#U17WAC Qualifiers Round 1: Results & Reports

Thu, 27 Apr, 2023

#U17WAC Qualifiers Round 1: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Vietnam and Philippines booked their places in Round 2 of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2024 Qualifiers with resounding wins on Wednesday.

Vietnam defeated Uzbekistan 3-0 to top Group C with two wins while Philippines finished with a perfect record as well after beating Lebanon 2-0 in Group G. 

Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh, meanwhile, opened their Groups A, B and C campaigns with wins over Northern Mariana Islands, Mongolia and Turkmenistan respectively. There were opening victories for Korea Republic, India and Islamic Republic of Iran as well in Groups E, F and H respectively. 

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#ACL2022 Final - The Coach: Ramon Diaz (Al Hilal SFC)

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final - The Coach: Ramon Diaz (Al Hilal SFC)

Riyadh: Returning to the AFC Champions League™ final for the second time in charge of Al Hilal SFC, Ramon Diaz will be eager to write his name in the competition’s history books not just as a member of an elite club of managers who led their teams in two finals, but also as the first Argentinian coach to win Asia’s prime club competition.

As fate would have it, Diaz’s second attempt at leading Al Hilal to glory comes against the same club he lost to five years earlier, Urawa Red Diamonds, adding to the importance of the clash for the 63-year-old tactician.

The former striker’s first effort in 2017 ended in disappointment as his side were held to a 1-1 draw in Riyadh before losing 1-0 in Saitama in the return leg, denying Diaz a historic treble that season. And while his hopes of lifting a trio of trophies come the end of the season remain alive, Diaz’s focus will undoubtedly be on winning the club a record-extending fifth continental title.

#ACL2022 Final – The Coach: Maciej Skorza (Urawa Red Diamonds)

Wed, 26 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final – The Coach: Maciej Skorza (Urawa Red Diamonds)

Saitama: Polish tactician Maciej Skorza is just a few months into his job as the head coach of Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds, but he is presented with the opportunity to win the biggest prize in Asian club football when his J1 League side take on Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC in the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2022. 

The 51-year-old, who has predominantly worked in Polish football during a coaching career which began in the mid-1990s, took over from Spanish tactician Ricardo Rodriguez ahead of the 2023 J1 League season after Urawa had finished in a disappointing ninth place in the Japanese top flight last term while still managing to make a fourth continental final.
 
As Skorza looks to become the 11th coach from Europe to win Asia’s showpiece club competition by guiding Urawa to their third Asian title, the-AFC.com takes a look at the journey of one of Poland's most successful managers. 

Huang Bowen, Goulart announce retirements

Tue, 25 Apr, 2023

Huang Bowen, Goulart announce retirements

Hong Kong: Two-time AFC Champions League™ winner Huang Bowen confirmed his retirement from football on Tuesday, announcing he was hanging up his boots on the same day his former Guangzhou Evergrande teammate Ricardo Goulart confirmed he was also quitting the game.

Huang was a key component of the Guangzhou side that won the AFC Champions League in both 2013 and 2015 and those victories were the pinnacle of a career that also saw him claim eight Chinese Super League titles and represent China PR on 44 occasions.

Arch rivals Al Hilal and Urawa set for historic showdown

Thu, 20 Apr, 2023

Arch rivals Al Hilal and Urawa set for historic showdown

Kuala Lumpur: History will be in the making when two Asian club football powerhouses from opposite ends of the Continent lock horns in the first of a two-legged final this weekend to bring down the curtains on the AFC Champions League™ 2022. 

The action kicks off in earnest on Saturday, April 29 at 8.30pm (local time), when defending champions Al Hilal SFC host Urawa Red Diamonds in what is the penultimate match of the 41st edition of Asia’s ultimate club stage.
 
The upcoming tussle marks the third grand finale featuring the two giants, a statistic made all the more eye-catching by the fact that out of the previous 37 finals that have taken place, these are the only two teams to have faced each other more than once – in 2017 and 2019.

Europe Wrap: Ryan’s shootout heroics; Lee nets brace in Spain

Tue, 25 Apr, 2023

Europe Wrap: Ryan’s shootout heroics; Lee nets brace in Spain

Kuala Lumpur: Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan was the hero after saving twice in the penalty shootout as AZ Alkmaar overcame Anderlecht to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League on Thursday while Korean star Lee Kang-in scored a double in Spain’s La Liga as Real Mallorca defeated Getafe 3-1 on Sunday.

In England, Australian youngster Mary Fowler scored her first goal in the Women’s Super League in Manchester City's emphatic win over West Ham United, and Korean forward Lee Jae-sung helped Mainz defeat Bayern Munich 3-1 in a result that could have huge implications on the destination of the Bundesliga title in Germany. 
 
Japan starlet Maika Hamano bagged a brace for the second week running in Sweden while Indonesia’s Marselino Ferdinan and Malaysia’s Luqman Hakim Shamsudin scored their first goals in Belgium and Iceland respectively, so join the-AFC.com as we find out how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week. 

Tarkovic takes charge of Kyrgyz Republic

Tue, 25 Apr, 2023

Tarkovic takes charge of Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek: Kyrgyz Republic have named Slovakia’s Stefan Tarkovic as the head coach of their senior national team, replacing the departed Aleksandr Krestinin.

The 50-year-old was appointed following a meeting of the Kyrgyz Football Union on Monday and he will lead the country into the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™.

#ACL2022: Al Hilal SFC - Road to the Final

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022: Al Hilal SFC - Road to the Final

Riyadh: With the hotly anticipated AFC Champions League™ 2022 final fast approaching, the-AFC.com relives how Al Hilal SFC made it to their second final in a row, winning seven of their nine games.

After reaching the 2017 AFC Champions League final, Al Hilal struggled to deliver the same levels of performances the following year, finishing bottom of their group, but having conquered the continent in 2021, they came back to defend their title with renewed vigour, winning their first four games of the group, and sealing a place in the next round with two games to spare.

#ACL2022: Urawa Red Diamonds – Road to the Final

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022: Urawa Red Diamonds – Road to the Final

Kuala Lumpur: Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds are eyeing their third continental title when they take on four-time winners Al Hilal SFC in the final of the AFC Champions League™ 2022, and getting the better of the defending champions would make the J1 League team the joint-second most successful club in the competition. 

Urawa are looking to match Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers by winning their third Asian crown and their road to the final of the 2022 edition has been eventful, as they have overcame a number of strong opponents in the East to earn the right to challenge the Saudi Arabian giants and reigning champions of Asia, Al Hilal.
 
The 2007 and 2017 AFC Champions League winners booked their place in the 2022 tournament by winning the Emperor’s Cup in 2021, and have played nine matches and scored an incredible 31 goals so far to reach the title decider. Join the-AFC.com as we relive Urawa’s memorable journey to the AFC Champions League 2022 final.