West Asia Wrap: Al Sadd clinch 19th Amir Cup; titles decided in Kuwait, Jordan, UAE

Mon, 27 May, 2024

West Asia Wrap: Al Sadd clinch 19th Amir Cup; titles decided in Kuwait, Jordan, UAE

Doha: Mateus Uribe's dramatic 118th-minute goal secured 10-man Al Sadd a record-extending 19th Amir Cup victory following their 1-0 win over Qatar SC at the Education City Stadium on Friday.

Al Hussein tasted silverware for the first time after coming from behind to defeat Sahab SC 2-1 to lift their first Jordanian Pro League title while Al Wasl emerged champions in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait SC took the honours in Kuwait. .

Vote for your #ACL NEOM Future Star

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Vote for your #ACL NEOM Future Star

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 delivered in spectacular fashion following the conclusion of a campaign that started back on 15 August 2023 and drew the curtain with the climax in Al Ain on 25 May 2024. 

After Al Ain’s win over Yokohama F. Marinos in the final, the-AFC.com now looks to the future and the younger generation of stars that have risen to prominence during the tournament by asking you, the fans, to select the NEOM Future Star of the 2023/24 edition. 

We’ve selected six nominees who have made their career breakthroughs at the AFC Champions League 2023/24 so study through the candidates and vote for your favourite NEOM Future Star at the foot of the article. 

Central & South Asia Wrap: Persepolis take charge; mixed fortunes for Nasaf

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: Persepolis take charge; mixed fortunes for Nasaf

Tehran: Defending champions Persepolis made the most of Esteghlal dropping points to climb up to the top of the Iran Pro League, while Nasaf experienced mixed fortunes in the Uzbekistan Super League.

In Turkmenistan, Arkadag continued their domination while Bashundhara Kings dropped points in the penultimate round of the Bangladesh Football Premier League, whereas Abdysh-Ata Kant consolidated their position at the top of the Kyrgyz Premier League.

The-AFC.com recaps the latest domestic action from leagues across Central and South Asia.

ASEAN Wrap: Mariners win historic treble; Persib gain upper hand in title clash

Mon, 27 May, 2024

ASEAN Wrap: Mariners win historic treble; Persib gain upper hand in title clash

Kuala Lumpur: Central Coast Mariners posted a 3-1 extra-time victory against Melbourne Victory in the A-League Grand Final on Saturday to win their second consecutive Championship title – adding to their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 and Premiers Plate triumphs this season and becoming the first Australian club to complete a treble.

In Indonesia, Persib Bandung took a big step towards winning their first league title in a decade after a double from David da Silva helped Bojan Hodak’s side defeat Madura United 3-0 in the first leg of the Liga 1 final on Sunday while Bali United and Borneo FC played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their third-place playoff.

Defending champions Buriram United were knocked out of the Thai League Cup on Wednesday by Muangthong United who will now face BG Pathum United in the final while matches also took place in Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Myanmar, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN.

East Asia Wrap: Oscar treble in Port win; Vissel lose in league and cup

Mon, 27 May, 2024

East Asia Wrap: Oscar treble in Port win; Vissel lose in league and cup

Hong Kong: Brazilian attacking midfielder Oscar produced a hat-trick while Wu Lei netted his 15th goal in 13 appearances this season as reigning champions Shanghai Port defeated Cangzhou Mighty Lions 4-1 on Sunday to remain three points behind frontrunners Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League with a game in hand. 

It was a week to forget for Japanese champions Vissel Kobe as they bowed out of the J.League Cup following a shootout defeat to third-tier side Kataller Toyama before suffering a 1-0 loss to Tokyo Verdy in J1 League on Sunday while Urawa Red Diamonds also suffered back-to-back defeats across domestic cup and league.

Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai climbed to the top of the league table in Korea Republic after a 4-1 win against Daejeon Hana Citizen while matches also took place in Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the action from across East Asia.

Asia's finest learn Uzbekistan 2024 challengers

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Asia's finest learn Uzbekistan 2024 challengers

Kuala Lumpur: The continent's five representatives learnt their FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 opponents following the official draw in Samarkand on Sunday.

The 24 teams were divided into six groups for the September 14-October 6 global showpiece that will be contested in three cities.

Mariners’ Vukovic calls time on career

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Mariners’ Vukovic calls time on career

Sydney: Central Coast Mariners’ AFC Cup™-winning captain Danny Vukovic announced his retirement from professional football on Sunday after leading his side to a second successive A-League Championship.

Vukovic was in goal as the Gosford-based club defeated Al Ahed in the AFC Cup final earlier this month and also captained the team that won the A-League Premiers Plate before a 3-1 extra-time win over Melbourne Victory to retain the A-League Championship on Saturday.

Crespo: Al Ain's triumph due to self belief

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Crespo: Al Ain's triumph due to self belief

Al Ain: His players gatecrashed the post-match press conference to honour him but as far as Hernan Crespo was concerned, Saturday's AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 triumph was the result of a collective effort.

The side from the United Arab Emirates were simply unstoppable as Crespo's players did exactly what he had promised they would - turn the pressure on in front of their adoring fans.

The end result was an emphatic 5-1 win at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, with Al Ain triumphing 6-3 on aggregate to lift the trophy for a second time after having waited for 21 years.

Al Ain's Rahimi wins MVP, Top Scorer awards

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Al Ain's Rahimi wins MVP, Top Scorer awards

Al Ain: Soufiane Rahimi won the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards, his 13 goals playing a pivotal role in Al Ain FC winning the title on Saturday.

The Moroccan scored twice in the 5-1 win against Yokohama F. Marinos in Saturday's second leg, as the side from the United Arab Emirates emerged winners for the second time after having lifted the title in the inaugural edition in 2003.

Al Ain claim historic second title

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Al Ain claim historic second title

Al Ain: Doubles from Soufiane Rahimi and Kodjo Laba drove United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC to win the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 title following a 5-1 victory over Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos in the second leg of the final at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday.

The J1 League side had won the first leg 2-1 in Yokohama, but a scintillating second-half performance from Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League in 2002-03 become also the last team to win it under the current format before the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite next year.

Following their continental triumph, Al Ain become Asia’s fourth representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, joining Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD at the US tournament next year.