Remarkable Al Hilal crowned Saudi Pro League champions

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Remarkable Al Hilal crowned Saudi Pro League champions

Riyadh: Reigning AFC Champions League™ winners Al Hilal SFC completed a remarkable comeback on Monday to win the Saudi Pro League title for the third consecutive year.

Al Hilal defeated Al Faisaly 2-1, finishing two points ahead of long-time leaders Al Ittihad, who at one point held a 16-point lead at the top of the standings. Al Ittihad were held to a goalless draw by Al Baten in their final match on Monday. 

Al Hilal won the league title for the 18th time, thanks to a brace from Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo at the King Fahd International Stadium.

Group E: FC CSKA (TJK) 2-3 PFC Sogdiana (UZB)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group E: FC CSKA (TJK) 2-3 PFC Sogdiana (UZB)

Dushanbe: Uzbekistan’s PFC Sogdiana survived a fightback from 10-man FC CSKA of Tajikistan to emerge 3-2 victors on Matchday Two of the AFC Cup™ 2022 Group E on Monday. 

The win means Sogdiana only need a point from their final match against Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr on Thursday to seal a place in the Central Zonal final while FC CSKA are eliminated with a match to spare.

Group E: PFC Neftchi (KGZ) 0-1 Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group E: PFC Neftchi (KGZ) 0-1 Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)

Dushanbe: Altyn Asyr FC beat PFC Neftchi of Kyrgyz Republic 1-0 to stay in contention for a top spot finish in Group E of the AFC Cup™ 2022 on Monday. 

A 34th minute Myrat Annayev penalty proved enough for the Turkmenistan side to secure the three points, eliminating Neftchi in the process. 

Group F: FC Dordoi (KGZ) 0-1 Kopetdag FC (TKM)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group F: FC Dordoi (KGZ) 0-1 Kopetdag FC (TKM)

Bishkek: Newcomers Kopetdag FC made history after claiming a stunning 1-0 victory over FC Dordoi for their first win in the AFC Cup™
at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium on Monday.

The Turkmenistan team defied the odds, having been reduced to 10 men for more than 80 minutes, as Begench Akmamedov’s strike from distance proved decisive with their fate of qualifying to the next round to now be decided in Group F's final matchday on Thursday.  

Group G: Kedah Darul Aman (MAS) 4-1 Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group G: Kedah Darul Aman (MAS) 4-1 Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)

 Denpasar:  Malaysia's Kedah Darul Aman kept their hopes of reaching the AFC Cup™ 2022 knockout rounds alive with a convincing 4-1 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines in Group G on Monday.

Following a goalless first half at Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta, Kedah opened the scoring three minutes before the hour through Fayadh Zulkifli before Mahmoud Al Mardi doubled their advantage six minutes later.

Ronald Ngah Wanja made it three in the 82nd minute, then, after Javier Gayoso pulled one back for Kaya, Zulkifli's second of the night wrapped up proceedings. 

The victory sees Kedah move level on three points with Bali United FC, who were beaten 5-2 by group leaders Visakha FC in Monday’s earlier game, while Kaya prop up the standings having yet to pick up a point.

Group G: Visakha FC (CAM) 5-2 Bali United FC (IDN)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group G: Visakha FC (CAM) 5-2 Bali United FC (IDN)

Denpasar: Paulo Victor and Ouk Sovann netted a brace apiece as Visakha FC made it two wins from two in their maiden AFC Cup™ 2022 campaign following an impressive 5-2 win over ASEAN Zone Group G hosts Bali United at Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta on Monday.

Bali's Irfan Jaya opened the scoring on nine minutes, only to see Brazilian forward Paulo Victor restore parity for the Cambodians in the 17th minute before Sovann’s stunning set-piece strike put Visakha in front at half-time.

Lee Jae-gun increased the lead for Meas Channa’s side 10 minutes after the restart, before Paulo Victor completed his brace on 63 minutes to make it 4-1. Former C-League star Privat Mbarga did pull one back for Bali with five minutes remaining, but Souvann’s second of the night cancelled out any glimmer of hope.

Group H: Tampines Rovers (SGP) 1-3 PSM Makassar (IDN)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group H: Tampines Rovers (SGP) 1-3 PSM Makassar (IDN)

Kuala Lumpur:  Indonesia’s PSM Makassar came from behind to register a 3-1 win over 10-men Tampines Rovers of Singapore in their AFC Cup™ 2022 Group H tie at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium on Monday.

Zehrudin Mehmedovic scored with a delightful curling effort to give Tampines Rovers the lead before Makassar, with a one-man advantage, fought back in the second half with Ricky Pratama and Brazilian Everton providing the goals for the hard-earned victory.

Makassar, on four points with their group stage campaign concluded, will have to wait for Thursday's encounter between Tampines Rovers and Kuala Lumpur City FC to know if they will advance to the ASEAN Zonal Semi-finals with only the top side assured of a spot. The best runners-up from the three groups will also advance. 

Group I: Young Elephants FC (LAO) 1-3 Hougang United (SGP)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group I: Young Elephants FC (LAO) 1-3 Hougang United (SGP)

Ho Chi Minh City: Singapore’s Hougang United came from behind to win for the second game in a row, beating Laos’ Young Elephants 3-1 on Matchday Two of the AFC Cup 2022™ Group I on Monday.

Hougang United had turned a two-goal deficit against Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia into a 4-3 victory on Friday, while Young Elephants looked to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat at the hands of group hosts Viettel FC.

Group I: Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) 0-1 Viettel FC (VIE)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group I: Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) 0-1 Viettel FC (VIE)

Ho Chi Minh City: Viettel FC cemented their grasp on the top spot of Group I of the AFC Cup 2022™ with a solid 1-0 win over Phnom Penh Crown on Matchday Two on Monday.

The group hosts had started with a bang, dismantling Laos’ Young Elephants 5-1 on the opening day, while Phnom Penh Crown threw away a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 to Singapore’s Hougang United in their first match of the group.

Despite the narrow final score at Thong Nhat Stadium, it was the home side that dominated from start to finish, creating chances at will but failing to convert them into more goals.

Group J: Tainan City FC (TPE) 1-3 Lee Man (HKG)

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Group J: Tainan City FC (TPE) 1-3 Lee Man (HKG)

Buriram: Second half goals from Yung Hui-to and Junior Dutra helped keep Lee Man’s slim hopes of a place in the next round of the 2022 AFC Cup alive on Monday as the Hong Kong Premier League side handed Tainan City FC a 3-1 defeat in Buriram.

The pair gave Chan Hiu-ming’s side a two-goal lead with strikes in the 55th and 69th minutes respectively before Marc-Mechez Fenelus’ penalty set up the prospect of a tense finish to the Group J clash only for Chang Hei-yin to settle the game 12 minutes from time.
 
Victory moves Lee Man level on points with Eastern Long Lions having played one game more than their compatriots and Chan’s team could still advance depending on the outcome of Thursday’s clash between Tainan City and Eastern.