Group B - MD2: DPR Korea 1-2 Jordan

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Group B - MD2: DPR Korea 1-2 Jordan

Shenzhen: Jordan stayed on track for a place in the knockout stage after a gritty 2-1 win over DPR Korea in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 tie at the Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday.

A brace from Ibrahim Sabra leaves Group B open, with Jordan and Saudi Arabia now on three points each. Saudi Arabia play Iraq later on Sunday. 

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Group B - MD2: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Iraq

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Group B - MD2: Saudi Arabia 0-1 Iraq

Shenzhen: Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in a cagey encounter in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B tie at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday.

The result sees the five-time champions topping Group B with four points, one clear of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, who defeated DPR Korea 2-1 in the earlier match. 

Iraq will play Jordan on Wednesday while Saudi Arabia take on DPR Korea in what promises to be a thrilling finish to the group.

Group C - MD2: Indonesia 1-3 Uzbekistan

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Group C - MD2: Indonesia 1-3 Uzbekistan

Shenzhen: Reigning champions Uzbekistan sealed their place in the knockout stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 in style after a 3-1 win against Indonesia in Group C on Sunday.

The result meant that Uzbekistan are assured of a top two finish and also confirmed Islamic Republic of Iran’s place in the last 16, with the two to meet on Wednesday to decide the group winners. 

Group C - MD2: Yemen 0-6 IR Iran

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Group C - MD2: Yemen 0-6 IR Iran

Shenzhen: Islamic Republic of Iran closed in on a place in the knockout stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 after cruising 6-0 past Yemen in their Group C tie at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1 on Sunday.

Iran led from start to finish with Abolfazl Zamani starring with a brace with the Central Asian side to be sure of advancing should Indonesia fail to beat Uzbekistan in Sunday’s later game.

Preview - Group D: Thailand v Korea Republic

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Preview - Group D: Thailand v Korea Republic

Shenzhen: Thailand will need to be at their best against 12-time champions Korea Republic if they are to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of the U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025.

The Thais lost their opening Group D encounter to Japan 3-0 in a match where they only kicked things up a gear in the second half. The East Asians, however, had already built up a two-goal lead and scored their third against the run of play. 

Preview - Group D: Syria v Japan

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Preview - Group D: Syria v Japan

Shenzhen: Head coach Yuzo Funakoshi is seeking improvement when his Japan side take to the field against Syria in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group D match on Monday.

Japan began their campaign in style, defeating Thailand 3-0 on Friday but complacency is not in Funakoshi’s rule book as he expects a better performance against Syria.

Djurdjevic thrilled with China PR's five-goal display

Sun, 16 Feb, 2025

Djurdjevic thrilled with China PR's five-goal display

Shenzhen: Dejan Djurdjevic expressed delight after China PR booked their place in the knockout stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 after defeating Kyrgyz Republic 5-2 on Saturday.

Substitute Zu Pengyu netted two late goals to put the tie to bed as China PR advanced to the quarter-finals with a match to spare. 

Head coach Djurdjevic fielded the same 11 who started in the 2-1 win over Qatar on Matchday One and the hosts never looked back after taking the lead in the 13th minute through Liu Chengyu.

Australia heading in the right direction, says Morgan

Sun, 16 Feb, 2025

Australia heading in the right direction, says Morgan

Shenzhen: Head coach Trevor Morgan is excited at what’s to come for Australia in the AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 after their 3-1 win on Saturday clinched the Young Socceroos a place in the quarter-finals.

Maximum points from their two matches in Group A saw Australia join China PR in the next stage of the tournament with Morgan praising his charges for showing they could flourish even after going behind early in the game.

Preview - MD8: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Preview - MD8: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Al Gharafa SC (QAT)

Jeddah: Al Ahli Saudi FC will be out to end a successful League Stage campaign with victory against Al Gharafa SC on Monday.

The Saudi Pro League side are second on goal difference to Al Hilal SFC in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 West Zone standings and will be seeking a seventh win.

Preview - MD8: Persepolis FC (IRN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA)

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Preview - MD8: Persepolis FC (IRN) v Al Nassr Club (KSA)

Tehran: Persepolis FC have to overcome Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr Club on Monday if they are to keep their hopes of advancing to the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 knockout stage.

The Islamic Republic of Iran side will head into their final League Stage tie on six points and out of the qualification spots, with their fate also no longer in their hands.

Preview - MD8: Al Shorta (IRQ) v Al Ain FC (UAE)

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Preview - MD8: Al Shorta (IRQ) v Al Ain FC (UAE)

Baghdad: Al Shorta will attempt to keep their faint hopes alive when they welcome Al Ain FC for their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 tie on Monday.

Iraq's Al Shorta are on three points and even a win against Al Ain will likely prove not to be enough with the teams above them in much better positions.

Preview - MD8: Pakhtakor (UZB) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

Preview - MD8: Pakhtakor (UZB) v Al Sadd SC (QAT)

Tashkent: Pakhtakor will be hoping for a miracle when they welcome Al Sadd SC for their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 tie on Monday.

The Uzbekistan side will go into the match fully aware that victory against their Qatari opponents may ultimately prove not enough for them to advance to the knockout stage.

#ACLElite - Shandong’s Qazaishvili wins MD7 (East) best goal poll

Mon, 17 Feb, 2025

#ACLElite - Shandong’s Qazaishvili wins MD7 (East) best goal poll

Kuala Lumpur: Valeri Qazaishvili emerged the winner of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 East Zone's Matchday 7 best goals poll with 61 percent of the votes.

Qazaishvili's fantastic strike for Shandong Taishan paved the way for the China PR side to collect three points against Korea Republic's Gwangju FC, with the forward advancing to the semi-finals.

Stay tuned for the West Zone best goal of Matchday 8, with voting to start on February 21.

#ACLElite - MD7 (East): Five takeaways

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

#ACLElite - MD7 (East): Five takeaways

Kuala Lumpur: Matchday Seven of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 East Zone saw the cast for the Round of 16 start to take shape with four teams having confirmed their spots.

The teams are back in action again this coming week, with all places to be filled and before the action begins, the-AFC.com takes a look at several interesting facts and figures from Matchday Seven.