Europe Wrap: Hwang seals Wolves win; Kerr sends Chelsea into final

Tue, 18 Apr, 2023

Europe Wrap: Hwang seals Wolves win; Kerr sends Chelsea into final

Kuala Lumpur: Korea Republic forward Hwang Hee-chan scored in his 50th game in England’s Premier League as Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Brentford 2-0 on Saturday while Australia's Sam Kerr hit the winner as Chelsea reached the Women’s FA Cup final by defeating Aston Villa 1-0 on Sunday. 

In France, Japanese youngster Yuito Suzuki made an impressive debut in Ligue 1, scoring in a crucial victory for relegation battlers Strasbourg, while his compatriots Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda netted for Australian tactician Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic as they inched closer to a second straight league title in Scotland. 
 
Islamic Republic of Iran's Sardar Azmoun bagged an assist in Bayer Leverkusen’s draw with Union SG in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals, Japan’s Ayase Ueda scored a double in Belgium and Iraq's Osama Rashid hit a stunner in Portugal, so join the-AFC.com as we review how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the week. 

FIFA confirms Argentina as host nation for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023

Tue, 18 Apr, 2023

FIFA confirms Argentina as host nation for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023

Zurich: The Bureau of the FIFA Council has confirmed Argentina as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023.

The decision follows the removal of the original tournament host, Indonesia, as well as a subsequent bid submitted by the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) and an on-site inspection by a FIFA delegation to the South American country last week. 

4 memorable Saudi Arabia v Japan ACL clashes

Mon, 17 Apr, 2023

4 memorable Saudi Arabia v Japan ACL clashes

Riyadh: Between them, clubs from Saudi Arabia and Japan have won a total of 13 continental titles in Asia’s top club competition, and when Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds clash in the AFC Champions League™ 2022 final, they will be reviving a tradition of classic encounters between teams from the two powerhouses.

While there were many clashes between Saudi and Japanese teams in the Asian Club Championship, most famously the 2000 final in which Al Hilal defeated Jubilo Iwata, there is also no shortage of classic encounters in the AFC Champions League era. The-AFC.com looks at four of the best Saudi-Japanese clashes in the competition since 2002-03.

Urawa Red Diamonds: The new arrivals

Fri, 14 Apr, 2023

Urawa Red Diamonds: The new arrivals

Saitama: It's been eight months since Urawa Red Diamonds edged Korea Republic's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on penalties to book a place in the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2022. With the eagerly awaited title clash against Al Hilal SFC now on the horizon, a lot has changed at the Japanese outfit since that memorable semi-final last August. 

The two-time Asian champions initially progressed behind K League 1 side Daegu FC from a group that also featured Singapore's Lion City Sailors and China PR's Shandong Taishan before overcoming Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim and Thailand's BG Pathum United in the knockout stages to book the last-four tie against Jeonbuk.  
 
Key players have departed and others have arrived at Saitama Stadium since then and there is also a new head coach in charge. So, ahead of the first leg of the final at Riyadh's King Fahd International Stadium on April 29, the-AFC.com looks at the new faces at Urawa Red Diamonds.

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Sat, 15 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Kuala Lumpur: The two legs of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Final will take place at two of Asia’s most iconic football venues: King Fahd International Stadium and Saitama Stadium.

As Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds get set to renew one of Asia’s greatest rivalries by meeting in the final for the third time in six editions, their respective stadiums offer the perfect settings for the continent’s biggest club game. 
 
With the first leg set to take place in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on April 29 and the return meeting slated for Saitama Stadium in Saitama on May 6, the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the two venues. 

Koroki: Stronger-than-ever Al Hilal will be Urawa’s toughest test

Thu, 13 Apr, 2023

Koroki: Stronger-than-ever Al Hilal will be Urawa’s toughest test

Saitama: Shinzo Koroki may have played no part in Urawa Red Diamonds’ run to the AFC Champions League™ 2022 final but the veteran striker is under no illusion that opponents Al Hilal SFC provide the biggest obstacle yet in the Japanese club’s bid to become three-time Asian champions. 

Having spent nine years at Urawa, playing in two continental finals and winning one of them, Koroki was loaned out to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo for the 2022 campaign and thus missed his parent club’s march to a fourth AFC Champions League finale. 

Al Hilal ready to fight for title, says Al Faraj

Thu, 13 Apr, 2023

Al Hilal ready to fight for title, says Al Faraj

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC captain Salman Al Faraj is in a race against time as he tries to recover from injury to lead his boyhood club in their defence of the  AFC Champions League™ title when they take on Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2022 final.

The 33-year-old midfielder is also pursuing a personal record as he aims to join an elite group of players to appear in five AFC Champions League finals; a feat he could share with teammates Salem Al Dawsari, Yasser Al Shahrani and goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf.
 
The quartet represented Al Hilal in the 2014 and 2017 finals which they lost to Western Sydney Wanderers and Urawa respectively, before picking up the trophy against Urawa in 2019 and against Pohang Steelers in 2021, while Al Mayouf only joined Al Hilal in 2015, but had already appeared in the 2012 final in Al Ahli Saudi colours.