Europe Wrap: Sano fires NEC into cup final; Helal nets brace in Czech Republic

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Europe Wrap: Sano fires NEC into cup final; Helal nets brace in Czech Republic

Kuala Lumpur: Koki Ogawa equalised to take the Dutch Cup semi-final into extra time where his Japanese compatriot Kodai Sano emerged as NEC Nijmegen’s hero by scoring the winner to help the club edge Cambuur 2-1 on Tuesday and reach the final for the first time in 24 years.

Bahrain striker Abdulla Yusuf Helal bagged a quickfire double for FK Mlada Boleslav in their comeback win against SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice in Czech Republic while Son Heung-min was on target to seal Tottenham Hotspur's 3-1 defeat of Crystal Palace in England on Saturday. 
 
Nepal’s Sabitra Bhandari netted her first goal in France, Uzbekistan’s Rustam Ashurmatov scored a last-gasp leveller for Rubin Kazan in Russia and Syria’s Ammar Ramadan was on the scoresheet in Slovakia, so join the-AFC.com as we find out how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week. 

Rahimi strike gives Al Ain advantage over Al Nassr

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Rahimi strike gives Al Ain advantage over Al Nassr

Al Ain: Soufiane Rahimi’s first-half goal was the difference as Al Ain FC took an important 1-0 lead against Al Nassr in the first leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.

The two sides lock horns again in Riyadh in a week, with the aggregate winners set to face Al Hilal SFC or Al Ittihad in the semi-finals.

Preview - QF: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Preview - QF: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) v Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)

Jeonju: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC will have no room for error when they host Korea Republic rivals Ulsan Hyundai FC in the first leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final on Tuesday.

The sides will be meeting on the continental stage for the fourth time but crucially, it is Ulsan who hold the advantage in their recent match-ups.

Preview - QF: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Wed, 06 Mar, 2024

Preview - QF: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) v Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s two most successful clubs, Al Hilal SFC and Al Ittihad FC go head-to-head at Kingdom Arena in the first leg of their AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-final on Tuesday.

Between them, the two powerhouses have six Asian titles, with Al Hilal having lifted the trophy a record four times in 1991, 2000, 2019 and 2021 while Al Ittihad are the only side to have won it twice in a row, doing so in 2004 and 2005.

Inter-Zone Semi-finals: Ones to Watch

Fri, 01 Mar, 2024

Inter-Zone Semi-finals: Ones to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: Four clubs representing four different countries will battle for their place in the next round of the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 when the first legs of the Inter-Zone semi-finals take place on March 6 and 7.

Kyrgyz Republic’s FK Abdysh-Ata Kant and Taichung Futuro FC of Chinese Taipei will face off in the first of the semi-final ties on Wednesday while Australia's Central Coast Mariners will take on India’s Odisha FC a day later.  
 
Ahead of the crunch match-ups, the-AFC.com takes a look at the players who could decide the fortunes of their respective sides.

Nisbet optimistic Mariners can go all the way

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Nisbet optimistic Mariners can go all the way

Gosford: The heartbeat of the Central Coast Mariners side, Joshua Nisbet has been crucial for his team this season as they continue to march forward in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24.

The 24-year-old has caught the eye by pulling the strings in midfield for the Mariners as they recently became the winners of the ASEAN Zone after defeating Australian rivals Macarthur FC 3-2 and are now set to take on India's Odisha FC in the Inter-Zone semi-finals.

Fall: Odisha will always fight and give our best for the nation

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Fall: Odisha will always fight and give our best for the nation

Bhubaneswar: It was Mourtada Fall’s header which helped Odisha FC win their final group stage match to become the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 South Zone champions.

The Indian Super League (ISL) side knew that only a victory would help them overtake their opponents Bashundhara Kings to top spot in Group D and Fall, a rock at the back for his side, this time delivered at the other end of the pitch.

Kano: Japan’s mindset key to impressive win over Vietnam

Tue, 05 Mar, 2024

Kano: Japan’s mindset key to impressive win over Vietnam

Tashkent: Head coach Michihisa Kano praised Japan’s mindset after their 10-0 victory against Vietnam in Group B of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 on Monday.

Japan took a firm grip on the match from the start, racing to a 3-0 lead going into the break before completing their mission in devastating fashion at the JAR Stadium.
 
The win placed Japan at the top of the standings, with DPR Korea and China PR having settled for a 1-1 draw in the group’s other match. 

Wang lauds China PR’s fighting spirit; DPR Korea’s Ri unhappy with draw

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Wang lauds China PR’s fighting spirit; DPR Korea’s Ri unhappy with draw

Tashkent: China PR’s Wang Jun praised his team’s never-say-die attitude after they fought back to hold DPR Korea to a 1-1 draw in their opening AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 Group B tie on Monday.

The Chinese tactician admitted that DPR Korea had the better players but the togetherness and fighting spirit shown by his charges left him very impressed at the end of the match.