Soares praises Saudi Arabia’s defensive discipline after Jordan triumph

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Soares praises Saudi Arabia’s defensive discipline after Jordan triumph

Shenzhen: Head coach Marcos Soares expressed both relief and satisfaction after Saudi Arabia secured a 1-0 win against Jordan in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B opener on Thursday.

After a cagey first half at Baoan Sports Centre Stadium, Saudi Arabia came out with renewed intensity, breaking the deadlock just a minute after the restart through Saad Haqawi and then keeping Jordan at bay to secure the three points.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_asian_cup.html/video/afcu20-|-group-b-jordan-0-1-saudi-arabia

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Mousa expects Iraq to bounce back

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Mousa expects Iraq to bounce back

Shenzhen: Muslim Mousa delivered a strong performance in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 opener, helping his side secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against DPR Korea at the Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium on Thursday.

Iraq took the lead in the first half through Aymen Luay but DPR Korea responded after the hour mark, with Kim Jin-Song capitalising on a defensive lapse to equalise.

Standing at 179 cm tall, Mousa commanded the backline with authority, marshaling the six-yard box as captain before passing the armband to Amoori Faisal, who was introduced late in the second half.

Group B - MD1: Jordan 0-1 Saudi Arabia

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Group B - MD1: Jordan 0-1 Saudi Arabia

Shenzhen: Saad Haqawi’s second half strike earned Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win over Jordan in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B opener at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium on Thursday.

The win sees Saudi Arabia leading the standings following the earlier 1-1 draw between Iraq and DPR Korea.

Group B - MD1: Iraq 1-1 DPR Korea

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Group B - MD1: Iraq 1-1 DPR Korea

Shenzhen:: DPR Korea came back from a goal down to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Iraq in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group B opener at the Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium on Thursday.

Substitute Kim Jin Song came to the East Asian side’s rescue in the 62nd minute, cancelling out Aymen Luay’s first half opener to force a share of the spoils.

Group C - MD1: Uzbekistan 1-0 Yemen

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Group C - MD1: Uzbekistan 1-0 Yemen

Shenzhen: Uzbekistan began the defence of their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ title on a positive note after they defeated Yemen 1-0 in their opening Group C match at China 2025 on Thursday.

Muhammadali Urinboev’s powerful header in the first half proved to be the only difference between the two sides in a closely fought contest at Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1.

Group C - MD1: IR Iran 3-0 Indonesia

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

Group C - MD1: IR Iran 3-0 Indonesia

Shenzhen: Islamic Republic of Iran outplayed Indonesia 3-0 in their opening AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 Group C match at the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium on Thursday. 

Goals from Hesam Nafari, Esmaeil Gholizadeh and Mobin Dehghan placed the four-time champions in pole position with Uzbekistan, who beat Yemen 1-0 in the opening Group C match earlier.

R16, 1st Leg: Port FC (THA) 0-4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

R16, 1st Leg: Port FC (THA) 0-4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)

Pathum Thani: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors all-but-booked their place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 on Thursday as new manager Gus Poyet’s team handed Thailand’s Port FC a 4-0 defeat in Bangkok.

Recent signing Andrea Compagno scored twice while Park Jin-seop and Song Min-kyu were also on target for the former AFC Champions League™ winners to put the side from Korea Republic in total control ahead of next week’s second leg at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

R16, 1st Leg: Muangthong United (THA) 2-3 Lion City Sailors FC (SGP)

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025

R16, 1st Leg: Muangthong United (THA) 2-3 Lion City Sailors FC (SGP)

Nonthaburi: Lion City Sailors narrowly survived Song Ui-young’s second half sending off to seal a 3-2 win over Muangthong United in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 last 16 clash in Thailand on Thursday as a late Tristan Do header revitalised the tie ahead of the second leg.

Shawal Anuar, Maxime Lestienne and Bart Ramselaar all scored inside the opening 27 minutes to give Lion City a blistering start to the tie but Song’s red card seven minutes after the restart almost undermined their efforts.

Melvyn Lorenzen pulled one back for the hosts in the 59th minute and Do scored with the final touch of the game in the 100th minute to set up an intriguing return clash at Jalan Besar Stadium next Thursday.

Buriram’s versatility has Loss beaming

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Buriram’s versatility has Loss beaming

Buriram: Thai champions Buriram United’s ability to adapt played a crucial role in their 2-1 win over Ulsan HD FC in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday, with the result taking them closer to the knockout stage.

Head coach Osmar Loss praised the versatility of his players after they changed their approach during the match, with Suphanat Mueanta’s stoppage time winner taking Buriram up to 11 points.

Holland applauds Yokohama’s resilience

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Holland applauds Yokohama’s resilience

Yokohama: Yokohama F. Marinos marked their return to competitive action with a 1-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 on Wednesday as the Japanese side regained top spot in the East Zone standings.

The tie also saw Steve Holland making his competitive debut as head coach with the Englishman proud of how his players went about their task.

Al Wakrah’s Asbaghi, Al Taawoun’s Abdali confident of advancing

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Al Wakrah’s Asbaghi, Al Taawoun’s Abdali confident of advancing

Al Wakrah: Poya Asbaghi of Al Wakrah SC and his Al Taawoun FC counterpart Mohammed Al Abdali are equally confident of progression after their sides battled to a 2-2 draw in their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Qatar’s Al Wakhrah had to come from behind twice to hold Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun with head coach Asbaghi believing his side’s resilience will take them through in next week’s return leg.

Totchtawan optimistic of Bangkok’s chances after late fightback

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Totchtawan optimistic of Bangkok’s chances after late fightback

Sydney: Bangkok United head coach Totchtawan Sripan was filled with pride following his team's dramatic 2-2 draw with Sydney FC in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 on Wednesday.

Thitiphan Puangjan's last-minute heroics in stoppage time ensured the Thai side will head into the return leg at home on level terms.  

Skibee’s second half tinkering pays off for Sanfrecce

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Skibee’s second half tinkering pays off for Sanfrecce

Nam Dinh: Sanfrecce Hiroshima head coach Michael Skibee was proud of his charges following their 3-0 win over Vietnam’s Nam Dinh in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Nam Dinh held their own for the opening 45 minutes before Sanfrecce turned on the power in the second half with goals from Sota Nakamura, Satoshi Tanaka and Sota Koshimichi to give the Japanese an overwhelming advantage going into the return leg.

The introduction of Koshimichi and Nakamura in the second half paid off handsomely for Skibee, who took advantage of Nam Dinh’s fatigue. 

Jovanovic: Australia can only get better

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Jovanovic: Australia can only get better

Shenzhen: Two-goal hero Luka Jovanovic believes Australia, despite their 5-1 win, should have done better in their AFC U20 Asian Cup™ China 2025 opener against Kyrgyz Republic on Wednesday.

Jovanovic scored in the fourth and 26th minutes to add to Musa Toure’s brace and Daniel Benne’s solo strike at the Baoan Sports Centre Stadium to ensure an empathic start to their Group A campaign.