East Asia & ASEAN Wrap: Melbourne City defeat Sydney FC in Grand Final to be crowned A-League champions

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

East Asia & ASEAN Wrap: Melbourne City defeat Sydney FC in Grand Final to be crowned A-League champions

Kuala Lumpur: Melbourne City won their maiden A-League Championship by defeating defending champions Sydney FC 3-1 in Sunday's Grand Final as they also avenged their defeat to the New South Wales side in last year's showpiece event.

There was also league action in Japan's J1 League and in the top flights in Brunei Darussalam and Macau, so join the-AFC.com as we bring you up to speed with the latest happenings in East Asia and ASEAN.

All-time AFC Champions League Top Scorer: Damjanovic's legacy of goals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

All-time AFC Champions League Top Scorer: Damjanovic's legacy of goals

Buriram: With his 38th AFC Champions League goal coming against Cerezo Osaka on Sunday, Dejan Damjanovic finally stands alone as the highest goalscorer in the competition's history, overtaking long-time rival Lee Dong-gook.

To celebrate Damjanovic's record-breaking achievement, the-AFC.com looks back on some of the greatest goals and major milestones on his road to becoming the AFC Champions League all-time top scorer.

Record breaker Damjanovic: Scoring against Cerezo Osaka is one AFC Champions League goal I will never forget

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Record breaker Damjanovic: Scoring against Cerezo Osaka is one AFC Champions League goal I will never forget

Buriram: Kitchee SC’s Dejan Damjanovic has scored for every club he has represented in the AFC Champions League, but no goal means more to the competition’s newly christened all-time leading scorer than the one that made history on Sunday against Cerezo Osaka.

A trademark finish in the 38th minute at Buriram Stadium took the 39-year-old Montenegrin to 38 goals from 69 games and one clear of his great rival Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as the competition’s top scorer ever.

Culpi credits Cerezo Osaka's resilience for comeback AFC Champions League victory over Kitchee SC

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Culpi credits Cerezo Osaka's resilience for comeback AFC Champions League victory over Kitchee SC

Buriram: Levir Culpi praised his Cerezo Osaka side for their refusal to give up as the Japanese side came from going a goal down to earn a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC at Buriram Stadium to maintain their winning start to Group J of the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Cerezo had goals from Adam Taggart and Tiago Pagnussat to thank for the club’s second win in a row after an opening victory over Guangzhou FC and the Brazilian was pleased with the determination his players showed to come back after Dejan Damjanovic gave Kitchee the lead.

Treephan urges Port FC to stay grounded after resounding AFC Champions League win against Guangzhou

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Treephan urges Port FC to stay grounded after resounding AFC Champions League win against Guangzhou

Buriram: Port FC coach Sarawut Treephan will look to put his side’s first-ever AFC Champions League win to one side as he attempts to keep his players focused on the Thai League side’s push for a place in the knockout stage after Sunday’s 3-0 Group J victory over Guangzhou FC.

Victory for the Thai side at Buriram Stadium came thanks to goals from Elias Dolah, Pakorn Parmpak and Philip Roller while they could also afford a missed penalty late in the game from Sergio Suarez as Sarawut’s side cruised to the three points.

Asian Qualifiers: A look back at Group E

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asian Qualifiers: A look back at Group E

Kuala Lumpur: With the draw for the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar set to be held on July 1, excitement is building as the 12 teams get set to learn their opponents.

The 12 sides went through extremely challenging times to advance to the final round, where the two group winners and runners-up will join hosts Qatar in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Finals while the third-placed teams from the two groups will advance to the Confederation Playoff, with the winners moving into the Inter-Confederation Playoff.

Ahead of the draw, the-AFC.com retraces how the 12 teams booked their places from the second round of qualifying with the focus on Group E.

Asian Qualifiers: A look back at Group F

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asian Qualifiers: A look back at Group F

Kuala Lumpur: With the draw for the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar set to be held on July 1, excitement is building as the 12 teams get set to learn their opponents.

The 12 sides went through extremely challenging times to advance to the final round, where the two group winners and runners-up will join hosts Qatar in the FIFA World Cup 2022 Finals while the third-placed teams from the two groups will advance to the Confederation Playoff, with the winners moving into the Inter-Confederation Playoff.

Ahead of the draw, the-AFC.com retraces how the 12 teams booked their places from the second round of qualifying with the focus on Group F.