Preview - S-final: Spain v Sweden

Tue, 15 Aug, 2023

Preview - S-final: Spain v Sweden

Auckland: Spain's first FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final in their history on Tuesday is reward for years of sacrifice, veteran forward Jennifer Hermoso says, admitting to "goosebumps" at the thought of reaching the final.

Opponents Sweden are regulars at this stage of the World Cup – without ever going on to lift the trophy – but for Spain they are into uncharted waters.

Instant Australian 'national hero' Arnold ready to deny England

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Instant Australian 'national hero' Arnold ready to deny England

Sydney: Mackenzie Arnold wasn't even Australia's first-choice goalkeeper until recently, but is now being hailed as a national hero and stands in England's way in their FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand semi-final on Wednesday.

Arnold played a central role in the penalty drama on Saturday which sent co-hosts Australia into the last four of the World Cup for the first time.
 
She saved three penalty kicks - and missed one of her own - to help propel the Matildas to a thrilling 7-6 shootout win over France in the quarter-finals.
 
It has been a whirlwind few months for the 29-year-old.

Gustavsson hails Kerr’s amazing impact

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Gustavsson hails Kerr’s amazing impact

Brisbane: Head coach Tony Gustavsson praised Sam Kerr for providing Australia the much needed motivation to see off France in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 quarter-finals on Saturday.

Kerr came on as a substitute, replacing Emily van Egmond in the 55th minute and played the most number of minutes since picking up a calf injury that has affected her tournament.
 
Her introduction lifted the team as they held France to a 0-0 stalemate after 120 minutes before going on to inspire the Matildas to secure a 7-6 penalty shootout win.

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (West)

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (West)

Riyadh: The AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 gets underway on Tuesday as 10 sides from across the continent compete in the one-legged preliminary round, bidding to move a step closer towards the group stage of Asia’s most prestigious club competition.

Excitement is growing ahead of the upcoming edition as, for the first time since the beginning of the 2020 campaign and the onset of Covid-19, the AFC Champions League’s group stage is set to return to its home-and-away format.
 
For the teams in the preliminary round, that remains two wins away. Ahead of the upcoming fixtures, the-AFC.com profiles the six sides from the West side of the draw aiming to clear the first hurdle.

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (East)

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Preliminary Round: Know Your Teams (East)

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 gets underway on Tuesday as 10 sides from across the continent compete in the one-legged preliminary round, bidding to move a step closer towards the group stage of Asia’s most prestigious club competition.

Excitement is growing as the tournament nears because, for the first time since the beginning of the 2020 campaign and the onset of COVID-19, the AFC Champions League’s group stage is set to return to its home-and-away format.
 
For the teams in the preliminary round, that remains two wins away. Ahead of the upcoming fixtures, the-AFC.com profiles the four teams from the East side of the draw aiming to clear the first hurdle.

Preliminary Round 2: The Contenders

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Preliminary Round 2: The Contenders

Kuala Lumpur: The anticipation is building around AFC Cup™ 2023-24 as 10 teams from across Asia are gearing up for five one-legged Preliminary Round 2 ties starting on Tuesday with the aim of moving a step closer to a place in the continental competition.

The qualification action began on August 8 when Nepal’s Machhindra FC came from behind to defeat Bhutan’s Paro FC 3-2 in the only Preliminary Round 1 match in Kathmandu and moved on to the next stage where they are now joined by nine other contenders battling for places in the playoffs. 
 
Ahead of the upcoming gamess, join the-AFC.com as we look at the 10 sides from the South, Central and ASEAN zones who will take to the pitch in the coming days. 

ASEAN Wrap: Albirex secure SPL title; Cong An and JDT one win away

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

ASEAN Wrap: Albirex secure SPL title; Cong An and JDT one win away

Kuala Lumpur: Albirex Niigata (S) have been crowned champions of Singapore with two games to play after they secured their sixth league title following a 3-2 win over Tanjong Pagar United on Friday.

Cong An Hanoi and Hanoi FC are both in with a chance to win the league title on the final day in Vietnam after Cong An defeated Viettel FC 3-0 in a Hanoi derby on Saturday to move two points clear at the top of the standings ahead of facing Thanh Hoa in their last outing. 
 
An unbeaten Johor Darul Ta’zim are also one win away from a 10th consecutive league title in Malaysia after a 5-0 defeat of Perak while matches also took place in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN.

West Asia Wrap: Top sides to kick off Saudi Pro League challenge

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

West Asia Wrap: Top sides to kick off Saudi Pro League challenge

Riyadh: The 2023-24 Saudi Pro League will see the big teams entering the fray later on Monday with Al Nassr on a high after defeating Al Hilal SFC in the Arab Club Champions Cup final on Saturday.  

The Jordanian and Lebanese leagues saw two teams each registering their second consecutive wins so join the-AFC.com as we review the past week's West Asia domestic action.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Pakhtakor take the lead, Arkadag remain perfect

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

Central & South Asia Wrap: Pakhtakor take the lead, Arkadag remain perfect

Tashkent: Pakhtakor claimed an impressive win against closest rivals Navabhor to climb to the top of the table in Uzbekistan while Abdish-Ata continued to lead the way in the Kyrgyz Premier League.

Arkadag’s winning run in the Turkmenistan Higher League continued, securing their ninth straight win of the season while over in Tajikistan, Istiklol produced a stirring come back to secure three massive points.

In the South, Transport United reigned supreme in Bhutan, Maziya and Eagles featured in a top of the table clash in Maldives and there were also matches in the Durand Cup in India, so join the-AFC.com as we round up the action from the past week.

East Asia Wrap: Vissel and Marinos remain level; Gangwon stun Ulsan

Mon, 14 Aug, 2023

East Asia Wrap: Vissel and Marinos remain level; Gangwon stun Ulsan

Hong Kong: Yuya Osako scored his 17th goal of the ongoing campaign in Japan with a brilliant free-kick as leaders Vissel Kobe remained level on points with defending champions Yokohama F. Marinos following their 1-0 win over last season’s runners-up Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday. 

In a battle between two sides at the opposite ends of the table in Korea Republic, it was relegation battlers Gangwon who emerged as 2-0 winners over leaders and reigning champions Ulsan Hyundai on Sunday, but second-placed Pohang Steelers stay 11 points behind Hong Myung-bo's side after a 1-1 draw with Gwangju FC. 
 
In China PR, Zhejiang Professional overcame Shanghai Port 4-3 on Saturday inflicting only a second defeat of the season on the league leaders while there were also matches taking place in Guam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from East Asia.