East Asia Leagues Wrap: Ulsan back on top in style at Sangju Sangmu

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

East Asia Leagues Wrap: Ulsan back on top in style at Sangju Sangmu

Kuala Lumpur: The back-and-forth battle at the top of the K-League 1 between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Ulsan Hyundai took another twist last weekend, as the latter bounced back from defeat to the former to return to the top of the standings.

Elsewhere in East Asia, the Mongolia and China leagues entered a summer break while the championships in Japan and Chinese Taipei continue to excite. Here’s our look back at the action across the region.

Big names inspire Nishikawa to greater heights

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Big names inspire Nishikawa to greater heights

Shanghai: Lining up against Shanghai SIPG's formidable forward line of Oscar, Hulk and Marko Arnautovic might fill some goalkeepers with dread, but Urawa Red Diamonds' custodian Shusaku Nishikawa is motivated by the challenge ahead of the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.  

A Continental champion with the J.League side in 2017, 33-year-old Nishikawa and teammates are set to face familiar foes in the AFC Champions League knockout stages after they played the Chinese club four times in the competition two years ago.

In that campaign, Nishikawa kept cleansheets in two of those meetings against Shanghai SIPG, with the most crucial coming in the second leg of the semi-final that enabled Urawa to progress to the final 2-1 on aggregate.

Transfer watch: All of Asia's moves

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Transfer watch: All of Asia's moves

Kuala Lumpur: With the transfer window set to close soon, teams are bolstering their ranks with various national leagues kicking off over the coming days. 

The-AFC.com highlights the ins and outs across the Continent.

He Guan: We have to win in Shanghai at all costs

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

He Guan: We have to win in Shanghai at all costs

Shanghai: China PR defender He Guan admits that Shanghai SIPG simply must win Tuesday's home leg against Urawa Red Diamonds to keep alive their hopes of a place in the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals. 

It will be a case of familiar foes for Shanghai SIPG and Urawa when the two meet in the first leg of the quarter-finals at Shanghai Stadium.

The pair faced off four times in the 2017 AFC Champions League with a win apiece in the Group Stage before Urawa overcame the Chinese Super League side in the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate.

Abe wants Urawa Red Diamonds to keep shining

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Abe wants Urawa Red Diamonds to keep shining

Saitama: Yuki Abe had to wait 10 years to add a second AFC Champions League winner’s medal to the one he won with Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007, but the veteran defender is hoping he can secure a third Continental title by the time this year’s campaign comes to its conclusion.

Now 37 years old and in the twilight of his career, Abe is the only member of Urawa’s playing staff remaining from the side that defeated Sepahan of Islamic Republic of Iran in the final of the 2007 AFC Champions League as Reds became the first Japanese club to win the title.

Ten years later – and with Abe still in the team - Urawa repeated the feat, seeing off Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia to become only the fourth club – along with Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea Republic and China PR’s Guangzhou Evergrande – to win the trophy twice since the AFC Champions League was created in 2002.

Wei Shihao targeting third title for Guangzhou

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Wei Shihao targeting third title for Guangzhou

Kuala Lumpur: Guangzhou Evergrande FC’s rising star Wei Shihao is counting down the minutes to the return of the 2019 AFC Champions League as he hopes to help the two-time champions win a record third Continental title later this year.

The competition resumes in East Asia after a two-and-a-half month hiatus next week, with Guangzhou facing off against defending champions Kashima Antlers in a mouth-watering quarter-final clash that the China PR international is relishing.

SIPG can't wait for Urawa tie, reveals Wang Shenchao

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

SIPG can't wait for Urawa tie, reveals Wang Shenchao

Kuala Lumpur: After eliminating Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the Round of 16 to avenge a bitter defeat three years ago, Wang Shenchao believes fate has delivered another opportunity for vengeance for Shanghai SIPG after the Chinese Super League champions were drawn to face Urawa Red Diamonds in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Champions League.

Vitor Pereira’s side exorcised their Jeonbuk demons in June with a penalty shootout win over the two-time AFC Champions League winners as Shanghai banished the painful memories of the 5-0 aggregate loss inflicted upon them by the club from Korea Republic in the 2016 edition of the Continental championship.

And now SIPG captain Wang is anticipating the opportunity for further retribution against an Urawa side that curtailed the club’s AFC Champions League ambitions in the semi-finals of the 2017 edition when the teams meet in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.