India's FC Goa create ACL history

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

India's FC Goa create ACL history

Jamshedpur: FC Goa secured a place in the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage after winning the 2019-20 Indian Super League (ISL) title on Wednesday.

Goa, who will be the first club from India to feature in the AFC champions League, also secured the first-ever ISL League Winners Shield after defeating Jamshedpur FC 5-0 in their final league match on Wednesday.

The AFC Champions League will be expanded in 2021, with 40 teams to play in the group stage from the present 32.

More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

More Member Associations to benefit from inclusive AFC Champions League 

Tokyo: The AFC Champions League, one of the world’s most highly regarded club competitions, should be further enhanced, the AFC Competitions Committee decided at their meeting in Tokyo, Japan on the eve of the 2019 second leg final between Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) and Al Hilal (KSA).

And to grow the national team game in Asia, in line with the AFC’s Vision and Mission of keeping football the number one sport on the Continent, it was agreed that a ‘week of football’ should be introduced for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers Final Round.

The second meeting of the Committee for the cycle 2019 to 2023, chaired by Dr Tran Quoc Tuan, heard that the idea of expanding the AFC Champions League to 40 teams was to transform the competition from ‘exclusive’ to ‘inclusive’ by increasing the number of Member Associations competing from 12 to 20.

Victory in opener a great start to the season, says Wang

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Victory in opener a great start to the season, says Wang

Chiang Rai: Matchwinner Wang Ziming believes Beijing FC got their 2020 campaign off to the best possible start after his goal edged the Chinese side past AFC Champions League debutants Chiangrai United of Thailand on Tuesday.

Wang's close-range finish on 23 minutes was the tie's only goal in the 1-0 scoreline at The Power of Chiangrai Stadium, with Beijing FC taking home maximum points from their first Group E outing after sitting out the Matchday One games the previous week.

Popovic: Perth Glory deserved more against FC Tokyo

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Popovic: Perth Glory deserved more against FC Tokyo

Tokyo: Perth Glory head coach Tony Popovic was buoyed by the performance of his side in their first-ever game in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday despite seeing them slip to a narrow 1-0 loss at the hands of FC Tokyo.

Leandro’s strike from distance eight minutes from time was all that separated the teams in the Group F clash at Tokyo Stadium, with Perth unfortunate not to leave the Japanese capital with a point.

We played a perfect match, says Al Sadd's Xavi

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

We played a perfect match, says Al Sadd's Xavi

Doha: Al Sadd SC head coach Xavi Hernandez praised the performance of his side in their 3-0 victory against Sepahan FC in an AFC Champions League 2020 Group D tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.

After a scoreless first half, a brace from Hassan Al Haydos after Akram Afif had opened the scoring early in the second period gave Qatar's Al Sadd their first win of the competition, having played to a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr on Matchday One.

Emanuel: Al Ain didn’t deserve to lose to Al Nassr

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Emanuel: Al Ain didn’t deserve to lose to Al Nassr

Al Ain: Al Ain FC head coach Pedro Emanuel said his side's AFC Champions League 2020 Group D 2-1 defeat to Al Nassr on Tuesday was undeserved. 

Omar Yaseen gave UAE's Al Ain the lead in the first half but Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr made a second-half comeback to level the tie through Mukhtar Ali before Abderazzak Hamdallah netted the winner 10 minutes before the end at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

Analysis: Pakhtakor transfer domestic dominance to ACL

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Analysis: Pakhtakor transfer domestic dominance to ACL

Tashkent: Last year, Pakhtakor ran away with the Uzbekistan Super League title, finishing 20 points above their nearest rivals. Although it's early days in the 2020 AFC Champions League, the Tashkent side are continuing that form in Asia.

Pakhtakor have lost just once in the last 26 competitive ties and Monday's 3-0 win over Islamic Republic of Iran's Shahr Khodro was another example of just why Shota Arveladze's side have been in such fine fettle.