ASEAN Wrap: KL City make cup final; Cong An Hanoi assume lead

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

ASEAN Wrap: KL City make cup final; Cong An Hanoi assume lead

Kuala Lumpur: Kuala Lumpur City FC defeated Terengganu on penalties on Sunday to book a place in the title decider of the FA Cup in Malaysia which will be their first final appearance in the competition since winning their third title in 1999.

Last season’s second division champions Cong An Hanoi became the new frontrunners in Vietnam’s top flight after they defeated Hong Linh Ha Tinh 4-2 on Saturday and former leaders Thanh Hoa’s dip in form continued as they dropped points in a goalless draw with Nam Dinh. 
 
In Singapore, reigning champions Albirex Niigata (S) maintained a three-point lead at the top of the table with a 4-0 defeat of Tanjong Pagar United on Saturday while matches also took place in Myanmar, Laos and Brunei Darussalam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across ASEAN. 

East Asia Wrap: FC Tokyo back to winning ways; Gwangju down Jeonbuk

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

East Asia Wrap: FC Tokyo back to winning ways; Gwangju down Jeonbuk

Hong Kong: Australian manager Peter Cklamovski began life at FC Tokyo by bagging all three points as the capital city club defeated high-flying Nagoya Grampus 2-0 on Saturday with Brazilian striker Diego Oliveira’s brace ending the side’s four-game winless run in Japan. 

Lee Soon-min and Lee Kun-hee were on target as Gwangju FC inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in new head coach Dan Petrescu’s first game in charge, leaving last season’s runners-up 20 points behind leaders and reigning champions Ulsan Hyundai. 

Shanghai Port, Shanghai Shenhua and defending champions Shandong Taishan are all through to the fourth round of the FA Cup in China PR while there were also matches taking place in Macau and Mongolia, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across East Asia.

Byun delighted by Korea Republic’s U17 World Cup qualification

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

Byun delighted by Korea Republic’s U17 World Cup qualification

Pathum Thani: An assured performance from Korea Republic on Sunday saw them run out 4-1 victors against Thailand to progress to the semi-finals of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023, as well as seal a berth at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023.

The quarter-final triumph at the Pathum Thani Stadium confirmed a seventh U-17 FIFA World Cup qualification for the East Asians, which gives them the opportunity to better their run to the last eight at the previous edition in 2019. 

Abdi grateful for IR Iran win, Yemen make Ali Albaadani proud

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

Abdi grateful for IR Iran win, Yemen make Ali Albaadani proud

Pathum Thani: Head coach Hossein Abdi expressed his delight after Islamic Republic of Iran defeated Yemen 4-2 on penalties in their AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 quarter-final on Sunday.

Arsha Shakouri made two brilliant saves before Nima Andarz hit the winning penalty as Iran not only stayed on course to win the title but also booked their ticket to the FIFA U17 World Cup Indonesia 2023. 

Despite dominating, Abdi’s side were left frustrated with only one of their 15 shots on target, allowing Yemen to come within a whisker of advancing to the semi-finals.

Group B: Lebanon close in on semis, Bangladesh back in the race

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

Group B: Lebanon close in on semis, Bangladesh back in the race

Bengaluru: Lebanon moved within touching distance of the 2023 SAFF Championship semi-finals after a 4-1 win over Bhutan on Sunday. 

Bangladesh, meanwhile, pulled themselves back into the race for a last four spot from Group B following a 3-1 defeat of Maldives.

Qatar fall to late Haiti goal

Mon, 26 Jun, 2023

Qatar fall to late Haiti goal

Houston: Qatar's 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign started with a 2-1 defeat to Haiti on Sunday, with the winning goal scored in the seventh minute of added time.

It was a stunning victory for Haiti, who came from behind to clinch the three points. Mexico defeated Honduras 4-0 in the other Group B tie.