West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal win thriller; four sides set pace in UAE

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

West Asia Wrap: Al Hilal win thriller; four sides set pace in UAE

Doha: Al Hilal SFC had to dig deep to maintain their perfect start to the 2024/25 Saudi Pro League season while Al Nassr recorded their first win of the campaign.

In the UAE, Al Nasr took pole heading into the international break with three other sides level on points with the leaders.

East Asia Wrap: Ulsan go joint top after edging Pohang; Sanfrecce reach summit

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Ulsan go joint top after edging Pohang; Sanfrecce reach summit

Ulsan: Reigning K1 League champions Ulsan HD clinched a thrilling double over last season’s runners-up, Pohang Steelers, in a nine-goal East Coast derby to reach the summit.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima, meanwhile, snatched the lead from Machida Zelvia in the J1 League.

There was also action in Chinese Taipei while Hong Kong’s Premier League 2024-25 season kicked off, so join the-AFC.com as we recap the past week's domestic action across East Asia.

Central & South Asia Wrap: NorthEast United lift Durand Cup for the first time

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: NorthEast United lift Durand Cup for the first time

New Delhi: NorthEast United FC stunned favourites Mohun Bagan Super Giants in the penalty shootout to lift the Durand Cup - Asia’s oldest football tournament, while FC AGMK kept up the chase on league leaders FC Nasaf in the Uzbekistan League.

 In Islamic Republic of Iran, Sepahan continue to set the early pace after recording their third consecutive victory.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the past week’s domestic action across Central and South Asia.

ASEAN Wrap: PSM imperious in Liga 1; Buriram dominant again

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

ASEAN Wrap: PSM imperious in Liga 1; Buriram dominant again

Balikpapan: PSM Makassar won their third straight match in Indonesia’s Liga 1 to stay top of the standings as they look to reclaim the title they won in the 2022/23 season.

Over in Thai League 1, Buriram United continued their impressive start with yet another win as their rivals started to falter.

Matches were also played in Australia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, so join the-AFC.com as we run through this past week’s domestic action  in Southeast Asia.

Hong ready to hit the ground running with Korea Republic

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

Hong ready to hit the ground running with Korea Republic

Seoul: Hong Myung-bo has returned as Korea Republic head coach, 10 years after his last stint at the helm of the national team ended in disappointment.

He talks to the-AFC.com about the lessons he has learned over the past decade and his ambitions for the current team.

Group D: Nigeria 1-0 Korea Republic

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

Group D: Nigeria 1-0 Korea Republic

Bogota: Korea Republic suffered a 1-0 loss to Nigeria in their opening FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 Group D match on Sunday.

Flourish Sabatine’s goal four minutes before the end enabled the African side to take the three points.

Chance to win exciting prizes with AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Match Predictor

Thu, 05 Sep, 2024

Chance to win exciting prizes with AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Match Predictor

Kuala Lumpur: Exciting prizes are waiting to be won by participating in the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Match Predictor on the-AFC.com and the AFC LIVE app with the qualification campaign for the FIFA World Cup 2026 to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States entering its business end in Asia.  

With 18 national teams from the continent still in contention for places in the global event, the Match Predictor game offers passionate fans from Asia and beyond a chance to win an exciting range of prizes. Participants can enter their predictions for the outcomes of all 90 matches, beginning September 5, and earn points for every correct prediction. 

Alhosani applauds Abu Dhabi’s team spirit

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

Alhosani applauds Abu Dhabi’s team spirit

RIyadh: Abu Dhabi Club captain Fatima Alhosani celebrated her team’s qualification to the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 group stage by praising the collective efforts that propelled them to defeat Al Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia 1-0 in their Preliminary Stage tie on Saturday.

A listless first half saw both sides toil in front of goal until second half substitute Rekha Poudel broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, calmly slotting home the winning goal after Abu Dhabi keeper Jeane Da Cruz launched a precise long ball to Eugenia Tetteh, who set up the decisive finish.

Al Nassr Club, reduced to 10 players after Clara Luvanga was sent off with 15 minutes left on the clock, could not overcome the numerical disadvantage, leaving Abu Dhabi Club to secure a narrow victory.

Classy Bam Khatoon delight Jafari

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

Classy Bam Khatoon delight Jafari

Thimphu: Bam Khatoon FC head coach Marziyeh Jafari credited her team’s attacking strategy for their success in topping Group D of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 Preliminary Stage on Saturday.

Fatemeh Amineh gave the Islamic Republic of Iran side the lead going into the break against Kitchee SC of Hong Kong, China with Mona Hamoudi then striking in the 64th minute to secure Bam Khatoon the three points and ticket into the group stage.

Ganai proud of Sabah’s battling spirit

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

Ganai proud of Sabah’s battling spirit

Kota Kinabalu: Head coach Justin Ganai was full of praise for his Sabah FA players after they claimed a courageous 2-1 victory over PFC Nasaf in their AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2024/25 Preliminary Stage Group C tie on Saturday.

The win secured the Malaysian side a spot in the group stage, which had seemed unlikely given the quality of Nasaf.

Ganai knew that the Uzbekistan side would put his team under tremendous pressure and was delighted to see his charges respond to the challenge with a battling display at Likas Stadium.

From the start of the match, Nasaf peppered Sabah’s goal with shot after shot and a combination of Nurul Azurin Mazlan’s goalkeeping brilliance and luck saw Ganai’s side persevere for the win.