ASEAN Domestic Wrap: Buriram end Port hopes; Svay Rieng seal title

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

ASEAN Domestic Wrap: Buriram end Port hopes; Svay Rieng seal title

Kuala Lumpur: The league title will go down to the wire in Thailand but Buriram United’s win over Port FC ensured it will be a two-horse race, while Svay Rieng have been crowned Cambodian champions with two games to spare.

Elsewhere, Indonesia league leaders Bali United suffered a heavy defeat to Borneo and Philippines champions Ceres Negros ended their campaign unbeaten.

Although the majority of leagues across ASEAN are reaching their climax or have already finished, meanwhile, Australia’s A-League is in its early stages and it's the Sydney clubs that lead the way.

Central Asian Domestic Wrap: Advantage Lokomotiv, Dordoi stay on track

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Central Asian Domestic Wrap: Advantage Lokomotiv, Dordoi stay on track

Bishkek: Uzbekistan’s PFC Lokomotiv took a significant step towards a return to AFC Champions League football, while FC Dordoi’s bid for a second successive Kyrgyz Premier League title gathered steam thanks to two international stars.

Also this week, the return of league action in Tajikistan, Islamic Republic and Turkmenistan saw heavyweight clubs in all three countries produce important wins.

Join the-AFC.com as we cover all the key results from Andijan to Ashgabat and beyond.

East Asia Domestic Wrap: SIPG top Beijing FC; J.League title race heats up

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

East Asia Domestic Wrap: SIPG top Beijing FC; J.League title race heats up

Kuala Lumpur: Shanghai SIPG secured a big win away at their Chinese Super League title rivals, while Yokohama F. Marinos made up ground on the top two as the hunt for the Japanese championship became a three-way race.

Following the international break, the domestic action in East Asia returned with a bang as the leagues in Japan, Korea Republic and China PR enter the business end of season, while the Hong Kong and Mongolia Premier Leagues also saw some intriguing ties.

West Asia Domestic Wrap: Perfect tuneup for Al Hilal

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

West Asia Domestic Wrap: Perfect tuneup for Al Hilal

Kuala Lumpur: Al Hilal SFC received a morale booster ahead of Tuesday's 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals second leg with a big win that kept them on top of the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

Al Sadd, who face Al Hilal in Tuesday's Continental semi-final, were not in action as their Qatar Stars League tie was postponed, UAE Pro League defending champions Sharjah continued their perfect record and Kuwait SC maintained their unbeaten run in Kuwait.

Join the-AFC.com reviews the domestic action in West Asia.

Preview - S-final 2nd Leg: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) vs Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - S-final 2nd Leg: Al Hilal SFC (KSA) vs Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Riyadh: Buoyed by their 4-1 away win in the reverse fixture, complacency might be Al Hilal’s biggest obstacle as they host Al Sadd in the second leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.

Three weeks earlier, Al Hilal had come from a goal down to record a famous 4-1 win in Doha.

Bafetimbi Gomis had converted into his own net 15 minutes in, but made amends in perfect style, bagging a brace, while Ali Al Bulayhi and Mohammed Al Shalhoub netted too to put the Saudi side in a comfortable position ahead of Tuesday’s return leg.

Semi-Finals, 2nd Leg: 5 Things To Look Out For

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Semi-Finals, 2nd Leg: 5 Things To Look Out For

Kuala Lumpur: Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds will take commanding leads into the second legs of the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals this week with Al Sadd and Guangzhou Evergrande needing to reverse first-leg deficits in order to progress to the final. 

As things stand, Al Hilal hold a three-goal lead over Al Sadd ahead of their clash in Riyadh on Tuesday and Urawa take a two-goal advantage to southern China a day later. With the final line-up to be confirmed this week, here’s the-AFC.com’s five things to look out for.

The race for the Golden Boot

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

The race for the Golden Boot

Kuala Lumpur: When Bafetimbi Gomis bagged a brace in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-final against Al Sadd, not only did he make up for his earlier own goal en route to a 4-1 victory, he also moved joint top of the scoring charts. 

Gomis and Leonardo – who has left Al Wahda to join Shabab Al Ahli since the Emirati side were eliminated – are tied with nine goals apiece, but with the Saudi team potentially having three more games to play, the Frenchman is the favourite to win the top scorer award come November 24.

But, while one more goal would see the Al Hilal target man take pole position, there remains a chasing pack who will have one eye on the accolade. Ahead of the semi-final second legs next week, the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the contenders.