West Asia Wrap: Al Gharafa edge closer; Al Hilal relentless

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

West Asia Wrap: Al Gharafa edge closer; Al Hilal relentless

Doha: Al Sadd SC’s title charge suffered a setback following a 3-1 defeat to Al Duhail SC as Al Gharafa moved within two points of them in the Qatar Stars League 2023/24 on Sunday. 

Al Hilal SFC, meanwhile, edged closer to the Saudi Pro League title with a 4-1 win over Al Khaleej which took them to 77 points, 12 ahead of Al Nassr with seven matches remaining. 

It is a tight race in the Bahrain Premier League with Al Khalidiya moving within a point of Al Riffa SC while Al Shorta SC and Air Force Club are locked in an enticing battle in the Iraqi Stars League. Join the-AFC.com as we bring you the latest domestic action from across West Asia.

ASEAN Wrap: Victory claim Melbourne derby win; Buriram steer clear of Bangkok

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

ASEAN Wrap: Victory claim Melbourne derby win; Buriram steer clear of Bangkok

Kuala Lumpur: Melbourne Victory scored late through Damien Da Silva to defeat rivals Melbourne City 2-1 in a thrilling Melbourne derby on Saturday as Central Coast Mariners gained the upper hand in the A-League premiership race after a win against Wellington Phoenix in a top-of-the-table clash.

Reigning champions Buriram United pulled four points clear at the top in Thailand with a narrow 1-0 victory against PT Prachuap while their closest challengers Bangkok United were denied a win by Port FC.
 
Leaders Nam Dinh suffered a 4-2 loss at the hands of Binh Dinh in Vietnam while Visakha FC and Boeung Ket secured their places in the championship playoffs in Cambodia and the new season in Philippines kicked off, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN.

East Asia Wrap: Marinos defeat Vissel; Pohang go top

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Marinos defeat Vissel; Pohang go top

Hong Kong: An exquisite finish from Yan Matheus with seven minutes to play helped Yokohama F. Marinos overcome defending champions Vissel Kobe 2-1 on Sunday as Machida Zelvia stayed at the top of the table in Japan by beating former champions Kawasaki Frontale. 

Pohang Steelers, who were held by Suwon FC earlier in the week but bounced back to defeat Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sunday, have a one-point lead at the top in Korea Republic while Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors remain winless and bottom six games into the campaign.  
 
Reigning champions Shanghai Port and Beijing FC shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw in China PR while matches also took place in Hong Kong, Mongolia and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal lose ground as Persepolis close in

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal lose ground as Persepolis close in

Tehran: League leaders Esteghlal dropped points but stayed top of the Iran Pro League, while Mumbai City FC maintained their lead over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League.

Elsewhere, there was no stopping Bashundhara Kings in Bangladesh while FK Andijan stayed top in Uzbekistan, so join the AFC.com as we recap the past week’s domestic league action from Central and South Asia.

#AFCU23 - Know Your Group A Teams

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

#AFCU23 - Know Your Group A Teams

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ is fast approaching and it’s time to take a deep dive into everything you need to know about the teams.

As we continue our countdown to the kick-off, we take a look at Group A comprising Qatar, Australia, Jordan and Indonesia.

#AFCU23 - The Stadiums

Sun, 07 Apr, 2024

#AFCU23 - The Stadiums

Doha: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ will witness 16 teams battling it out for the ultimate honour in four spectacular stadiums where plenty of drama and excitement are set to unfold.

The Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium will take centrestage, being the setting for the opening day action as well as hosting the final on May 3.
 
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the stadiums that will see the rising stars of the continent slugging it out for the coveted AFC U23 Asian Cup trophy. 

#AFCU23: Most Valuable Players

Sat, 06 Apr, 2024

#AFCU23: Most Valuable Players

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ is all set to kick off on April 15 with the stage set for some of the continent’s brightest talents to help earn their nations a place at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Over the years, the tournament has featured players who have inspired their countries to one of Asian football’s most prestigious titles and finished the campaign not only as a champion but also with the Most Valuable Player accolade.
 
From Amjad Kalaf’s stunning display in the first-ever tournament to Ayman Yahya dazzling in 2022, the-AFC.com looks back at the five players who have been named the AFC U23 Asian Cup MVP.