Emotional Muscat signs off with high praise for Marinos

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Emotional Muscat signs off with high praise for Marinos

Yokohama: Kevin Muscat did not try to hide his emotions after Yokohama F. Marinos produced an outstanding performance to beat Shandong Taishan 3-0 to advance to the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 knockout stage on Wednesday. .

The match was Muscat’s last as Marinos head coach and the Australian was incredibly proud with the performance which saw them topping Group G. 

The win capped Muscat’s reign, having taken over from Ange Postecoglou in 2021, where he guided Marinos to the Japanese title in 2022 and a runners-up finish in the recently concluded season.

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Petrescu: Jeonbuk need to improve

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Petrescu: Jeonbuk need to improve

Jeonju: Dan Petrescu admits there is much improvement needed if there is going to be cheer for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 knockout stage. 

The Korean side had to work hard for their 3-2 win over Group F winners Bangkok United on Wednesday, a result which saw the two-time AFC Champions League winners advancing to the Round of 16 as one of the three best runners-up from the East Zone. 

Jeonbuk had to rally from a goal down to lead 3-1, with Bangkok scoring a late consolation.

East Zone knockout stage cast finalised

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

East Zone knockout stage cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors were the final team to book their spot in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 after a 3-2 win over Bangkok United on Wednesday.

The two-time AFC Champions League winners advanced as one of the three best runners-up from the East Zone, coming from behind to beat Bangkok United.

Group F: Jeonbuk take final spot

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group F: Jeonbuk take final spot

Jeonju: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors secured their ticket to the Round of 16 in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 after a 3-2 win over Group F winners Bangkok United on Wednesday was enough to see them advance as one of the three best runners-up.

Wanchai Jarunongkran opened the scoring for the visitors inside five minutes, but Moon Seon-min levelled for two-time champions Jeonbuk as half-time approached and the sides went into the interval all square.

Jeonbuk dominated the second half but had to wait until the final 15 minutes to secure the win when a quickfire Lee Dong-jun brace calmed any nerves inside Jeonju World Cup Stadium and, despite a late Rungrath Phumichantuk consolation, the hosts sealed their passage to the last 16.

Group F: Kitchee sign off on high note

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group F: Kitchee sign off on high note

Singapore: Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee finished their AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 campaign on a high on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Lion City Sailors in Singapore to pick up their first win in Group F of this year’s competition.

Chris van Huizen’s 11th minute own goal and a clinical finish by Fernando 16 minutes from time secured all three points for Kitchee and some pride for Kim Dong-jin’s team, who went into the clash at Jalan Besar Stadium already eliminated from the competition.

The win took Kitchee onto four points from their six AFC Champions League group matches and still leaves them bottom of the standings, two points behind Lion City. Bangkok United won the group with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in second.

Group G: Heartbreak for Incheon

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group G: Heartbreak for Incheon

Manila: Incheon United narrowly missed out on a place in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 after their 3-1 victory over Kaya FC-Iloilo at Rizal Memorial Stadium on Wednesday was only enough to see them finish third in Group G.

Park Seung-ho opened the scoring 12 minutes into the game before Choi Woo-jin made it two in the 25th minute. But Simone Rota pulled one back for the home side eight minutes into the second half to leave the match on a knife edge before a late Kim Do-hyeok penalty secured the victory. 
 
However, with Yokohama F. Marinos beating Shandong Taishan 3-0 in the simultaneous Group G fixture, the three teams all wound up on 12 points. And it was Incheon – due to an inferior head-to-head goal difference against the other two – who missed out on progression to the next phase.

Group G: Marinos win to advance

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Group G: Marinos win to advance

Yokohama F Marinos gave departing manager Kevin Muscat the perfect send off on Wednesday with a convincing 3-0 win over Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan that takes the J1 League outfit into the last 16 of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24.

Elber struck four minutes into first half injury time to break Shandong’s stubborn resistance before second half goals from Anderson Lopes and Yan Matheus confirmed the three points for Yokohama and a first place finish in Group G in the Australia’s last game in charge.

Shandong, meanwhile, squeeze into the Round of 16 as one of the three best runners-up, pipping Incheon United to second in the group as a result of their better goal-difference in the head-to-head meetings between the top three, who all finished level on 12 points.

Group G: Terengganu beat Bali to keep hopes alive

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Group G: Terengganu beat Bali to keep hopes alive

Kuala Terengganu: Terengganu FC completed their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Group G campaign with a 2-0 win over Indonesia’s Bali United on Tuesday but now face an anxious wait to know their fate in the competition.

The victory maintained Terengganu's second place in Group G with 12 points and they are mathematically still in the running to qualify as the best placed runners-up from the ASEAN Zone, but will have to wait till Thursday to know their fate when Group F concludes. 

Player to Watch: Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Kuala Lumpur: Son Heung-min will line-up in Qatar for his fourth crack at leading Korea Republic to their first AFC Asian Cup™ title since 1960 in some of the best form of his career.

The 31-year-old returns to the scene of his first appearance at the continental championship and to where he scored his first goal in his nation’s colours, after coming off the bench to strike in a 4-1 group stage win over India back in 2011.
 
That campaign ended at the semi-final stage for the Koreans and while the nation’s continental drought has continued, Son has flourished to become one of Asian football’s best known faces.