Venues for AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals confirmed

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

Venues for AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed the venues for the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals 2024/25, which will see Asia’s top eight clubs battle for supremacy in a centralised format in single-leg ties from April 25 to May 3, 2025.

Following the decision to appoint the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) as the Host Association for the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons in December 2023, the King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah have been selected to host the decisive battles of the most sought-after club prize in Asian football.

Muscat confident Port will turn things around

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

Muscat confident Port will turn things around

Shanghai: Head coach Kevin Muscat retains belief that it is only a matter of time before his Shanghai Port FC side return to winning ways in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 after ending their League Stage campaign with a defeat on Wednesday.

Port lost 2-0 to Yokohama F. Marinos, the second defeat in as many weeks after the 4-0 reverse to Vissel Kobe seven days ago.

The China PR side, however, finished in eighth place to reach the knockout stage.

MD8: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) 0-2 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

MD8: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) 0-2 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Shanghai: Yokohama F. Marinos closed out the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 with a 2-0 win over Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port at Pudong Stadium on Wednesday as new head coach Steve Holland notched up a second win in a row in the competition.

Goals from Asahi Uenaka and Jun Amano in the 64th and 69th minutes respectively sealed victory for the J1 League side although Shanghai Port will still progress to the last 16 as a result of the withdrawal of Shandong Taishan from the competition earlier in the day.

The win was the seventh in the competition for the AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 runners-up, who will go into the next phase of the competition buoyed by their impressive form since Holland arrived to replace interim boss John Hutchison during the close season.

Latest update on AFC Champions League Elite™

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Latest update on AFC Champions League Elite™

Kuala Lumpur: In accordance with Article 5.2 of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Competition Regulations (the “Competition Regulations”), the Asian Football Confederation (the “AFC”) confirms that China PR’s Shandong Taishan FC are considered to have withdrawn from the AFC Champions League Elite™ after the club confirmed that it did not intend to report for their League Stage (East) match against Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD FC on February 19, 2025.

The matter will now be referred to the relevant AFC Committee(s) as appropriate for their decision(s).

Loss wants Buriram to dream of glory

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Loss wants Buriram to dream of glory

Gwangju: Head coach Osmar Loss has dared his Buriram United to dream big after they booked a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage on Tuesday. 

Despite having to settle for a draw after giving up a two-goal advantage to Korea Republic’s Gwangju FC, the point was enough for the Thai side to advance with their last 16 opponents to be decided when the East Zone’s League Stage concludes on Wednesday.

Johor Darul Tazim live up to Bidoglio’s expectations

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Johor Darul Tazim live up to Bidoglio’s expectations

Johor Bahru: Head coach Hector Bidoglio was over the moon after his Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) side showed their immense quality to book their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Round of 16 spot with a 5-2 defeat of FC Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic on Tuesday. 

The Malaysian champions roared back in style after going behind to Lee Ho-jae’s opener, with five players finding the net in what ultimately was an emphatic win at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, with JDT finishing fourth in the East Zone standings on 14 points.

Up next for them will be another Korea Republic side - Gwangju FC - with JDT having the advantage of playing the return leg at home. 

#ACLElite - West Zone R16 match-ups finalised

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

#ACLElite - West Zone R16 match-ups finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The line-up for the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 West Zone's Round of 16 was finalised following the conclusion of the League Stage on Tuesday.

Esteghlal FC were the final team to book their spot, with the Islamic Republic of Iran side defeating Qatar's Al Rayyan SC 2-0 to finish sixth in the standings.