Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal on top; Pakhtakor, Jamshedpur stay hot

Mon, 17 Apr, 2023

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal on top; Pakhtakor, Jamshedpur stay hot

Tehran: Esteghlal FC claimed top spot ahead of Sepahan on goal difference after sailing past Havadar 6-1 in the Iran Pro League.

Pakhtakor continued to show good form in the Uzbekistan Super League, while the Turkmenistan Yokary Liga kicked off.
 
Jamshedpur stunned ATK Mohun Bagan to set up a clash with Bengaluru in the Indian Super Cup semi-finals, so join the-AFC.com as we recap the latest domestic news across Central and South Asia. 

ASEAN Wrap: City emerge Premiers; PSM lift silverware

Mon, 17 Apr, 2023

ASEAN Wrap: City emerge Premiers; PSM lift silverware

Kuala Lumpur: Melbourne City became the first Australian club to be crowned A-League Premiers for three seasons running after their closest challengers Adelaide United slipped to a 1-0 defeat to defending champions Western United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday. 

PSM Makassar lifted the Liga 1 trophy in Indonesia after they wrapped up the league campaign with a 3-0 win against Borneo on Sunday while in Malaysia, defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, Selangor and Terengganu all recorded comfortable wins to progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. 
 
In Singapore, reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) extended their lead at the top with a 2-0 victory against DPMM FC on Saturday while there were also matches taking place in Vietnam and the Philippines, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across ASEAN. 

East Asia Wrap: Shanghai clubs win crunch openers; Daejeon stun Ulsan

Mon, 17 Apr, 2023

East Asia Wrap: Shanghai clubs win crunch openers; Daejeon stun Ulsan

Hong Kong: Reigning champions Wuhan Three Towns suffered a 2-0 defeat to Shanghai Port on Saturday as the Chinese Super League returned for the new season while 2022 runners-up Shandong Taishan also kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Shanghai Shenhua. 

Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai’s six-game winning streak at the start of the new season in Korea Republic was snapped following a 2-1 loss to newcomers Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sunday, but Hong Myung-bo’s side still lead the way in K League 1 by three points over Pohang Steelers. 

In Japan, Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto scored two goals apiece as frontrunners Vissel Kobe defeated Kashima Antlers 5-1 on Saturday to preserve their two-point lead while there were also matches in Hong Kong and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across East Asia.

West Asia Wrap: Double blow for Al Duhail; title slipping away from Al Hilal

Mon, 17 Apr, 2023

West Asia Wrap: Double blow for Al Duhail; title slipping away from Al Hilal

Doha: Al Duhail's hopes of a domestic quadruple were dashed after their elimination from the Amir Cup last week.

Hernan Crespo's side also relinquished their lead at the top of the Qatar Stars League following a shock loss to Al Gharafa while Al Hilal SFC are in danger of losing their Saudi Pro League title after a defeat to Al Batin left them 10 points off the pace.
 
There was UAE President's Cup action as well as league matches in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Syria so join the-AFC.com as we review the past week's West Asia domestic scene.

Urawa Red Diamonds: The new arrivals

Fri, 14 Apr, 2023

Urawa Red Diamonds: The new arrivals

Saitama: It's been eight months since Urawa Red Diamonds edged Korea Republic's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on penalties to book a place in the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2022. With the eagerly awaited title clash against Al Hilal SFC now on the horizon, a lot has changed at the Japanese outfit since that memorable semi-final last August. 

The two-time Asian champions initially progressed behind K League 1 side Daegu FC from a group that also featured Singapore's Lion City Sailors and China PR's Shandong Taishan before overcoming Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim and Thailand's BG Pathum United in the knockout stages to book the last-four tie against Jeonbuk.  
 
Key players have departed and others have arrived at Saitama Stadium since then and there is also a new head coach in charge. So, ahead of the first leg of the final at Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium on April 29, the-AFC.com looks at the new faces at Urawa Red Diamonds.

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Sat, 15 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Kuala Lumpur: The two legs of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Final will take place at two of Asia’s most iconic football venues: King Fahd International Stadium and Saitama Stadium.

As Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds get set to renew one of Asia’s greatest rivalries by meeting in the final for the third time in six editions, their respective stadiums offer the perfect settings for the continent’s biggest club game. 
 
With the first leg set to take place in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on April 29 and the return meeting slated for Saitama Stadium in Saitama on May 6, the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the two venues.