East Asia Wrap: Incheon rise to second; Kawasaki extend lead

Mon, 21 Mar, 2022

East Asia Wrap: Incheon rise to second; Kawasaki extend lead

Hong Kong: Incheon United continued their fine start to the K League 1 campaign as a narrow 1-0 win over Seongnam FC saw them climb to second in the early-season standings. 

In Japan, meanwhile, Kawasaki Frontale will take a four-point lead into the international break after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Saturday, a day after second-placed Yokohama F. Marinos could only manage a draw against Sagan Tosu. 

Bringing you to date with the most recent round of fixtures in both countries, here’s the-AFC.com’s weekly East Asia wrap.

Miura and Vissel Kobe part ways

Sun, 20 Mar, 2022

Miura and Vissel Kobe part ways

Kobe: Vissel Kobe announced on Sunday they had parted company with head coach Atsuhiro Miura just days after the J1 League side qualified for the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League™ 2022.

Big-spending Vissel slumped to 16th place in the 18-team top flight of Japanese football following their 0-0 draw with Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday, prompting the club to call time on Miura’s tenure.

Arnold: Socceroos’ newcomers can change their lives in crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers

Sun, 20 Mar, 2022

Arnold: Socceroos’ newcomers can change their lives in crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers

Sydney: Australia head coach Graham Arnold has urged the uncapped players in his squad to seize their moment and deliver “life-changing” performances in their crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers-Road to Qatar™ fixtures against Japan and Saudi Arabia. 

Arnold has featured in crucial FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs as both a player and assistant coach, and steered teams in the AFC Asian Cup™ and AFC Champions League™ as a head coach, but he has arguably never known stakes as high as these.
 
The 58-year-old is two wins away from guiding the Socceroos to a fifth successive trip to the global Finals, but while the equation is clear, it is far from straightforward.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - The Qualifiers So Far

Sat, 19 Mar, 2022

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - The Qualifiers So Far

Kuala Lumpur: With 15 of the 32 berths at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ now filled, more than half of the tickets for November’s Finals still remain unclaimed with less than six months remaining until kick-off. 

That, though, will all change by the end of March with another 14 spots set to be filled in a qualifying frenzy as the countdown to the Finals intensifies.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group A stands

Fri, 18 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group A stands

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ campaign has reached the home straight as the sides get set for their concluding Matchdays Nine and Ten encounters in the week ahead. 

In Group A, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic have already guaranteed their progression and will now battle it out for the top spot. Below them, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Iraq remain in the mix for third place and the playoff ticket. 

With the upcoming games to be held on March 24 and March 29, the-AFC.com looks at how things stand ahead of the final two rounds of fixtures.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group B stands

Fri, 18 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™: How Group B stands

Kuala Lumpur: It’s crunch time in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ campaign as three teams battle it out for two automatic qualification places at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. 

Saudi Arabia lead the way but Japan are hot on their heels while Australia – who still have to play the top two – remain firmly in the running as the group gets set for a thrilling finale.

With the Matchdays Nine and Ten fixtures to be played on March 24 and March 29, the-AFC.com looks at the state of play ahead of the final two rounds of fixtures.