Minamino leaves Liverpool for Ligue 1 club Monaco

Wed, 29 Jun, 2022

Minamino leaves Liverpool for Ligue 1 club Monaco

Monaco: Japan forward Takumi Minamino has completed his move from Liverpool to Monaco, the two clubs announced on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the principality side, for a reported fee of 15 million euros ($15.8 million) with a potential three million euros in add-ons.

What matters is that we got the job done, says Viettel's Dang

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

What matters is that we got the job done, says Viettel's Dang

Ho Chi Minh City: Viettel FC were not at their best but delivered the win indisposed head coach Bae Ji-won demanded against Phnom Penh Crown FC in their AFC Cup™ 2022 Group I encounter on Monday.

Defender Bui Duy Thuong's ninth minute effort separated the teams at the end of the 90 minutes but it was a match Viettel dominated but were guilty of poor finishing.

The win, however, took them to six points and within touching distance of a place in the ASEAN Zonal Semi-finals.

Hougang's Sahil wants total focus for Group I finale

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Hougang's Sahil wants total focus for Group I finale

Ho Chi Minh City: Sahil Suhaimi has urged his Hougang United teammates to finish the job after the Singaporean side moved within touching distance of the AFC Cup™ 2022 knockout stage on Monday.

For the second successive match, Clement Teo's side had to come from behind to defeat Young Elephants FC of Laos 3-1 to set up a winner-takes-all class with Vietnam's Viettel FC in the Group I decider on Thursday.

Aidil: Kedah motivated by Bali’s defeat

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Aidil: Kedah motivated by Bali’s defeat

Denpasar: Kedah Darul Aman head coach Aidil Sharin admitted that Bali United’s FC’s loss to Visakha FC earlier on Monday gave his side extra motivation ahead of their 4-1 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo at Stadion Kapten I Wayan Dipta later in the day.

Having suffered defeat to hosts Bali in their opening Group G game last Friday and with only the top side guaranteed progression, knockout round qualification was already looking a tall order ahead of Matchday Two, but Monday’s results could barely have gone any better.

While Kedah still sit third in the standings, a win over Cambodian table-toppers Visakha in their final game leaves the possibility of the Malaysian side finishing on top of the pile open in a group that looks set to go down to the wire.

Cambodian football on the rise, says Visakha’s Channa

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Cambodian football on the rise, says Visakha’s Channa

Denpasar: Meas Channa insisted Visakha FC’s emphatic 5-2 victory over Bali United FC in Group G of the AFC Cup™ 2022 on Monday is proof that football in Cambodia continues to improve as the Phnom Penh-based club now stand on the verge of creating history.

Having secured an AFC Cup debut win over Kaya FC-Iloilo on Matchday One, Visakha became the first side from the Southeast Asian country to claim back-to-back victories in the AFC Cup by stunning hosts Bali with a result few would have anticipated.

With only the top team in Group G guaranteed a place in the ASEAN Zonal Semi-finals, Visakha will go into their final group game against Malaysia’s Kedah Darul Aman needing just to avoid defeat to become the first Cambodian side to ever reach the AFC Cup knockout rounds.

Pramata credits teammates for Makassar victory, Lee optimistic Tampines will bounce back

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Pramata credits teammates for Makassar victory, Lee optimistic Tampines will bounce back

Kuala Lumpur: PSM Makassar’s Rizky Eka Pratama paid tribute to his teammates for their determination following a hard-earned 3-1 win over Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in their AFC Cup™ 2022 Group H tie on Monday.

Tampines Rovers took a first half lead courtesy of a Zehrudin Mehmedovic strike but after the Singapore side were reduced to 10 men, Makassar clawed their way back into the game with Pratama scoring the equaliser before Brazilian Everton sealed the win with a brace.

Kwok: Tainan City will shine against Eastern Long Lions

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Kwok: Tainan City will shine against Eastern Long Lions

Buriram: Tainan City FC head coach Kenneth Kwok has vowed to apply the lessons from his side’s 3-1 loss at the hands of Lee Man in Group J of the AFC Cup™ 2022 in Buriram on Monday as the club from Chinese Taipei look to keep their hopes of a place in the next phase of the competition alive.

The defeat means Tainan City must win against Eastern Long Lions in the final match in the group on Thursday to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stage as the battle for the solitary spot in the next round approaches its climax.

Korj hails Kopetdag warriors, Dordoi aim to polish finishing touch

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Korj hails Kopetdag warriors, Dordoi aim to polish finishing touch

Bishkek: Kopetdag FC showed nerves of steel to stun home side FC Dordoi in front of more than 3,000 passionate fans to claim their first AFC Cup™ victory on Monday.

The win was even sweeter as Kopetdag looked threatening on the counterattacks and snuffed out Dordoi’s attempts at goal even after going down to 10 men in the eighth minute. 

Norkhonov urges PFC Sogdiana to fight on

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Norkhonov urges PFC Sogdiana to fight on

Dushanbe: PFC Sogdiana are one point away from extending their AFC Cup™ debut into the knockout stage, and Shokhruz Norkhonov has urged his teammates to maintain their fine form for their final Group E tie on Thursday. 

Norkhonov was at his best on Matchday Two, scoringtwice against FC CSKA to help the Uzbek Super League side secure a 3-2 win, which took them to top of the standings on six points and setting up a showdown with Altyn Asyr FC of Turkmenistan for a place in the Central Zonal Final. 

Zholdshov’s Neftchi determined to end campaign on high note

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

Zholdshov’s Neftchi determined to end campaign on high note

Dushanbe: PFC Neftchi’s bid to reach the AFC Cup™ 2022 knockout stage came to an end after suffering their second defeat in Group E on Monday, but head coach Nurbek Zholdoshov is determined to bring their campaign to a close with their heads held high. 

In a must-win match against Altyn Asyr FC on Matchday Two, Kyrgyz Republic's Neftchi started brightly at the Republican Central Stadium, only to fall behind in the 34th minute when Myrat Annayev slotted home a penalty. 

Neftchi failed to mount a comeback as the Turkmenistan club held on for the win.