Group F: Borges scores hat-trick as classy Brazil sail past Panama

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

Group F: Borges scores hat-trick as classy Brazil sail past Panama

Adelaide: Ary Borges hit the first hat-trick of the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 as Brazil defeated debutants Panama 4-0 in a scintillating opening to their campaign on Monday.

Far tougher challenges lie ahead – they face France next – but this was an impressive start for a Brazil side who have featured at all eight previous Women's World Cups but never won it.

The stylish victory in Adelaide sent Brazil top of Group F after Jamaica surprisingly held France 0-0 on Sunday.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2969266.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2969268.html

Group H: Morocco no match for six-star Germany

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

Group H: Morocco no match for six-star Germany

Melbourne: Talismanic striker Alexandra Popp scored twice as Germany defeated debutants Morocco 6-0 to launch their FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 title charge in ominous fashion on Monday.

Popp's 12th-minute header set the Germans on their way in Melbourne and she collected another before the break as the two-time champions romped to the biggest win of the tournament so far.

Klara Buehl added a third after the restart before own goals from Hanane Ait El Haj and Zineb Redouani, while a last-minute strike from substitute Lea Schueller completed the win.

Group G: Late Girelli header gives Italy perfect start

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

Group G: Late Girelli header gives Italy perfect start

Auckland: Cristiana Girelli came off the bench to score an 87th-minute winner over Argentina as Italy began their FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 with a 1-0 victory in a feisty encounter at Eden Park.

It looked like Italy would have to settle for a draw in their Group G opener, watched by almost 31,000, fans after Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti both had goals disallowed in the first half.
 
But Girelli, the Juventus veteran who was Italy's top scorer in qualifying, came on for 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni near the end and needed just four minutes to make her mark with a header.
 
The result sets Italy up perfectly for their next game, against group favourites Sweden in Wellington on Saturday.

West Asia Wrap: Al Ahed clinch Federation Cup, advantage Al Wehdat in Super Cup

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

West Asia Wrap: Al Ahed clinch Federation Cup, advantage Al Wehdat in Super Cup

Doha: 2019 AFC Cup™ champions Al Ahed produced a stirring performance to secure the 2023-24 Lebanon Federation Cup. 

Meanwhile in the Jordan Super Cup, Al Wehdat secured a slim lead, so join the-AFC.com as we recap all the domestic action from West Asia.

ASEAN Wrap: JDT are FA Cup winners; Cong lead in close title race

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

ASEAN Wrap: JDT are FA Cup winners; Cong lead in close title race

Kuala Lumpur: Johor Darul Ta’zim retained their FA Cup title in Malaysia as goals from Hong Wan and Leandro Velazquez helped them defeat Kuala Lumpur City 2-0 and emerged victorious in the competition for a third time in front of more than 33,000 fans at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri on Saturday. 

In Vietnam, Cong An Hanoi edged Binh Dinh 1-0 on Saturday to maintain a slender two-point lead in the championship phase of the league, but they remain under pressure from defending champions Hanoi FC and third-placed Thanh Hoa who are tied on points behind them. 
 
Reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) opened up a three-point lead in Singapore following a 5-0 defeat of Young Lions while there were also matches taking place in Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across ASEAN. 

East Asia Wrap: Pohang edge Jeonbuk; Vissel held by Frontale

Mon, 24 Jul, 2023

East Asia Wrap: Pohang edge Jeonbuk; Vissel held by Frontale

Hong Kong: Pohang Steelers consolidated their second place in Korea Republic after a late strike from Lee Ho-jae helped them defeat Dan Petrescu’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1 on Friday while defending champions Ulsan Hyundai continue in the lead with a 2-1 defeat of Jeju United. 

In Japan, leaders Vissel Kobe dropped points as they were held to a 2-2 by last season’s runners-up Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday in the only league fixture of the week, but Takayuki Yoshida's side have a slender one-point lead over defending champions Yokohama F. Marinos. 
 
Shanghai Port posted a comprehensive 3-0 win over Cangzhou Mighty Lions to maintain an eight-point lead at the top in China PR while there were also matches taking place in Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across East Asia.