#ACLElite - MD7 (East): Five takeaways

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

#ACLElite - MD7 (East): Five takeaways

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Seven of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 East Zone saw the cast for the Round of 16 start to take shape with four teams having confirmed their spots.

The teams are back in action again this coming week, with all places to be filled and before the action begins, the-AFC.com takes a look at several interesting facts and figures from Matchday Seven.

Buriram’s versatility has Loss beaming

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Buriram’s versatility has Loss beaming

Buriram: Thai champions Buriram United’s ability to adapt played a crucial role in their 2-1 win over Ulsan HD FC in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday, with the result taking them closer to the knockout stage.

Head coach Osmar Loss praised the versatility of his players after they changed their approach during the match, with Suphanat Mueanta’s stoppage time winner taking Buriram up to 11 points.

Holland applauds Yokohama’s resilience

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Holland applauds Yokohama’s resilience

Yokohama: Yokohama F. Marinos marked their return to competitive action with a 1-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday as the Japanese side regained top spot in the East Zone standings.

The tie also saw Steve Holland making his competitive debut as head coach with the Englishman proud of how his players went about their task.

Kobe’s Yuruki expects more after Shanghai Port masterclass

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Kobe’s Yuruki expects more after Shanghai Port masterclass

Kobe: Koya Yuruki is confident Vissel Kobe can continue raising the bar after leading his team from start to finish in their 4-0 defeat of Shanghai Port in their penultimate AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25  tie on Tuesday.

Yuruki starred with a goal and an assist as Kobe swept past Shanghai with Yoshinori Muto, Yuya Kuwasaki and Yuya Osako also finding the net to confirm the Japanese side their place in the knockout stage.

Cryzan: Hard work during winter key to Shandong’s triumph

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Cryzan: Hard work during winter key to Shandong’s triumph

Jinan: Cryzan attributed Shandong Taishan FC’s pre-season training in wintry conditions for Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Gwangju FC, a result which has strengthened their claim for a place in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25.

The dominant win achieved over the Korea Republic outfit saw Cryzan producing a noteworthy performance in which he assisted Zeca for the second goal after Valeri Qazaishvili had put the China PR side ahead.

Cryzan then put the icing on the cake for Shandong with the third goal in first half added time and the Brazilian wants the win to be the springboard for them to reach the Round of 16.

Frontale make new boss Hasebe proud

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Frontale make new boss Hasebe proud

Pohang: Head coach Shigetoshi Hasebe had a debut to remember after he guided Kawasaki Frontale to a 4-0 success against FC Pohang Steelers as his new side marched into the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Tuesday.

Frontale were impressive in Hasebe’s first competitive outing since replacing the legendary Toru Oniki, with the Japanese side ending Pohang’s three-match winning streak at home in the competition as they sealed progression with a game to spare.

Bidoglio confident JDT will progress

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Bidoglio confident JDT will progress

Gosford: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) head coach Hector Bidoglio is confident the 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday will be the platform for qualification to the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage.

The Malaysian champions took a significant step towards a place in the Round of 16 as the win - their first on the road this season - took them to 11 points, leaving destiny in their own hands ahead of a crunch final League Stage fixture against FC Pohang Steelers next week.

Mixed emotions for Sailors’ Rankovic despite first leg win

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Mixed emotions for Sailors’ Rankovic despite first leg win

Nonthaburi: Lion City Sailors FC’s 3-2 win against Muangthong United in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Thursday left head coach Aleksandar Rankovic both pleased and disappointed.

Having seen his side take a 3-0 lead by the 27th minute, a red card to Song Ui-yong eight minutes into the second half swung the game in favour of Muangthong to leave the second leg finely poised. 

Jeonbuk’s lightning start delights Poyet; Port’s defensive frailties worry Wasapol

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Jeonbuk’s lightning start delights Poyet; Port’s defensive frailties worry Wasapol

Pathum Thani: Gustavo Poyet began life as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC head coach on the right foot after an impressive 4-0 win over Port FC in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Thursday.

The former Uruguay international saw his side score twice in each half through Park Jin-seop, Andrea Campagno (2) and Song Min-kyu as the Korea Republic club took a commanding lead for the return leg at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

Soares praises Saudi Arabia’s defensive discipline after Jordan triumph

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Soares praises Saudi Arabia’s defensive discipline after Jordan triumph

Shenzhen: Head coach Marcos Soares expressed both relief and satisfaction after Saudi Arabia secured a 1-0 win against Jordan in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B opener on Thursday.

After a cagey first half at Baoan Sports Centre Stadium, Saudi Arabia came out with renewed intensity, breaking the deadlock just a minute after the restart through Saad Haqawi and then keeping Jordan at bay to secure the three points.

Abdi wants more from his IR Iran side

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Abdi wants more from his IR Iran side

Shenzhen: Islamic Republic of Iran head coach Hossein Abdi admitted his team could have performed better in their opening AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 match despite controlling  the game from the start.

The four-time champions defeated Indonesia 3-0 in Group C in a match that came alive in the second half. Hesam Nafari opened proceedings five minutes after the start, but the second and third goals from Esmaeil Gholizadeh and Mobin Dehghan only materialised in the 63rd and 70th minutes.

Urinboev proud of Uzbekistan’s resolve; Albadani rues Yemen’s luck

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Urinboev proud of Uzbekistan’s resolve; Albadani rues Yemen’s luck

Shenzhen: Uzbekistan kicked off their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group A campaign with a test of character, having to slog for a 1-0 win against Yemen on Thursday.

Despite the difficulties suffered in the match - especially in the second half as Yemen threatened to draw level on numerous occasions - goalscorer Muhammadali Urinboev preferred to see it as a match which highlighted the belief and determination of the Uzbekistan squad.

Mousa expects Iraq to bounce back

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Mousa expects Iraq to bounce back

Shenzhen: Muslim Mousa delivered a strong performance in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 opener, helping his side secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against DPR Korea at the Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium on Thursday.

Iraq took the lead in the first half through Aymen Luay but DPR Korea responded after the hour mark, with Kim Jin-Song capitalising on a defensive lapse to equalise.

Standing at 179 cm tall, Mousa commanded the backline with authority, marshaling the six-yard box as captain before passing the armband to Amoori Faisal, who was introduced late in the second half.