Minamino penalty steers Japan past Panama, Bangladesh defeat Nepal

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Minamino penalty steers Japan past Panama, Bangladesh defeat Nepal

Graz: Takumi Minamino’s second half penalty earned Japan a narrow 1-0 win over Panama at Graz’s Merkur Arena in Austria on Friday as Hajime Moriyasu’s side completed their third game in a row without conceding a goal.

Minamino slotted home in the 60th minute after picking himself up following a foul by Panama goalkeeper Luis Mejia to score the only goal of the game in a lacklustre performance by the Samurai Blue.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/japan_v_panama-afp_3.html

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/takumi_minamino-japan_v_panama-afp.html

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/bangladesh_v_nepal-anfa_pix.html

AFC Champions League (East): Forwards in form  

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Champions League (East): Forwards in form  

Doha: As the return of the AFC Champions League (East) fast approaches, we shine the spotlight on the in-form forwards who have the potential to fire their respective sides into the knockout rounds and further. 

The-AFC.com has selected six forwards who, in the absence of the AFC Champions League since early March, have starred for their teams in leagues across Asia and will go into the tournament's resumption full of confidence

Brebner not looking for sympathy as Melbourne Victory get set for AFC Champions League

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Brebner not looking for sympathy as Melbourne Victory get set for AFC Champions League

Melbourne: Melbourne Victory have had to overcome numerous challenges in the build-up to the resumption of the 2020 AFC Champions League, but head coach Grant Brebner will not be looking for sympathy from anyone when his side take to the field late this month in Qatar.

Brebner’s team have struggled to prepare for the continental club championship due to the impact of a long-term lockdown put in place across their home state of Victoria, which lasted 112 days and severely limited the players’ opportunities to train and work together.

While some might look to use the issue as an excuse ahead of four challenging games in 10 days in Doha, Brebner remains focused on trying to pick up the wins needed to take Melbourne into the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League.

Park eyes AFC Champions League challenge in bid to restore Suwon Samsung Bluewings' glory days

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Park eyes AFC Champions League challenge in bid to restore Suwon Samsung Bluewings' glory days

Suwon: Suwon Samsung Bluewings head coach Park Kun-ha is hoping to channel the philosophy of legendary coach Kim Ho as the two-time Asian champions resume their challenge for the 2020 AFC Champions League in Qatar next week.

The K League side are currently bottom of Group G following their first two games earlier in the year, when Suwon lost to both Japan’s Vissel Kobe and Johor Darul Ta’zim from Malaysia prior to the suspension of the competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both of those losses occurred during the tenure of former coach Lee Lim-saeng, who was fired in July as Suwon’s disappointing performances in the K League prompted the club to make a change.

Bracket Challenge – Quarter-Final: Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC) vs Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Bracket Challenge – Quarter-Final: Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC) vs Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal)

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup Bracket Challenge is back with two more fantastic goals as we ask you, the fans, to vote for your favourite goal from the Continental competition over the past 10 years. 

The next quarter-final pits ASEAN against South Asia with a delightful curling free-kick from Hanoi FC's Nguyen Quang Hai in 2019 taking on a lovely finish from East Bengal's Mehtab Hossain from 2013 as Vietnam and India go head to head.

Bracket Challenge – Quarter-Final: Safawi Rasid (JDT) vs Lam Ka Wai (Kitchee SC)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Bracket Challenge – Quarter-Final: Safawi Rasid (JDT) vs Lam Ka Wai (Kitchee SC)

Kuala Lumpur: As the AFC Cup Bracket Challenge draws ever closer to its conclusion, the-AFC.com presents you with another couple of stunning efforts from years gone by in the second quarter-final. 

For the second successive day, the last eight features a contest between Malaysia and Hong Kong as Safawi Rasid's piledriver for Johor Darul Ta'zim in 2018 goes up against lovely effort by Kitchee SC's Lam Ka Wai from 2014.

Vote for your best AFC Champions League 2020 (West): Head Coach

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Vote for your best AFC Champions League 2020 (West): Head Coach

Dubai: As we edge closer to the resumption of the 2020 AFC Champions League with the East matches taking place in Doha over the next few weeks, head coaches of the 16 participating teams hope to create names for themselves in the competition as those from West Asia groups did earlier in the year.

the-AFC.com looks at four head coaches from four different nations who led their respective sides into the quarter-finals of the 2020 AFC Champions League (West), navigating various challenges and proving their worth as some of the finest in the continent in 2020.