Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With the AFC Cup done and dusted for another year after Lebanon’s Al Ahed were crowned the 2019 champions following a 1-0 victory DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC, its time to reflect on the tournament that was.
In the first of a series of competition reviews, the-AFC.com has compiled a list of the stats and facts that caught the eye over the past nine months of action.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/khalil_khamis.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/rabih_ataya_1.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/rajaei_ayed.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/al_suleiman.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/al_khiari.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/kairat_zhyrgalbek.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Al Ahed FC became the first Lebanese club to win the AFC Cup, emerging as 1-0 winners over DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in Monday’s final at Kuala Lumpur Stadium.
A second-half header from Issah Yakubu proved decisive for Bassem Marmar’s side, who navigated the entire knockout stage without conceding a goal on their way to a maiden Continental title.
Al Ahed spent much of the match in the ascendancy, with 4.25’s cause damaged by an early red card to goalkeeper An Tae-song, with Yakubu’s winner coming after a number of earlier chances had gone begging.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As Lebanon’s Al Ahed FC celebrated a historic AFC Cup triumph, goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil was rewarded for a superb individual campaign with the 2019 AFC Cup’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Khalil’s honour came after his Al Ahed side defeated DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC 1-0 in Monday’s final at Kuala Lumpur Stadium to become the first Lebanese club in history to lift the AFC Cup.
"I thank my teammates, the whole tournament we fought as one and we got what we wanted, the trophy.
"I am very grateful to win the MVP as it is very difficult for a goalkeeper to win this award. I have to thank my teammates and coaches. Hopefully, we can come back next season and defend the AFC Cup," said Khalil.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Head coach Bassem Marmar said Al Ahed FC's 2019 AFC Cup final triumph on Monday was for the people of Lebanon.
Marmar said he hoped Al Ahed's win - the first time a Lebanese club has won the AFC Cup - had put a smile on the faces of his compatriots.
"This win is for them and I really hope that we have brought happiness by winning the AFC Cup. We wanted so badly to win the Cup for the people of Lebanon and I am so happy that the players delivered," said Marmar.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Issah Yakubu’s 74th minute goal steered Al Ahed to a historic AFC Cup title on Monday, an achievement the player attributed to head coach Bassem Marmar’s half-time pep talk.
The Beirut-based club gained an early advantage when 4.25 SC goalkeeper An Tae-song was given his marching orders for bringing down goal-bound Ahmad Zreik in the 26th minute, but despite that, Al Ahed struggled to find the net.
Yakubu revealed that Marmar’s words of encouragement during the break propelled Al Ahed past a defensive 4.25, and they saw the fruits of their labour in the 74th minute when the Ghanaian headed home Hussein Dakik’s cross.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Head coach O Yun-son, while disappointed that 4.25 SC failed in their mission to lift the AFC Cup, conceded that Al Ahed FC were worthy winners in the final at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium on Monday.
The DPR Korea club had gone into the decider confident of their chances but goalkeeper An Tae-song's sending off in the 26th minute made their task even more difficult against a highly motivated Al Ahed side.
The one-man advantage meant Al Ahed dictated play and after several missed opportunities, Issah Yakubu headed home the winning goal for the Lebanese club in the 74th minute.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: While Al Ahed emerged atop the 2019 AFC Cup mountain, one of the competition’s major individual honours went to Ceres-Negros forward Bienvenido Marañón who won the Top Scorer Award.
The 33-year-old Spaniard scored 10 goals in just eight matches, with his Continent-beating haul coming despite his side’s exit at the Zonal semi-final stage.
Marañón won the title ahead of 4.25 SC’s Kim Yu-song and Hanoi FC’s Ganiyu Bolaji Oseni, both of whom found the back of the net on nine occasions.