Clash of 2015: Where are they now?

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Clash of 2015: Where are they now?

Kuala Lumpur: Four years on from their last continental clash, West Asian heavyweights Al Sadd SC and Al Hilal SFC are set to lock horns again in the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals.

Wins were exchanged when the two sides met in the group stage of the 2015 edition, with Khalfan Ibrahim’s strike giving Al Sadd a 1-0 home win on Matchday Two and Al Hilal emerging 2-1 winners in Riyadh on Matchday Six; the last time the two sides met. the-AFC.com tracks where all 22 starting players involved in that last encounter are now.

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5 Memorable Semi-finals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

5 Memorable Semi-finals

Kuala Lumpur: Ahead of the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals, we reflect on five classic encounters from previous editions of the Continental competition.

Last minute winners, goal gluts and East-meet-West clashes, since the AFC Champions League's revamp in 2002-03, there have been plenty of thrills and spills when the tournament has reached the final four phase.

The-AFC.com looks back on some of these ties to remember and relive.

Xavi: We had an unbelievable match

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Xavi: We had an unbelievable match

Doha: Head coach Xavi Hernandez hailed what he described was one of Al Sadd's best matches of the year after the Qatar champions advanced to the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals on Monday. 

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Riyadh last month, Xavi said Al Sadd produced the great performance required as the Doha-based club defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr 3-1 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium to advance to their second successive AFC Champions League semi-finals.

Lucescu hails Al Hilal’s ‘exceptional match’

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Lucescu hails Al Hilal’s ‘exceptional match’

Riyadh: Head coach Răzvan Lucescu has expressed his satisfaction with Al Hilal SFC’s 3-1 win over Al Ittihad in the second leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Despite going one down within the first 10 minutes, goals from Andre Carrillo, Salem Al Dawsari and Sebastian Giovinco helped Al Hilal claim the victory which sent them through to the last four of the competition for the fifth time in the club’s history.

ACL 2019 Allianz Goal of the Week: Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal SFC)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

ACL 2019 Allianz Goal of the Week: Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal SFC)

Kuala Lumpur: The-AFC.com has announced that Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari is the winner of this week’s Goal of the Week presented by Allianz for the 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-final second legs on Friday.

Al Sadd want to win it for their fans

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Sadd want to win it for their fans

Doha: Al Sadd are determined to seal a place in the 2019 AFC Champions League to show their appreciation to their fans. 

With their fans roaring them on at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Monday, the Qatar champions overturned a 2-1 first leg deficit to beat Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr 3-1 to advance to the semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate.

Quarter-final - 2nd Leg: Al Hilal storm into semis

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Quarter-final - 2nd Leg: Al Hilal storm into semis

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal booked their place in the 2019 AFC Champions League semi-finals with a 3-1 win over archrivals Al Ittihad in the second leg of the quarter-final at the King Saud University Stadium on Tuesday.

Having cancelled each other in a goalless draw in Jeddah three weeks ago, the onus was on Al Hilal to end their visitors’ seven-match unbeaten run in the 2019 AFC Champions League if they were to advance to the semi-finals.