Preview - Group B: Japan v DPR Korea

Sun, 10 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group B: Japan v DPR Korea

Tashkent: The showdown between Japan and DPR Korea will pit the top two teams in Group B of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 at the JAR Stadium on Sunday.

Japan are in a comfortable position, having already qualified for the semi-finals while DPR Korea need a result to be absolutely sure of their last four spot.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/video/u20wac_|_group_b_|_china_pr_0-2_japan.html

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/video/u20wac_|_group_b_|_vietnam_0-6_dpr_korea.html

Preview - Group B: China PR v Vietnam

Sun, 10 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group B: China PR v Vietnam

Tashkent: China PR will have their work cut out for them when they face Vietnam in their final AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 Group B tie on Sunday.

The East Asian side need to defeat Vietnam by a healthy margin at the Do'stlik Stadium while requiring Japan to beat DPR Korea, which could then see goal difference deciding their fate. 
 
A 2-0 defeat to Japan on Matchday Two was a huge setback but head coach Wang Jun believes his players will produce their best performance against Vietnam. 

DPR Korea’s Chae relishing Japan showdown

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

DPR Korea’s Chae relishing Japan showdown

Tashkent: Chae Un yong is looking forward to the decider against Japan on Sunday that will decide DPR Korea’s fate in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024.

After two rounds of matches, DPR Korea are on four points, two behind a Japan side who have not only confirmed their semi-final spot but also their ticket to the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup Colombia 2024. 
 
Thursday's 6-0 defeat of Vietnam means DPR Korea only need a point against Japan to advance and Chae is determined to not waste the opportunity, especially as China PR could pip them with a win against Vietnam.

Amano confident of going all the way

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Amano confident of going all the way

Tashkent: Suzu Amano firmly believes that Japan can lift the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ trophy after defeating China PR 2-0 in their Uzbekistan 2024 Group B tie on Thursday.

The win not only secured Japan a place in the semi-finals with a match to spare but also confirmed their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 spot.

Kano: Second-half resilience key to Japan’s victory

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Kano: Second-half resilience key to Japan’s victory

Tashkent: Head coach Michihisa Kano said a change in tactics in the second half propelled Japan to their 2-0 victory over China PR on Thursday, which secured their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 semi-final berth. 

Japan took the lead in the first half through Maya Hijikata before Suzu Amano’s strike closed out the game, which meant the East Asian side also booked their place in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024.

Ri demands more from DPR Korea; Vietnam’s Ijiri sees positives

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Ri demands more from DPR Korea; Vietnam’s Ijiri sees positives

Tashkent: Rather than being pleased with his side’s emphatic win on Thursday, DPR Korea head coach Ri Song Ho said he had expected more from his team in their AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 clash against Vietnam.

A dominant performance saw DPR Korea notch a 6-0 win over the Southeast Asian side in Group B but the 53-year-old was disappointed that his charges couldn’t score more from their 30 shots to improve their goal difference, which could ultimately decide the final group standings.

Quarter-finals, 1st Leg: What They Said

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Quarter-finals, 1st Leg: What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: The first legs of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 quarter-finals concluded this week with plenty of action and intrigue resulting from the four ties.

Late goals, stalemates, games in the balance, and the 'Saudi Clasico' saw the 2023/24 quarter-finals kick off in fine style with the first leg fixtures. Here's what those involved had to say in the immediate aftermath.

Quarter-finals: 1st Leg in Numbers

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Quarter-finals: 1st Leg in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: It was another exciting week of action in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 as the first legs of the four quarter-final ties were played out across the continent. 

All four knockout contests remain firmly in the balance after the first leg as we move closer and closer to finding out who will take over the crown from Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds who won the 2022 edition of Asia’s premier club competition. 
 
Ahead of next week's return fixtures, the-AFC.com takes a look at the stats and facts that caught the eye from the first leg encounters. 

Jackson urges Mariners to keep pushing

Fri, 08 Mar, 2024

Jackson urges Mariners to keep pushing

Gosford: Head coach Mark Jackson wants Central Coast Mariners to continue improving following their 4-0 win against India's Odisha FC in the first leg of their AFC Cup™ 2023/24  Inter-Zone semi-final on Thursday.

The win leaves Mariners comfortably placed heading into the return leg at the Kalinga Stadium next week with Jackson expressing his satisfaction over his team’s confidence and performance.