 appearances as his side bids for a second title after their 1997/98 triumph.

Other Continental stars also put their names on the scoresheet, so follow the-AFC.com as we look at what Asia’s finest have been up to in Europe this past week.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3161314

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

Mon, 09 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.

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

Mon, 09 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.

Group B: DPR Korea 1-2 China PR

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Group B: DPR Korea 1-2 China PR

Sydney: China PR came from behind to edge DPR Korea 2-1 in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ match on Monday to finish as the Group C winners.

China PR will next take on the runners-up of Group C in the quarter-finals while DPR Korea will meet Australia.

Group B: Bangladesh 0-4 Uzbekistan

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Group B: Bangladesh 0-4 Uzbekistan

Perth: Uzbekistan advanced to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ quarter-finals with a 4-0 win against Bangladesh in their concluding Group B tie on Monday. 

The Central Asian side, appearing in the continental showpiece for the first time in 23 years, went for broke from the first blow of the whistle at the Perth Rectangular Stadium and were deserving winners as they booked a spot in the knockout stage as one of the two best third-placed sides.

Philippines’ Eggesvik looking to inspire next generation

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

Philippines’ Eggesvik looking to inspire next generation

Gold Coast: Having gone almost a year without scoring for her country, Sara Eggesvik broke the duck at a crucial time on Sunday when she netted the opener in the Philippines’ victory against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The midfielder’s smart finish in the 31st minute at the Gold Coast Stadium settled the nerves in an eventual 2-0 win, which sealed third place in Group A to give the Philippines a chance of progressing to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ knockouts.

It was Eggesvik’s seventh goal in 53 appearances and further underlined her importance to the team, having started all three matches in her first AFC Women's Asian Cup, and she is hopeful of more to come as they await their knockout stage fate.