#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: What They Said

Wed, 29 May, 2024

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: With a comprehensive 5-1 win in Al Ain on Saturday, Al Ain FC overcame Yokohama F. Marinos 6-3 on aggregate to claim the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 trophy.

The Japanese side had a narrow advantage following a 2-1 triumph in Yokohama, but a sensational second leg performance in Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League lifted their second title after a 21-year wait.

As the 2023/24 edition concludes, the-AFC.com reviews what some of those involved had to say about the competition’s finale.

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#ACL Final: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Tue, 28 May, 2024

#ACL Final: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The curtain came down on the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Saturday as Al Ain FC were crowned kings of Asia following a 5-1 second-leg victory over Yokohama F. Marinos that saw them run out 6-3 winners on aggregate.

The final also brought to a close the competition in its current format as Asian club football heads into an exciting new era next season with the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite™ and the AFC Champions League 2™.

As continental club football takes a break until the new tournaments begin, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the stats and facts from the second leg of the final.

VAR to be implemented at all AFC club competitions for 2024/25 season

Tue, 28 May, 2024

VAR to be implemented at all AFC club competitions for 2024/25 season

Kuala Lumpur: As Asian club football prepares to enter a new era, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reaffirmed its determination to maintain the highest officiating standards with the implementation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system across its revamped three-tier club structure as well as the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™ for the 2024/25 season.

Befitting the status of the newly introduced AFC Champions League Elite™, which will see the Continent’s top 24 teams battle for glory, the tournament will implement VAR from the League Stage, which kicks off this September.

Al Nassr’s Ronaldo breaks Saudi Pro League scoring record

Tue, 28 May, 2024

Al Nassr’s Ronaldo breaks Saudi Pro League scoring record

Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for the most goals in a Saudi Pro League season when he struck for the 34th and 35th time in Al Nassr's final game of the campaign on Monday.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star struck in first-half stoppage time and again in the 69th minute with a header as Al Nassr defeated Al Ittihad 4-2 at home.

Andersen steps down as Hong Kong head coach

Wed, 29 May, 2024

Andersen steps down as Hong Kong head coach

Hong Kong: Jorn Andersen announced on Wednesday that he is standing down as head coach of the Hong Kong, China representative team with immediate effect.

The Norwegian, who was appointed in December 2021 and led the territory to the finals of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 55 years,  said he had received an offer form an unnamed entity and was terminating his contract with the territory.

Scheunemann stars in Indonesia’s win

Wed, 29 May, 2024

Scheunemann stars in Indonesia’s win

Jakarta: Claudia Scheunemann marked her full Indonesia women’s national team debut with a brace of goals in a 5-1 win over Singapore in a friendly match played at Madya Stadium on Tuesday.

The starlet, who was part of the Indonesia squad that competed in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024, bagged her goals in the second half to help Indonesia to an emphatic win.