Quang Hai: Vietnam must maintain resolve against Asian giants

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Quang Hai: Vietnam must maintain resolve against Asian giants

Hanoi: With four losses in as many matches, 10 goals conceded and just four scored, Vietnam languish at the foot of Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar. 

Having made history by powering through the previous round to reach the decisive stage for the first time, Park Hang-seo's Golden Star Warriors’s hopes of making further progress are fast diminishing. 

Their poor start has left the Vietnamese all too aware that they face a must-win scenario against Japan at home on Thursday. 

By any standards, it looks a formidable task for a team that has lost all three of their previous meetings against the Samurai Blue across all competitions. But the hosts can at least take heart from their brave showings in their last meeting during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals when they restricted their heavyweight rivals to a 1-0 win, as midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai told FIFA.com. 

www.the-afc.com/en/national/asian_qualifiers/video/asianqualifiers_-_group_b_|_china_pr_3_-_2_vietnam.html

Taremi to miss IR Iran matches against Lebanon, Syria

Sun, 07 Nov, 2021

Tehran: Striker Mehdi Taremi has been left out by head coach Dragan Skocic from the Islamic Republic of Iran squad for this month’s AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022 Group A matches against Lebanon and Syria.

Doan added to Japan squad

Sat, 06 Nov, 2021

Doan added to Japan squad

Tokyo: Ritsu Doan has been added to Japan’s squad for their Group B matches in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022 against Vietnam and Oman later this month, the Japan Football Association has announced.

The 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven winger had initially been left out of Hajime Moriyasu’s squad due to a knee injury sustained in the build-up to last month’s meeting with Saudi Arabia, but was called up on Saturday for the games in Hanoi and Muscat.

ASEAN Wrap: BG Pathum close in on leaders Buriram

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

ASEAN Wrap: BG Pathum close in on leaders Buriram

Kuala Lumpur: Defending champions BG Pathum United secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Thai League 1 frontrunners Buriram United on Saturday to help them cut the lead at the top to just three points.

Persib Bandung continued their unbeaten start to the season, but Bhayangkara remain out in front in Indonesia’s Liga 1, while Johor Darul Ta’zim and Terengganu are among the teams to have confirmed their places in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Malaysia Cup. 

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at all the latest action from Southeast Asia.

Central Asia Wrap: Pakhtakor celebrate in style, Altyn Asyr struggle, Tajikistan Cup finalists set

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Central Asia Wrap: Pakhtakor celebrate in style, Altyn Asyr struggle, Tajikistan Cup finalists set

Bishkek: Winter may be drawing ever closer, but the football action is as hot as ever as the Central Asian region enters the business end of its football season.

This week, Uzbek champions FC Pakhtakor show they know how to host a party with a blistering 5-0 win, while AGMK make key ground in the continental race, plus two giants set up a dream Cup Final in Tajikistan,
 
Elsewhere, domestic football returns to Turkmenistan with a pair of surprise results, while Esteghlal edge clear in the Iranian title race.
 
Join the-AFC.com for all the key news and results from Almalyk to Ashgabat.

East Asia Wrap: Jeonbuk stun Ulsan in stoppage time

Mon, 08 Nov, 2021

East Asia Wrap: Jeonbuk stun Ulsan in stoppage time

Hong Kong: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors took a huge step towards the 2021 K League 1 title after Stanislav Iljutcenko struck five minutes into added time to claim a 3-2 win over Ulsan Hyundai on Saturday and move three points clear at the top of the standings. 

In Japan, recently crowned champions Kawasaki Frontale lost for just the second time this season as they were beaten by Sagan Tosu, while there was a huge win for Yokohama F. Marinos and a crucial victory for Vissel Kobe. 

Elsewhere, the 2021-22 Mongolian Premier League kicked off and there was league action in Hong Kong, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with events across East Asia. 

West Asia Wrap: Ittihad back on top in Saudi Arabia; Al Duhail hold Al Sadd in Qatar

Mon, 08 Nov, 2021

West Asia Wrap: Ittihad back on top in Saudi Arabia; Al Duhail hold Al Sadd in Qatar

Dubai: Al Ittihad regained pole position in the Saudi Pro League with a commanding win over Al Fateh as defending champions Al Hilal SFC defeated previous leaders Damac 2-0.

In Qatar, a late Michael Olunga goal saw Al Duhail SC hold Al Sadd SC 3-3 in Xavi's farewell match while Al Ain are four clear in the UAE Pro League.

Join the-AFC.com as we review the domestic action across West Asia. 

Tactical change pays off for Amman Club, Gokulam Kerala rue missed chances

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Tactical change pays off for Amman Club, Gokulam Kerala rue missed chances

Aqaba: Khaled Nemer's second half tactical change made all the difference as Jordan's Amman Club came from behind to defeat India’s Sree Gokulam Kerala 2-1 in the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 on Sunday.

Amman were trailing from Elshaddai Acheampong’s first half strike but the Jordanian club turned the game around with goals from Maysa Jbarah and Samia Ouni sealing the win.

Amman are tied for first place with Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shahrdari Sirjan, who defeated FC Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan with a similar scoreline.

Hard work pays off for Shahrdari Sirjan, Bunyodkor look ahead

Tue, 09 Nov, 2021

Hard work pays off for Shahrdari Sirjan, Bunyodkor look ahead

Aqaba: Shahrdari Sirjan head coach Maryam Nejati praised her charges for their 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s FC Bunyodkor in the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 on Sunday.

Goals from Roghayeh Jalal Nasab and Zahra Alizadeh put Shahrdari Sirjan comfortably ahead before Bunyodkor pulled one back through Dildora Nozimova.

Victory for Shahrdari Sirjan leaves them tied for first placewith Jordan’s Amman Club, who edged India's Sree Gokulam Kerala FC 2-1 in the group’s other fixture.