With plenty of time and little football on show, we continue with Round Two of our weekly knowledge booster on all things Asian football. This week we answer three questions asked by our readers through the various AFC social media channels.

After brushing up on your AFC knowledge, please send us more questions for next week via our social media handles and don’t forget to include the hashtag #AskAFC. Enjoy!

August 26

Islamic Republic of Iran international Saman Ghoddos has signed a five-year contract with French side Amiens SC.

The Swedish-born Iranian began his professional career in Sweden's Division 1 Limhamn Bunkeflo in 2011 and Trelleborg in 2013 before progressing to the Superettan a year later with Syrianska.

We’re not done yet. That is a mantra that Nam Tae-hee likes to repeat in every interview since Al Duhail reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League. Those words will undoubtedly worry quite a few of Asia’s best teams. 

The Korea Republic midfield wizard has been a vital cog in the Al Duhail juggernaut that has had a stunning run in the 2017-18 season. During the past year, the Doha side remained undefeated to win Qatar Stars League, completed a domestic treble and won all of their eight matches in the AFC Champions League to breeze through to the quarter-finals. 

The team’s unprecedented success is even more captivating as they are technically a new club that has just turned a year old, having been formed in the summer of 2017 following the dissolution of El Jaish and its merger with Lekhwiya. Few could have predicted the way they have taken Asian football by storm this year.

A nation was expecting ahead of the visit of Tajikistan in March. Having won two and drawn three of their five games in the third round of AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifiers, the Philippines stood on the verge of creating history ahead of their final Group F game against the Central Asians at Manila’s Rizal Memorial Stadium. 

Unbeaten and two points clear of their opponents, and Yemen, at the top of the standings, their task was simple: avoid defeat and qualify for the competition for the first time. The achievement would cap a remarkable rise from ASEAN minnows to joining Asia’s elite at the continental competition. 

The hosts had enjoyed the better of the first half but failed to make their advantage count; however, the game was turned on its head just after the hour. 

After the Philippines had failed to clear a Tajikistan attack, Nuriddin Davronov burst into the box and was impeded by the tracking back Kevin Ingreso. The referee pointed to the spot and the crowd was stunned into silence. Akhtam Nazarov converted and the Southeast Asians’ hopes of qualifying were up in the air.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and that is certainly the case for Australian defender Matthew Jurman.

When the Socceroos failed to qualify directly for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, there was a palpable sense of disappointment right across the country and, although he was living in Korea Republic at the time, Jurman felt that as much as anyone.

But from adversity comes opportunity. Jurman, who had watched on from the sidelines as Australia battled their way through qualifying, was handed a first call-up by then coach Ange Postecoglou for the two play-off matches against Syria in October 2017.

And it was an opportunity he grasped with both hands after being given a starting berth for both legs, not putting a foot wrong alongside Trent Sainsbury in defence. 

Possession, they say, is nine tenths of the law. After two composed performances, suddenly that left-sided central defender role was his and his to lose.

Kuala Lumpur: When Tim Cahill rose high to meet Robbie Kruse’s centre in extra time against Syria in November, there was an air of inevitability about where the ball would end up as the trademark goal secured a 2-1 victory and kept Australia’s FIFA World Cup dreams alive.

It was the 50th time Cahill had netted for his country as he underlined his status as an Australian sporting legend ahead of securing qualification to his fourth World Cup. And the forward, who turns 38 today, is deservedly the-AFC.com’s next ‘Asian Icon’.

So, what better time than now to kick off a new season of the-AFC.com’s Asian Football Trivia segment - our weekly question-based series that allows you, the fans, to send us your questions on anything and everything related to Asian football?

Week one begins with three tricky in-house questions, and we invite you to follow suit and send us your queries via the AFC’s social media platforms in the coming days and weeks.