East Asia Wrap: Marinos go clear; Ulsan and Jeonbuk held

Mon, 27 Jun, 2022

East Asia Wrap: Marinos go clear; Ulsan and Jeonbuk held

Hong Kong: Yokohama F. Marinos moved three points clear at the top of the J1 League after storming to a 4-0 victory over Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday while those around them dropped points.

Ulsan Hyundai missed out on the chance to move 10 points ahead of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Sunday as they were held by bottom side Seongnam FC.

Wuhan Three Towns continue to lead the way in China PR, while there was also action in Mongolia and Chinese Taipei, so join the-AFC.com as we look back on the latest round of fixtures from across East Asia.

Preview - Group J: Tainan City FC (TPE) v Lee Man (HKG)

Sun, 26 Jun, 2022

Preview - Group J: Tainan City FC (TPE) v Lee Man (HKG)

Buriram: Tainan City FC head coach Kenneth Kwok believes his players are ready to take a step forward in this year’s AFC Cup™  as they count down to the start of their 2022 campaign and their meeting with Hong Kong’s Lee Man in their Group J opener in Buriram on Monday.

The club from Chinese Taipei are appearing in the competition for the second season in a row and Kwok is confident his team are ready to put up a strong challenge for a place in the knockout rounds against an opponent that has lacked game-time this season.

Lee Man's Chan apologises, Losada hails Eastern fans

Sat, 25 Jun, 2022

Lee Man's Chan apologises, Losada hails Eastern fans

Buriram: Lee Man head coach Chan Hiu-ming issued an apology to the club’s supporters after his side succumbed to a 3-1 loss at the hands of fellow Hong Kong Premier League side Eastern Long Lions in their opening Group J match of the AFC Cup™ 2022 in Buriram on Friday.

Gil Martins gave Chan’s side the lead after 10 minutes but Ma Hei-wan equalised six minutes later before a brace from Spanish striker Victor Bertomeu earned Eastern a vital win in the three-team group.
 
Lee Man had been hopeful of progressing from the group after advancing to the knockout rounds last year, but the loss now leaves them with an uphill task to claim the one spot available in the next phase of the competition.

Preview - Group G: Kedah Darul Aman (MAS) v Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)

Mon, 27 Jun, 2022

Preview - Group G: Kedah Darul Aman (MAS) v Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI)

Denpasar: Despite a 2-0 defeat in their AFC Cup™ 2022 Group G opener to hosts Bali United at Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta on Friday, Kedah Darul Aman head coach Aidil Sharin is confident that his team will overcome any disappointment and rebound against Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines on Monday. 

The Singaporean tactician is one of the most experienced individuals when it comes to the AFC Cup having first taken part as a player for Home United in 2004, featuring in three editions, before appearing in the 2014 tournament with the dugout staff at Home United in the first of his now four continental competitions as a coach.

Having been at the Kedah helm since late 2018, Aidil now needs a positive response from the Malaysian side to keep their hopes of reaching the 2022 knockout rounds alive. 

Preview - Group H: Tampines Rovers (SGP) v PSM Makassar (IDN)

Mon, 27 Jun, 2022

Preview - Group H: Tampines Rovers (SGP) v PSM Makassar (IDN)

Kuala Lumpur: Tampines Rovers captain Yasir Hanapi is determined to help the Singapore club claim three points against Indonesia’s PSM Makassar when they meet in their AFC Cup™ 2022 Group H encounter at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium on Monday. 

Tampines Rovers will play in the AFC Cup for the 12th time – the most number of appearances for a Singaporean club in the competition - and will go into the match full of confidence.

Preview - Group I: Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) v Viettel FC (VIE)

Mon, 27 Jun, 2022

Preview - Group I: Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) v Viettel FC (VIE)

Ho Chi Minh City: Viettel SC head coach Bae Ji Won has warned his players not to underestimate Phnom Penh Crown FC when the two teams meet in Group I of the AFC Cup™ 2022 on Monday.

Vietnam's Viettel bounced back from going a goal down to defeat Young Elephants FC 5-1 on Matchday One, while Phnom Penh suffered a 4-3 defeat against Singapore's Hougang United despite taking a 2-0 lead.

Preview - Group G: Visakha FC (CAM) v Bali United FC (IDN)

Mon, 27 Jun, 2022

Preview - Group G: Visakha FC (CAM) v Bali United FC (IDN)

Denpasar: He was one of the most prolific goalscorers in recent Cambodian league history until his move to Indonesia last December, but Visakha FC head coach Meas Channa believes his side will be able to handle Bali United’s Privat Mbarga when the sides clash on Matchday Two of the AFC Cup™ 2022 on Monday.

Since joining Bali United, the Cameroonian forward has yet to hit the heights of a decade in Cambodia that begun in 2013 at Western Phnom Penh.

But Channa knows only too well the potency of a striker who played briefly under him at Nagaworld FC and signed off his time in the C-League with a two-year spell at Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC that saw him score 73 times in 62 appearances.