Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League returned with a bang last week, with Al Duhail, Al Sadd, Kashima Antlers and Suwon Samsung Bluewings all gaining valuable wins in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
Esteghlal, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Persepolis and Tianjin Quanjian all face tough tasks ahead of the second legs in just over two weeks' time, before which the-AFC.com looks back at the numbers that caught the eye as the competition entered the last eight.
www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/photo/acl_the_week_in_numbers_3.html
ACL: The Week In Numbers
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Almoez Ali got the only goal of the game in Al Duhail's 1-0 win over Persepolis in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, but the youngster has expressed his team's regret at not being able to score more.
In a cagey encounter between the Qatari and Iranian champions at Khalifa International Stadium, chances were at a premium all evening. Al Duhail had to eventually settle for the slender advantage provided by Ali's 15th-minute goal, which saw him head in at the back post following Edmilson's cross from the left.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeonju: Two-goal hero Dejan Damjanovic praised his teammates for overcoming adversity on and off the field to defeat Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-0 in Wednesday's AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The resignation of head coach Seo Jung-won just days before their opening quarter-final tie against two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors rocked Suwon Samung Bluewings' players.
But, according to star striker Damjanovic, it was also the moment that the players stood up to be counted: holding Jeonbuk to a goalless stalemate for 75 minutes before firing in three goals to take a giant step towards the semi-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kashima: Tianjin Quanjian's Brazilian star Alexandre Pato has insisted that their AFC Champions League semi-final dreams are still alive despite the 2-0 first leg defeat to Kashima Antlers in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Losing 2-0 at Kashima Soccer Stadium was far from an ideal result for Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian, especially after they had held the game goalless for an hour before Leo Silva, and then Serginho, struck for the hosts.
Nevertheless, former AC Milan star Alexandre Pato believes that the result is still not a foregone conclusion with the return meeting in China still to come in three weeks' time.