Malaysia Super League 2023 – Season Preview

Wed, 22 Feb, 2023

Malaysia Super League 2023 – Season Preview

Kuala Lumpur: The 2023 Malaysia Super League season kicks off on Friday, while also presenting defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim and last year’s runners-up Terengganu FC with a shot at winning the first silverware on offer during what promises to be a thrilling domestic campaign. 

JDT claimed their first-ever treble in Malaysia last season as they won their ninth consecutive league title along with their third Malaysia Cup and second Malaysia FA Cup triumphs, but the competition is expected to be stronger this time around with the league expanding to 14 teams. 
 
The league opener between hosts JDT and Terengganu at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskander Putri will also serve as the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup match — the Southern Tigers having won the trophy last season after overcoming Kuala Lumpur City FC 3-0. 
 
Ahead of the new season, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2022_-_group_i_|_johor_darul_tazim_mas__2_-_1_ulsan_hyundai_fc_kor.html

#ACL2022 Q-finals (West): Facts and Stats

Wed, 22 Feb, 2023

#ACL2022 Q-finals (West): Facts and Stats

Doha: The AFC Champions League™ 2022 (West) quarter-finals promise to be sizzling affairs.

Al Hilal SFC are seeking to win the title for the third time but Islamic Republic of Iran's Foolad Khouzestan FC will be aiming to derail the Saudi Arabian side. 
 
Qatar's Al Duhail SC and Al Shabab FC of Saudi Arabia will be involved in what promises to be another intense quarter-final. 
 
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at some interesting facts and stats ahead of Thursday's matches. 

Draw unveils exciting #ACL2022 (West) Knockout Stage

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

Draw unveils exciting #ACL2022 (West) Knockout Stage

Doha: The AFC Champions League™ 2022 (West) Knockout Stage is set to be a thriller following the official draw at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Thursday.

Saudi Arabian sides Al Hilal SFC - the defending champions - and Al Shabab, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan FC and Al Duhail SC of Qatar will vie to meet Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the two-leg final on April 29 and May 6. 

Europe Wrap: Son seals Tottenham win; Jahanbakhsh nets in Feyenoord victory

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

Europe Wrap: Son seals Tottenham win; Jahanbakhsh nets in Feyenoord victory

Kuala Lumpur: Son Heung-min sealed a 2-0 win for Tottenham Hotspur against West Ham in a London Derby on Sunday that helped them move into the top four in England’s Premier League while Alireza Jahanbakhsh netted for leaders Feyenoord in a crucial win over AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie. 

Korean midfielder Lee Kang-in celebrated his 22nd birthday by bagging an assist in Real Mallorca’s win in Spain and Japanese star Reo Hatate’s purple patch continued in Scotland as he scored another brace for Ange Postecoglou’s pacesetting Celtic.
 
Elsewhere, Ko Itakura’s Borussia Monchengladbach handed a shock defeat to leaders Bayern Munich in Germany and Kim Min-jae’s Napoli preserved their 15-point lead at the top of Italy’s Serie A, so join the-AFC.com as we review how the Asian stars performed across Europe over the past week. 

Diaz wants more from Al Hilal

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

Diaz wants more from Al Hilal

Al Wakrah: Al Hilal SFC may have kept their AFC Champions League™ title defence on track with a 3-1 win over Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in their Round of 16 tie on Monday but head coach Ramon Diaz wasn’t totally satisfied with their performance.

While Al Hilal - seeking to win the AFC Champions League title for the third time in four years - were good value for the win, Shabab Al Ahli had their moments at the Al Janoub Stadium and would have made their opponents pay had they been sharper with their finishing.

Nekounam hails passion of Foolad Khouzestan players

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

Nekounam hails passion of Foolad Khouzestan players

Doha: Javad Nekounam may have stunned those present with his statement that the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Round of 16 win over Al Faisaly was his last match in charge but the head coach was effusive in his praise of his Foolad Khouzestan players for advancing to the quarter-finals.

The Islamic Republic of Iran side may have only beaten Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly 1-0 but Foolad dominated from start to finish at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Monday and Nekounam was delighted with their performance. 

Ouzounidis expects Al Faisaly to rise

Tue, 21 Feb, 2023

Ouzounidis expects Al Faisaly to rise

Doha: Marino Ouzounidis was not too despondent despite seeing his Al Faisaly side eliminated from the AFC Champions League™ 2022 on Monday.

The Saudi Arabian side were edged 1-0 by Islamic Republic of Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan in their Round of 16 tie at the Al Thumama Stadium but Ouzounidis said the result was a foregone conclusion after what Al Faisaly had endured since the group stage of the continental tournament last April.