#U17WAC Qualifiers Round 1: Results & Reports

Australia’s 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei confirmed them as the Group B winners while India edged Myanmar 2-1 to top Group F with the two joining Vietnam (Group C) and the Philippines (Group G) in advancing from Round 1.

Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, meanwhile, registered wins to set up winner-takes-all meetings in Groups A, D and E respectively while Nepal breathed life into their Group H campaign with victory over Jordan.

Vietnam defeated Uzbekistan 3-0 to top Group C with two wins while Philippines finished with a perfect record as well after beating Lebanon 2-0 in Group G.

Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh, meanwhile, opened their Groups A, B and C campaigns with wins over Northern Mariana Islands, Mongolia and Turkmenistan respectively. There were opening victories for Korea Republic, India and Islamic Republic of Iran as well in Groups E, F and H respectively.

In Group C, Uzbekistan edged Palestine 2-1, Myanmar saw off Kyrgyz Republic 1-0 in Group F while Lebanon powered 5-2 past Guam in Group G.

At stake is becoming the first team to win the AFC Champions League title for the first time and both coaches said they had full faith in their respective teams in what will be a third final between the two sides in six years.

Both will be bidding to become the first three-time winners in the AFC Champions League™ era and ahead of the two-leg final, the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures of the teams.

Having appeared in the finals of 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2021 - winning the latter two - Al Hilal have a wealth of experienced heads in their ranks, with as many as four players gearing for a fifth appearance in the showpiece event, but they also boast several top class imports and ambitious youngsters who complement the core of the Saudi veterans in the squad.

Ahead of the first leg of the final in Riyadh on Saturday, the-AFC.com highlights three players who could make the difference for the home team.

Standing in their way once again is the same opposition who they defeated in 2017 but lost out to two years later in the 2019 final — reigning champions Al Hilal, who have won two of the last three editions of the competition and boast some of the biggest names in Asian club football in their squad.

But, as they have a habit of doing, Urawa have saved their best for the cup competitions and have shone yet again on the continental stage. Ahead of the first leg of the final in Riyadh on Saturday, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on three players who could make the difference in the showpiece event.

As fate would have it, Diaz’s second attempt at leading Al Hilal to glory comes against the same club he lost to five years earlier, Urawa Red Diamonds, adding to the importance of the clash for the 63-year-old tactician.

The former striker’s first effort in 2017 ended in disappointment as his side were held to a 1-1 draw in Riyadh before losing 1-0 in Saitama in the return leg, denying Diaz a historic treble that season. And while his hopes of lifting a trio of trophies come the end of the season remain alive, Diaz’s focus will undoubtedly be on winning the club a record-extending fifth continental title.

The 51-year-old, who has predominantly worked in Polish football during a coaching career which began in the mid-1990s, took over from Spanish tactician Ricardo Rodriguez ahead of the 2023 J1 League season after Urawa had finished in a disappointing ninth place in the Japanese top flight last term while still managing to make a fourth continental final.

As Skorza looks to become the 11th coach from Europe to win Asia’s showpiece club competition by guiding Urawa to their third Asian title, the-AFC.com takes a look at the journey of one of Poland's most successful managers.

#U17WAC Qualifiers Round 1: Results & Reports