East Asia Wrap: Sanfrecce take pole position; Seongnam stun Ulsan

Mon, 05 Sep, 2022

East Asia Wrap: Sanfrecce take pole position; Seongnam stun Ulsan

Hong Kong: Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s 2-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday continued their winning streak and saw them leapfrog Yokohama F. Marinos at the top of the J1 League standings. 

K League 1 leaders Ulsan Hyundai were beaten 2-0 by bottom side Seongnam FC on Sunday, while title chasers Shandong Taishan lost to Shanghai Shenhua in China PR. 

Elsewhere, Macau champions C.P.K. rounded off their second successive Liga de Elite season with a 100 percent winning record and there were also games in Mongolia and Hong Kong, so join the-AFC.com as we wrap up the action from across East Asia.

Our aim is to lift the trophy, says ATKMB’s Colaco

Mon, 05 Sep, 2022

Our aim is to lift the trophy, says ATKMB’s Colaco

Kolkata: ATK Mohun Bagan’s Liston Colaco has made his side’s ambitions clear ahead of the AFC Cup™ 2022 Inter-Zone semi-final against Kuala Lumpur City FC of Malaysia as they aim to go all the way in the tournament.

Having lost their opening group stage match, the Kolkata giants bounced back in style to record comprehensive wins in their following two games to win the AFC Cup South Zone for a second successive season.

Gallifuoco proud to be part of Kuala Lumpur City journey

Fri, 02 Sep, 2022

Gallifuoco proud to be part of Kuala Lumpur City journey

Kuala Lumpur: In a little over a year and a half since Giancarlo Gallifuoco joined Kuala Lumpur City FC, the Australian defender has been part of the club's most successful period since the turn of the millennium as the side from the Malaysian capital have shone both domestically and on the continent. 

The centre-back capped his inaugural season in the Southeast Asian country by helping KL City win their first Malaysia Cup since 1989, beating domestic powerhouse Johor Darul Ta'zim in the final, but that was only the start of the journey as the team's ascendancy continued in their debut AFC Cup™ campaign.

Having advanced from the group stage at the first time of asking, KL City defeated Vietnam's Viettel FC on penalties in the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals and then were crowned ASEAN Zonal champions following a resounding 5-2 victory over Indonesia's PSM Makassar to book an Inter-Zone semi-final date with India's ATK Mohun Bagan in Kolkata on Wednesday.

With the City Boys now just two games away from the AFC Cup 2022 final, the-AFC.com caught up with Gallifuoco to discuss why he chose Kuala Lumpur, his side's incredible record in cup competitions, teammates past and present, and much more. 

Sogdiana in the right place, says Bakaev

Sat, 03 Sep, 2022

Sogdiana in the right place, says Bakaev

Jizzakh: Head coach Ulugbek Bakaev believes PFC Sogdiana are in the right frame of mind ahead of their AFC Cup™ 2022 Inter-Zone Semi-final against Hong Kong’s Eastern Long Lions on Tuesday.

Sogdiana recently defeated Qizilqum FC 4-3 on penalties in the Uzbekistan Cup and are very much in the race for the Uzbekistan Super League title and Bakaev is confident his charges can continue their rich vein of form when they host Eastern Long Lions at the Sogdiana Stadium.

AFC Cup™ 2022 - Test Your Inter-Zone Knowledge!

Sun, 04 Sep, 2022

AFC Cup™ 2022 - Test Your Inter-Zone Knowledge!

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Cup™ 2022 Inter-Zone Semi-finals are set to be enticing affairs with Uzbekistan’s PFC Sogdiana to play Eastern Long Lions of Hong Kong while India’s ATK Mohun Bagan and Kuala Lumpur City FC of Malaysia will lock horns.

Ahead of the semi-finals, the-AFC.com invites you - the fans - to test your knowledge on the AFC Cup Inter-Zone. 

#AFCCup2022 - West Zone S-finals: Players to Watch

Mon, 05 Sep, 2022

#AFCCup2022 - West Zone S-finals: Players to Watch

Dubai: With four teams having qualified to the AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone Semi-finals, matches over the course of Monday and Tuesday will decide the two sides to contest the West Zone Final in October.

Kuwait’s Al Arabi SC welcome Oman’s Al Seeb on Monday, while Bahrain will see a derby match between Riffa SC and neighbours East Riffa on Tuesday.

Ahead of the two eagerly anticipated matches, the-AFC.com has selected four players who could be the difference makers for their respective teams. 

Preview - West Zone Semi-final: Arabi SC (KUW) v Al Seeb Club (OMA)

Tue, 06 Sep, 2022

Preview - West Zone Semi-final: Arabi SC (KUW) v Al Seeb Club (OMA)

Kuwait City: Oman’s Al Seeb travel north to Kuwait to face Al Arabi SC in the AFC Cup™ 2022 West Zone Semi-final with both sides looking to extend a hitherto dream campaign in the competition.

With neither side having won the title before, an exciting clash is expected at the Kuwait Sports Club Stadium on Monday.