MD8: Al Wasl FC (UAE) 0-2 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

MD8: Al Wasl FC (UAE) 0-2 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Dubai: Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal secured top spot in the western league standings in the AFC Champions League Elite™ on Tuesday as Jorge Jesus’ side handed Al Wasl a 2-0 defeat in Dubai to maintain their unbeaten record in the 2024/25 competition.

Marcos Leonardo gave the visitors the lead in the 13th minute and Salem Al Dawsari added the second four minutes into the second half as the former continental champions climbed above compatriots Al Ahli to reclaim top spot.

The result means the Riyadh-based side will face Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor in the last 16 while Al Wasl, who had also already secured their place in the next round, will take on Qatar’s Al Sadd next month.

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MD8: Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 0-2 Esteghlal FC (IRN)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

MD8: Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 0-2 Esteghlal FC (IRN)

Al Rayyan: Islamic Republic of Iran's Esteghlal FC were the final team to confirm their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 West Zone's Round of 16 after defeating Al Rayyan SC 2-0 on Tuesday.

Esteghlal’s win saw them finish in sixth spot on nine points with Al Rayyan a rung below and a point adrift. The result also pushed Persepolis FC into ninth spot, thus eliminating the Iranian side.

MD8: Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) 5-2 FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

MD8: Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) 5-2 FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)

Johor Bahru: Johor Darul Ta’zim came from behind to defeat FC Pohang Steelers 5-2 on Tuesday to clinch their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage.

The win means JDT will finish in fourth spot in the East Zone while three-time Asian champions Pohang - who end their campaign on nine points - were eliminated.

MD8: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 4-2 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

MD8: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 4-2 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

Shanghai: Saulo Mineiro scored a hat-trick as Shanghai Shenhua handed 10-man Vissel Kobe a 4-2 defeat at Shanghai Stadium on Tuesday to keep alive their dreams of a place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25.

The Brazilian, who joined the Chinese Super League club during the close season, gave the home side the lead in the second minute while Powell Obinna Obi’s red card five minutes later left already-qualified Kobe with a mountain to climb.

Shinichi Chan hit his side’s second in first half injury time before Mineiro scored in the 48th and 70th minutes secured Shenhua the win needed to maintain their slim chances of a place in the next phase. Niina Tominaga and Haruya Ide netted a late consolations for the visitors.

Victory moves Shenhua onto 10 points and into the qualifying places ahead of Wednesday’s matches, when Shanghai Port face Yokohama F Marinos and Shandong Taishan play Ulsan HD, with both Chinese clubs still in contention.

MD8: Gwangju FC (KOR) 2-2 Buriram United (THA)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

MD8: Gwangju FC (KOR) 2-2 Buriram United (THA)

Gwangju: Buriram United booked their berth in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage despite having to settle for a 2-2 draw with Gwangju FC on Tuesday.

Thailand's Buriram let slip a 2-0 first half lead after the break but the stalemate was enough to take them up to 12 points, assuring them of a top eight finish in the East Zone while Korea republic's Gwangju finished a further two in front.

MD8: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2-0 Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

MD8: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 2-0 Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Kawasaki: Kawasaki Frontale completed the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 with a 2-0 win over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners at Todoroki Stadium on Tuesday as the J1 League side notched up their sixth victory in eight games ahead of the knockout rounds.

Brazilian striker Erison scored from the penalty spot nine minutes before half time and Marcinho struck deep into injury time to move Kawasaki onto 18 points and Shigetoshi Hasebe’s side will now wait to find out who they face in the last 16.

The result means Central Coast end the league phase bottom of the 12-team standings with a solitary point, with Mark Jackson’s AFC Cup™ 203/24 winners losing seven of their eight matches.

Preview - MD8: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) v Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Preview - MD8: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) v Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Shanghai: Shanghai Port FC will have to do what six teams before them have failed to do - defeat Yokohama F. Marinos - if the Chinese side are to stand a chance of advancing to the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage.

Shanghai Port ended Matchday Seven in ninth place with eight points while Yokohama are perched at the top and will be aiming to end the League Stage in that position.

R16: Sharjah advance after shootout triumph

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

R16: Sharjah advance after shootout triumph

Sharjah: UAE’s Sharjah FC advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 with a 3-0 penalty shootout win against Al Hussein of Jordan on Tuesday.

Mahmoud Al Mardi scored in the first half for Al Hussein to make it 1-1 on aggregate and it went all the way with Sharjah goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani saving three spot-kicks to take his side through to the next stage.

Sharjah’s opponents in the last eight will be the winners of the Al Wakrah and Al Taawoun tie.

R16: Tractor FC through despite stalemate with Al Khaldiya

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

R16: Tractor FC through despite stalemate with Al Khaldiya

Tabriz: Tractor FC booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 following a 3-3 draw with Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya  in their Round of 16, 2nd leg tie on Tuesday.

The Islamic Republic of Iran side advanced 5-4 on aggregate to set up a last-eight clash with either Al Wakrah SC of Qatar or Saudi Arabia's Al Taawoun FC.

Group A - MD3: Kyrgyz Republic 0-4 Qatar

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Group A - MD3: Kyrgyz Republic 0-4 Qatar

Shenzhen:  Qatar closed their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 campaign with a 4-0 win over Kyrgyz Republic at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium on Tuesday.

Goals from Tahsin Jamshid, Moath Taha, Mohamed Gouda and Noureldin Ibrahim saw Qatar finish third in Group A with three points while Kyrgyz Republic left the tournament empty handed.

Group A - MD3: China PR 1-2 Australia

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Group A - MD3: China PR 1-2 Australia

Shenzhen: Australia secured top spot after defeating China PR 2-1 in their final AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group A at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium on Tuesday.

Having won all three matches, Australia will play the Group B runners-up in the quarter-finals with China PR to face the top side.