East Asia Domestic Wrap: First blood Shandong in FA Cup Final

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

East Asia Domestic Wrap: First blood Shandong in FA Cup Final

Kuala Lumpur: Shandong Luneng came out on top of the first leg of the Chinese FA Cup final against Shanghai Shenhua following a 1-0 win in Jinan on Friday.

Elsewhere, the three-way race for the J.League title remains in the balance, while Ulsan Hyundai maintain their three-point lead at the top of the K League following another action-packed weekend of domestic football in the East Asia region.

After a one month break, fixtures returned to Chinese Taipei, while the early stages of the seasons in Hong Kong and Guam progress in intriguing fashion.

For a round-up of all the domestic action across East Asia, here’s the-AFC.com’s look back at the latest round of matches.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/shandong_shenhua_1.html

Central Asia Domestic Wrap: Dordoi wrap up title, Esteghlal win thriller

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Central Asia Domestic Wrap: Dordoi wrap up title, Esteghlal win thriller

Kuala Lumpur: FC Dordoi piled on five goals to confirm a second successive Kyrgyz Premier League title, while Esteghlal emerged from a packed Yadegar-e Emam Stadium with three points in the game of the week in Islamic Republic of Iran.

Elsewhere, Regar Tad-AZ and Istiklol booked Cup Final berths in Tajikistan, with Altyn Asyr and Ahal close to doing the same in Turkmenistan, and several storylines moved a step closer to their climax in the Uzbekistan Super League.

Join the-AFC.com for all the key results from Tabriz to Tashkent and beyond.

West Asia Domestic Wrap: Al Hilal held, second defeat for Al Sadd

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

West Asia Domestic Wrap: Al Hilal held, second defeat for Al Sadd

Beirut: 2019 AFC Champions League finalists Al Hilal were held by Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League while Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd suffered their second defeat of the season in the latest round of domestic matches in West Asia.

UAE Pro League champions Sharjah recovered from their draw last week to record their fifth league victory as the-AFC.com reviews the domestic action in West Asia.

Stage set for Women’s Club Championship in Korea Republic

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Stage set for Women’s Club Championship in Korea Republic

Kuala Lumpur: The eagerly-anticipated line-up for the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) latest club competition – the Women’s Club Championship – has been finalised after Korea Republic was confirmed as the host Member Association for the pilot FIFA/AFC tournament, which is scheduled to take place from November 26 to 30, 2019.

Australia’s Melbourne Victory, Nippon TV Beleza from Japan, China PR’s Jiangsu Suning Ladies Football Club and Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels from Korea Republic will go down in the history books as the first four Asian clubs aiming to clinch the first-ever title in a tournament organised for women’s clubs in Asia.

History beckons for 2019 champions

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

History beckons for 2019 champions

Kuala Lumpur: Asian football history will be made on Monday when DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC and Al Ahed of Lebanon go head-to-head in the highly anticipated 2019 AFC Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with both teams aiming to lift the trophy for the first-time ever.

After a captivating journey to the final, both sides are now one match from joining the history books in the 16th edition of the showpiece which will be played at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium at 9pm local time. 

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa wished both teams the best of luck in the final.

AFC Cup Final: Ones To Watch

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Cup Final: Ones To Watch

Kuala Lumpur: The 2019 AFC Cup Final brings East and West Asia together as DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC and Lebanon’s Al Ahed battle it out for the right to be crowned kings of Asia. 

Al Ahed go into the game with the tournament’s best defensive record, while 4.25 are the second-highest scorers, meaning there will be plenty of talent on display at both ends of the pitch. Ahead of the match-up, the-AFC.com has picked out six players to look out for.

Five in a row league titles for untouchable Nippon TV Beleza

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Five in a row league titles for untouchable Nippon TV Beleza

Sendai: Nippon TV Beleza have continued their dominance of Japanese women’s football after they secured a record fifth successive Nadeshiko League title on Saturday.

The Tokyo-based outfit broke their own previous record of four successive titles, achieved twice from 1990 to 1993 and 2005 to 2008, and have now been Japanese champions in 17 of the last 30 seasons.

Saturday’s 4-0 away win over Vegalta Sendai took their tally to 42 points from 18 matches, three ahead of second-placed Urawa Reds, who ended their campaign with a 2-0 win at JEF United.