West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal, Al Sadd stay firmly in control

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal, Al Sadd stay firmly in control

Riyadh: Al Hilal extended their lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League 2023/24 after a 3-1 win over Al Ittihad, with Al Nassr losing ground after a 4-4 stalemate against Al Hazm.

Akram Afif, meanwhile, starred with a hat-trick in Al Sadd’s 3-0 victory over Qatar SC in the Qatar Stars League.

There was also domestic action in Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates so join the-AFC.com as we look at the past week's movers and shakers from West Asia.

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.

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.

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.

Australia’s Trimis credits half-time insights for win

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Australia’s Trimis credits half-time insights for win

Tashkent: Player of the Match Peta Trimis credited Australia’s come-from-behind victory in their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ 2024 Group A opener against Korea Republic on Sunday to the tactical insights shared by head coach Leah Blayney.

Australia were on the verge of defeat after Jeon Yug-yeong’s 25th-minute goal before Trimis sparked their comeback with the equaliser with Naomi Chinnama hitting the winner late in the match.
 
Leah Blaney’s charges are second in the standings behind Chinese Taipei, who defeated hosts Uzbekistan 2-0 in the group's other fixture.

Akhmedov confident Abdysh-Ata Kant will progress

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Akhmedov confident Abdysh-Ata Kant will progress

Bishkek: Head coach Islam Akhmedov will have a well prepared squad at his disposal when FK Abdysh-Ata Kant take on Taichung Futuro in the first leg of their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-final on Wednesday.

The two sides meet in Bishkek, with the return leg a week later. The winners will face either Australia’s Central Coast Mariners or Odisha FC of India in the Inter-Zone final.

Pen: Taichung Futuro living a dream

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Pen: Taichung Futuro living a dream

Gaoxiong: Their domestic season may not have started but that won’t stop Taichung Futuro from reaching for the stars in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-finals. 

The Chinese Taipei side face Kyrgyz Republic’s Abdysh-Ata Kant, with head coach Pen Wu-shung’s side travelling to Bishkek for Wednesday’s first leg.

Central and South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal back to winning ways; Odisha and Mumbai City rejoice

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

Central and South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal back to winning ways; Odisha and Mumbai City rejoice

Tehran: Esteghlal FC remained three points clear of defending champions Persepolis at the top of the table after a week of exciting matches in the Iran Pro League.

In India, Odisha FC and Mumbai City FC qualified for the play-offs, while the Uzbekistan Super League 2024 kicked off so join the-AFC.com as we recap of past week’s domestic action from Central and South Asia.

ASEAN Wrap: Sydney FC win derby; Buriram five points clear

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

ASEAN Wrap: Sydney FC win derby; Buriram five points clear

Kuala Lumpur: Fabio Gomes bagged a brace as Sydney FC overcame Western Sydney Wanderers 4-1 in the Sydney derby on Friday while Central Coast Mariners edged Newcastle Jets 1-0 in the F3 derby to keep up the pressure on Wellington Phoenix who have a three-point advantage at the top in Australia.

In Thailand, Buriram United bounced back from a shock FA Cup exit to third-tier side Bangkok FC during the midweek with a come-from-behind 3-2 win against Bangkok United in a high-stakes contest on Sunday which gave Arthur Papas’ side a five-point lead after 20 rounds. 
 
Nam Dinh also extended their lead at the top of the table in Vietnam to five points after a late victory against Song Lam Nghe An and matches also took place in Indonesia and Cambodia, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN.

East Asia Wrap: Ulsan edge Pohang in derby; Jubilo stun Kawasaki

Mon, 04 Mar, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Ulsan edge Pohang in derby; Jubilo stun Kawasaki

Hong Kong: Ataru Esaka’s fortuitous goal six minutes into the second half settled the East Coast derby as reigning champions Ulsan Hyundai kicked off their K League 1 campaign with a 1-0 win over last season’s runners-up Pohang Steelers in Korea Republic on Friday. 

Defending J1 League champions Vissel Kobe were beaten 1-0 by Kashiwa Reysol but the biggest upset of the week unfurled at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium where newcomers Jubilo Iwata edged four-time champions Kawasaki Frontale 5-4 with four goals from Ryo Germain. 
 
Wu Lei scored twice to hand defending champions Shanghai Port a win against Wuhan Three Towns in Kevin Muscat’s first league fixture in charge in China PR while matches also took place in Hong Kong and Mongolia, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.