East Asia Wrap: Bluewings win Suwon derby; Kashiwa stay perfect

Mon, 28 Feb, 2022

East Asia Wrap: Bluewings win Suwon derby; Kashiwa stay perfect

Hong Kong: Suwon Samsung Bluewings picked up their first points of the K League 1 season and with it claimed derby-day bragging rights after handing neighbours Suwon FC a 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

In Japan, Kashiwa Reysol made it two wins from two after seeing off Yokohama F. Marinos to finish the weekend on top of the J1 League, while C.P.K. won the battle of the top two in Macau. 

The-AFC.com brings you up to speed with the latest rounds of action from across East Asia.

ASEAN Wrap: JDT win Super Cup; Season kicks off in Vietnam

Mon, 28 Feb, 2022

ASEAN Wrap: JDT win Super Cup; Season kicks off in Vietnam

Kuala Lumpur: Domestic action is well and truly underway across Southeast Asia as football returned to both Malaysia and Vietnam over the weekend, and the league campaign got underway in Singapore. 

It was a flying start for Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, who beat Kuala Lumpur City 3-0 to win the Malaysian Super Cup – Piala Sumbangih – for the fifth successive year. 

Elsewhere, the league seasons kicked off in Vietnam and Singapore, Bali United moved top in Indonesia and Buriram United just keep on winning in Thailand, so join the-AFC.com as we review the fixtures from across ASEAN. 

West Asia Wrap: Al Sadd celebrate title; Al Ittihad, Al Ain, Al Shorta continue march

Mon, 28 Feb, 2022

West Asia Wrap: Al Sadd celebrate title; Al Ittihad, Al Ain, Al Shorta continue march

Dubai: They were denied victory but nothing could stop the Al Sadd SC party as they celebrated lifting the Qatar Stars League title for a record-extending 16th time on Friday.

The pacesetters in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, maintained their sparkling form.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the latest round of domestic action across West Asia. 

Sugasawa strike seals Empress’s Cup for Urawa Reds

Mon, 28 Feb, 2022

Sugasawa strike seals Empress’s Cup for Urawa Reds

Kyoto: Urawa Reds Ladies ended their run of Empress’s Cup Final defeats, and became the competition’s first new winners in half a decade, after a Yuika Sugasawa goal helped them prevail against JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies on Sunday.

Sugasawa scored the only goal in the 67th minute of the final, ending a run of four successive titles for Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza, who had been knocked out by JEF United at the semi-final stage in January.

The result also broke a streak of Cup Final defeats for Urawa Reds, who claimed their first title in the competition after being beaten in the decider on five previous occasions dating back to 2009, including in the past two seasons.

Playing in AFC Champions League important for Australian football, says Melbourne Victory’s cup hero

Mon, 28 Feb, 2022

Playing in AFC Champions League important for Australian football, says Melbourne Victory’s cup hero

Melbourne: A 2020 AFC Champions League winner with Ulsan Hyundai, Australia international Jason Davidson is intent on a return to the continental stage ahead of Melbourne Victory’s 2022 AFC Champions League playoff tie with Japan’s Vissel Kobe on March 15.

Having played a key role in Victory’s FFA Cup triumph at the beginning of February, which qualified Tony Popovic’s side for this year’s playoffs, the 30-year-old Davidson is adamant that a place in the group stage of Asia’s premium club competition is crucial.

Jeonbuk experience drives Buriram’s Sasalak to greater heights

Sun, 27 Feb, 2022

Jeonbuk experience drives Buriram’s Sasalak to greater heights

Buriram: Silverware and an ambition to play at a higher level are the motivation for Sasalak Haiprakhon in the coming months as he chases titles with Buriram United in Thailand and a place in the 2022 AFC Champions League group stage on the continent.  

While a six-month loan spell at K League 1 giants Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors may not have gone to plan for Sasalak, he remains full of optimism now back at Buriram, where the domestic treble is among the more immediate targets.

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round: One talking point from each group

Sat, 26 Feb, 2022

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round: One talking point from each group

Kuala Lumpur: The remaining 24 teams now know exactly what is required to reach the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™,  and no there is no shortage of talking points following Thursday’s Qualifiers Final Round draw. 

Rivalries, old and new, will be rekindled, the cream of Asian football will rise when hopefuls representing the full length and breadth of Asia convene across six cities in June.

Looking ahead to the action in less than four months’ time, the-AFC.com has picked out one point of interest from each group, all of which are set to produce thrilling fixtures.