East Asia Wrap: Leaders drop points in Japan and Korea Republic

Mon, 11 Jul, 2022

East Asia Wrap: Leaders drop points in Japan and Korea Republic

Hong Kong: J1 League frontrunners Yokohama F. Marinos needed two late goals to salvage a 2-2 draw against Cerezo Osaka at the weekend but remained five points clear after second-placed Kashima Antlers were held to a goalless draw by Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. 

There was a similar scenario in Korea Republic, meanwhile, as table-toppers Ulsan Hyundai drew 1-1 with Daegu FC, only for second-placed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to end 2-2 with Incheon United. 

The leaders in China PR, however, did win as Wuhan Three Towns stormed to a 5-0 victory over Wuhan Yangtze to stay clear at the summit. The-AFC.com looks back on the three leagues in this week’s East Asia wrap. 

AFC Cup™ 2022 Knockout Stage draw set to map pathway to Final

Mon, 11 Jul, 2022

AFC Cup™ 2022 Knockout Stage draw set to map pathway to Final

Kuala Lumpur: With the conclusion of the exciting AFC Cup™ 2022 Group Stage, the title contenders will now discover their pathway to the all-important Final at the Knockout Stage virtual draw ceremony on Thursday, July 14 at 3pm (GMT+8) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The anticipated draw will reveal the potential hosts for the Zonal Finals and Inter-Zone Play-offs with the first team drawn (Team A) from the West, Central and ASEAN Zones as well as the Inter-Zone Play-off pots hosting the respective matches. 

History Makers: China PR at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

Fri, 08 Jul, 2022

History Makers: China PR at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup

Kuala Lumpur: July 10 marks the 23rd anniversary of China PR’s run to the FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 final in the United States, when they became the first Asian nation to advance to the deciding game at a senior FIFA tournament. 

Dominant at the continental level, China PR were more than a match for other 15 teams in the competition as they came within a whisker of lifting the coveted trophy. Join the-AFC.com as we take a look back at that historic achievement.

AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group Stage Stats Leaders: Goalkeepers

Fri, 08 Jul, 2022

AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group Stage Stats Leaders: Goalkeepers

Kuala Lumpur: After the conclusion of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 group stage in early May, the-AFC.com looks back on some of the standout displays from those involved in order to find out the stats leaders from the first round. We begin with the goalkeepers.

To select the candidates for each position, we have reflected on match data from the group stage to draw up a statistics-based approach to present the outstanding performers.

We kick things off with five standout goalkeepers.

20 years on - Asia’s FIFA World Cup: The Continent's Cast

Fri, 08 Jul, 2022

20 years on - Asia’s FIFA World Cup: The Continent's Cast

Dubai: Two decades on since Asia hosted the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history and four months before the world’s eyes turn to the continent again as Qatar hosts the 2022 edition, the-AFC.com revisits Korea/Japan 2002.

With the two host nations qualifying automatically, the opportunity arose for the AFC to better its previous record of four teams in France 1998 as Saudi Arabia and China PR booked the two direct tickets to join the hosts, but it wasn’t to be.

Islamic Republic of Iran defeated the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Playoff to reach the Inter-Continental Playoff where they faced Republic of Ireland. Goals from Ian Harte and Robbie Keane in Dublin left Miroslav Blasevic’s men with a mountain to climb in the reverse leg at Azadi Stadium five days later, and a late goal from current Persepolis head coach Yahya Golmohammedi was not enough to overturn things, as Team Melli failed to join the four other Asian nations in the continent's first World Cup.