ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Kitchee win Senior Shield; Victory’s unbeaten run ends

Mon, 12 Feb, 2024

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Kitchee win Senior Shield; Victory’s unbeaten run ends

Kuala Lumpur: Kitchee SC became the champions of the Hong Kong Senior Shield for the second consecutive season after Ruslan Mingazov struck an extra-time winner in a 2-1 victory over Eastern SC in the final at Mong Kok Stadium on Sunday.

Melbourne Victory’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end in Australia on Saturday as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Macarthur FC who are now on a seven-match undefeated streak while Brisbane Roar posted a 5-1 win against Melbourne City who fell to their fourth defeat in five outings. 
 
Leaders Bangkok United maintained their four-point advantage over defending champions Buriram United thanks to a late win against Muangthong United in Thailand while matches also took place in Indonesia, Cambodia and Guam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN and East Asia.

#ACL - R16: Players to Watch (West)

Sun, 11 Feb, 2024

#ACL - R16: Players to Watch (West)

Kuala Lumpur: As the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ comes to an end, attention quickly shifts to club football, with 16 clubs from across the continent battling for places in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 over the next two weeks.

With four clubs from Saudi Arabia joined by two from Uzbekistan and one each from the United Arab Emirates and Islamic Republic of Iran, there will be some tasty encounters in the Round of 16 (West). The-AFC.com looks at key players who could decide the outcome of the upcoming match-ups.

#ACL - R16: Players to Watch (East)

Sat, 10 Feb, 2024

#ACL - R16: Players to Watch (East)

Kuala Lumpur: After an exciting month of AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ action, the attention swiftly turns to the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 as the teams that advanced from the group stage continue their quests to become the best on the continent. 

With an array of stars set to take to the field in the last 16 in the coming week, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on a key player from each of the eight teams in the East Zone who could be crucial for their respective sides' chances of progressing to the quarter-finals.

West Zonal S-Finals: Players to Watch

Sat, 10 Feb, 2024

West Zonal S-Finals: Players to Watch

Kuala Lumpur: Four teams resume their journey in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 West Zonal Semi-finals, with dreams of lifting the trophy of the last-ever edition of the competition which was won by teams from the West zone on nine of the past 10 editions.

Bahrain’s Al Riffa take on Oman’s Al Nahda while Lebanon’s Al Ahed face Iraq’s Al Kahrabaa in the next phase of the competition. Ahead of the action on Monday and Tuesday, the-AFC.com profiles key players to watch in the upcoming stage.

The Final in Numbers

Sun, 11 Feb, 2024

The Final in Numbers

Doha: After an action-packed month that saw 51 matches producing 132 goals, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday with hosts Qatar emerging as the champions and defending their continental crown. 

Akram Afif was Qatar’s hero as his hat-trick of penalties defeated the tournament’s surprise package Jordan 3-1 and won the Maroons their second AFC Asian Cup title in front of more than 86,000 fans at Lusail Stadium.
 
As the dust begins to settle on another glorious campaign for Qatar, the-AFC.com reviews a memorable final by taking a closer look at some of the key facts and stats that caught the eye. 

Lopez hails Qatar's history makers

Sun, 11 Feb, 2024

Lopez hails Qatar's history makers

Doha: Head coach Marquez Lopez lauded his Qatar players for their composure and focus in their 3-1 victory over Jordan in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ final on Saturday.

The hosts produced a dominant display from start to finish with Akram Afif netting a hat-trick of penalties to seal the victory at a packed Lusail Stadium, a victory which meant back-to-back AFC Asian Cup titles for Qatar.

Ammouta: Jordan can walk tall despite final heartbreak

Sun, 11 Feb, 2024

Ammouta: Jordan can walk tall despite final heartbreak

Lusail: The title eluded Jordan but Hussein Ammouta only had words of praise and encouragement for his players after their defeat to Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ final on Saturday.

Having gatecrashed the final with a series of scintillating performances, Jordan could produce only some of the form that had taken them within one match of winning the title as Qatar powered to their second successive title with a 3-1 win.