Zeng, a two-time AFC Champions League winner with Guangzhou Evergrande in 2013 and 2015, suffered the injury prior to Friday’s clash with cross-city rivals Shanghai SIPG in the quarter-finals of the CSL playoffs.

The 33-year-old, who joined the club on loan from Guangzhou ahead of the current season, played through the pain barrier during 90 minutes of regulation time as well as 30 minutes of extra-time and a penalty shootout. SIPG won the game 5-4 in the shootout.

Two new countries enter the AFC Cup Bracket Challenge in our latest edition as we feature wonderful strikes from Bangladeshi and Singaporean clubs.

The club competition spans the world's largest continent and the next selection comes from nations as far apart as Maldives in South Asia and Kuwait in the West.

October 24 marks 10 years to the day since the AFC U-16 Championship kicked off in Uzbekistan, where a number of today's biggest stars turned out for their countries as they took the early steps in what have turned out to be fruitful careers.

A decade on since that tournament, which was won by DPR Korea after they defeated the hosts in the final, the-AFC.com takes a look at how some of those involved have progressed.

Last week we presented the candidates for the 2020 edition's best goalkeeper, and now we shine the spotlight on the players who will make up the backline.

So, here are the 14 players in contention for the four places in defence. Review the nominees and then choose your favourite defenders for this all-star XI in the respective polls.

In 2008, as part of the Adelaide United side, Sasa Ognenovski reached Asian club football's grandest stage only to fall at the final hurdle in a comprehensive defeat to Japan's Gamba Osaka.

The imposing centre-back was back two years later, though, this time with Korea Republic's Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, who themselves had suffered a devastating defeat in their previous appearance in the competition climax, at the memorable 2004 showpiece.

And this time, for the big Australian and the K League side, redemption was achieved. Ognenovski speaks exclusively to the-AFC.com as we look back at the 2010 tournament through his eyes.

Lippi, who guided Italy to the 2006 FIFA World Cup title, has not handled a team since resigning as China PR head coach last November.

The Italian called time on his second stint as China PR head coach following a defeat to Syria in the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.