East Asia Wrap: Marinos defeat Kawasaki as J1 League kicks off; Kitchee retain lead in Hong Kong

Mon, 20 Feb, 2023

East Asia Wrap: Marinos defeat Kawasaki as J1 League kicks off; Kitchee retain lead in Hong Kong

Hong Kong: After scoring in the Japanese Super Cup triumph over Ventforet Kofu in the season opener in Japan, Yokohama F. Marinos duo Takuma Nishimura and Elber were on target again on Friday as the defending champions edged Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 to begin their J1 League campaign in style.

Leaders Kitchee SC made it nine wins in a row in the Hong Kong Premier League with a 2-1 victory over BC Rangers which also enabled them to maintain their three-point advantage at the summit, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from East Asia.

Preview - Ro16: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

Preview - Ro16: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai (UAE)

Al Wakrah: Al Hilal SFC will not change their approach despite Shabab Al Ahli Dubai expected to offer a different kind of challenge when the sides clash in the AFC Champions League™ 2022 (West) Round of 16 on Monday.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, fresh from their runners-up finish in the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022, are aiming to not only defend the AFC Champions League title but lift the trophy for the third time in four years.

UAE side Shahab Al Ahli, however, are very much a team in form and will pose a stiff challenge at the Al Janoub Stadium.

Preview - Ro16: Al Faisaly FC (KSA) v Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN)

Mon, 20 Feb, 2023

Preview - Ro16: Al Faisaly FC (KSA) v Foolad Khouzestan FC (IRN)

Doha: Al Faisaly will play with freedom when they meet Foolad Khouzestan FC in the AFC Champions League™ 2022 (West) Round of 16 on Monday.

Much has changed for tournament debutants Al Faisaly since they booked a place in the Round of 16 last April, with the club relegated from the Saudi Pro League.

Al Shabab cruise past FC Nasaf for last eight spot

Mon, 20 Feb, 2023

Al Shabab cruise past FC Nasaf for last eight spot

Al Wakrah: Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab returned to the AFC Champions League™ quarter-finals for the first time since 2013 after defeating FC Nasaf of Uzbekistan 2-0 in the 2022 Round of 16 at Al Janoub Stadium on Sunday.

Al Shabab were quick to show their attacking intent from the start and could have been in front inside 60 seconds when Moteb Al Harbi applied the pressure on his opposite number on the left flank, regaining the ball and feeding Hussain Al Qahtani who rifled from the edge of the box but his effort passed just over the crossbar.

Al Duhail edge Al Rayyan to book q-final ticket

Mon, 20 Feb, 2023

Al Duhail edge Al Rayyan to book q-final ticket

Doha: Goalkeeper Salah Zakaria was the hero as Al Duhail advanced to the AFC Champions League™ (West) 2022 quarter-finals with a 7-6 penalty shootout victory at the expense of neighbours Al Rayyan after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.

Al Rayyan’s first foray into the knockout stages ended in heartbreak, while Al Duhail returned to the last eight of the competition for the fourth time in their history and the first since 2018.