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.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_asian_cup.html/video/afcu20-|-group-d-japan-3-0-thailand

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_asian_cup.html/video/afcu20-|-group-d-korea-republic-2-1-syria

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. 

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.

#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.

Mixed emotions for Sailors’ Rankovic despite first leg win

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Mixed emotions for Sailors’ Rankovic despite first leg win

Nonthaburi: Lion City Sailors FC’s 3-2 win against Muangthong United in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Thursday left head coach Aleksandar Rankovic both pleased and disappointed.

Having seen his side take a 3-0 lead by the 27th minute, a red card to Song Ui-yong eight minutes into the second half swung the game in favour of Muangthong to leave the second leg finely poised. 

Jeonbuk’s lightning start delights Poyet; Port’s defensive frailties worry Wasapol

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Jeonbuk’s lightning start delights Poyet; Port’s defensive frailties worry Wasapol

Pathum Thani: Gustavo Poyet began life as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC head coach on the right foot after an impressive 4-0 win over Port FC in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg tie on Thursday.

The former Uruguay international saw his side score twice in each half through Park Jin-seop, Andrea Campagno (2) and Song Min-kyu as the Korea Republic club took a commanding lead for the return leg at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.