Jardim takes charge of Al Ain

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Jardim takes charge of Al Ain

Al Ain: Leonardo Jardim has been appointed Al Ain FC head coach, the UAE Pro League side announced on their social media on Friday.

The Portuguese tactician’s appointment comes following the departure of Argentinian Hernan Crespo in the aftermath of their 5-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr Club in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Tuesday.

#ACLElite - MD4: Five Takeaways

Thu, 07 Nov, 2024

#ACLElite - MD4: Five Takeaways

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 has reached the halfway stage following the conclusion of Matchday Four this past week.

Fans witnessed another round of scintillating action as several teams moved closer to the knockout stage.

The-AFC.com looks at five things we learned from Matchday Four.

Hodak hails resilient Persib for dramatic turnaround against Sailors

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Hodak hails resilient Persib for dramatic turnaround against Sailors

Singapore: Persib Bandung head coach Bojan Hodak praised his team's resilience after their impressive 3-2 comeback win over Lion City Sailors FC in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Group F tie on Thursday.

Hodak’s side were two goals down with 10 minutes remaining before mounting a spirited comeback to revive their knockout stage hopes with the win taking them to four points, five adrift of Thailand's Port FC and three behind Lion City Sailors with two matches remaining.

Kim wants Jeonbuk to draw confidence from Selangor win

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Kim wants Jeonbuk to draw confidence from Selangor win

Jeonju: Head coach Kim Do-heon is looking to use the boost Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC gained from their 1-0 win against Selangor FC in the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 to galvanise their domestic challenge.

Tiago Orobo’s first half goal provided a respite for Jeonbuk, who are involved in a relegation battle with a playoff match to come against Daegu FC on Sunday.

Group E - MD4: Eastern (HKG) 1-2 Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Group E - MD4: Eastern (HKG) 1-2 Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)

Hong Kong: Kaya FC-Iloilo secured their first AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 victory on Thursday despite Jovan Bedic’s sending off as penalties from Daizo Horikoshi and Robert Lopez Mendy earned the Filipinos a 2-1 win over Eastern at Mongkok Stadium in Group E.

Horikoshi had given Kaya the lead from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute but Bedic’s 69th minute expulsion for a second bookable offence unlocked the visiting defence for Eastern as Marcos Gondra struck the equaliser a minute later.

But a second penalty four minutes from time from Mendy ensured the points were claimed by Kaya and the result keeps the club’s slim hopes of securing a berth in the next round alive.

Group F - MD4: Zhejiang FC (CHN) 1-2 Port FC (THA)

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Group F - MD4: Zhejiang FC (CHN) 1-2 Port FC (THA)

Hangzhou: Thailand’s Port FC reinforced their claim for a place in the knockout stage after they came from behind to beat Zhejiang FC of China PR 2-1 in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Group F match on Thursday.

The win takes Port up to top spot on nine points, two ahead of Singapore’s Lion City Sailors while Zhejiang dropped to the bottom as they stayed on three points.

Group F - MD4: Lion City Sailors FC (SGP) 2-3 Persib Bandung (IDN)

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Group F - MD4: Lion City Sailors FC (SGP) 2-3 Persib Bandung (IDN)

Singapore: Persib Bandung denied Lion City Sailors FC early passage into the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 knockout stage after coming from two goals down to register a stunning 3-2 win in their Group F tie at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday.

The victory revived the Indonesian side’s hopes while Sailors are still very much in the race despite the heartbreaking defeat. 

Group H - MD4: Dynamic Herb Cebu FC (PHI) 2-9 Muangthong United FC (THA)

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Group H - MD4: Dynamic Herb Cebu FC (PHI) 2-9 Muangthong United FC (THA)

Manila: Poramet Arjvirai scored a hat-trick as Muangthong United handed Dynamic Herb Cebu a crushing 9-2 defeat on Thursday to keep the Thai side’s hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 from Group H.

Gino Lettieri’s side move onto five points from four games to close the gap on Selangor and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the top of the standings having seen off a spirited fightback by the hosts in Manila.

Felicio Brown Forbes and Poramet struck in the seventh and 13th minutes respectively to put Muangthong in front but two goals in three minutes from Guytho Mijland levelled the scores.

However, another goal from Forbes as well as a brace from Kakana Khamyok, two more for Poramet plus efforts from Purchet Thodsanit and Songwut Kraikruan saw the Thai League 1 outfit cruise to victory.

Group H - MD4: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) 1-0 Selangor FC (MAS)

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Group H - MD4: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR) 1-0 Selangor FC (MAS)

Jeonju: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC defeated Selangor FC 1-0 to surge to the top of Group H of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 on Thursday.

The win took the Korea Republic side to nine points, two ahead of the Malaysian side with both teams on course for a place in the Round of 16.

Group E - MD4: Sydney FC (AUS) 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN)

Fri, 08 Nov, 2024

Group E - MD4: Sydney FC (AUS) 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN)

Sydney: Sanfrecce Hiroshima secured their place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 on Thursday as Michael Skibbe’s side handed Sydney FC a 1-0  defeat at the Jubilee Stadium to seal qualification from Group E.

Substitute Mutsuki Kato headed home the only goal of an enthralling game in the 60th minute to keep the J1 League side perfect after four rounds while Sydney remain on six points with two rounds of matches remaining.

The win means Hiroshima cannot finish outside the top two places in the group and the Japanese club will take their place in December’s draw for the last 16.