A Mato Neretljak’s penalty in the first-half of extra time fired Suwon Samsung Bluewings into the semi-finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League with a 2-1 victory at Zob Ahan.
The second round match began with both sides locked at 1-1. If it had stayed this way, Suwon would have been happy enough, however Zobahan were playing at home and earned the first goal when when Mohammad Ghazi volleyed passed the keeper after 50 minutes.
The game went to 1 -1 fourteen minutes from time with Yang Sang-min’s header. It then went …

Al Sadd fought of a determined Sepahan to reach the semi-finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League 2011. The 2:1 loss means that on aggregate Al Sadd progress 4:2.
Although Sepahan won the first leg of the quarter-final 1-0 they were penalised with a 3 – 0 loss after it was discovered that they fielded an ineligible player .
In a lively start to the contest, Nadir Belhadj saw a close-range shot deflected behind by a Sepahan defender before the visitors took the lead in the sixth minute when Mohammed took a …

Al Ittihad have progressed into the semi finals of the 2011 AFC Champions League despite a 0-1 loss to FC Seoul away.
Al Ittihad who looked more dangerous in the opening minutes of the game and Kim Yong-dae was the first goalkeeper to be called into action. With 12 minutes gone, Sultan Al Numare unleashed a fierce shot just outside the area that had Kim lunging to push it away for a corner.
Seoul made their way into the game as the half progressed and controlled possession as the half drew to …

Lee Dong-gook scored four times in the second-half as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors cruised into the 2011 AFC Champions League semi-finals with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Cerezo Osaka at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Jeonbuk althogh trailing 4 – 3 from the first leg, controlled most of the first half. Both the Cerezo and Jeonbul keepers showed how they earned their money early on by showing how good their reflexes are.
Jeonbuk got the break-through they were after at the 30 minute mark when Luiz Henrique played an inch-perfect pass into Eninho’s path, …

Argentine side Boca Juniors has claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory in the clubs’ pre-season friendly before 13,020 fans at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Marcelo Canete’s goal in the 42nd minute proved the difference, Canete recovering from a bloodied nose that twice required treatment after a collision with referee Strebre Delovski to slice through the defence and finish well.
Just three weeks before Melbourne Victory opens its 2010-11 Hyundai A-League campaign away to Sydney FC in a rematch of last season’s grand final, coach Ernie Merrick made the most …

AFC on Monday sent a stern warning to clubs competing in the 2010 AFC Champions League on the issue of withdrawal from the competition.

UAE side Sharjah withdrew from last year’s tournament after four matches. And AFC is determined to prevent a repeat by imposing stiff penalties.

ACL 2009 champions Pohang Steelers have signed Brazilian striker Mota and wingback Ahn Tae-eun ahead of the 2010 AFC Champions League.

Umm Sala 3 – 2 FC Seoul
Bunyodkor 3 – 1 Pohang
Kawasaki 2 – 1 Nagoya
Pakhtakor 1-1 Al Ittihad

An AFC delegation recently completed a week-long inspection of the stadiums and facilities in Australia, which is bidding to host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

A talented group of coaches from the 2007 AFC Project Future programme, will be watching the ACL quarter-final first leg match between Korea Republic’s FC Seoul and Umm-Salal, of Qatar on September 23.

Perth Glory is set to offer Adelaide United the chance to be one of the strongest sides in next year’s Asian Champions League (Asian Championship League).

Adelaide born Perth coach David Mitchell says that Perth would consider loaning Adelaide the services of Socceroos Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns to give the players more game time in the lead up to next year’s World Cup.

Brazilian striker and leading J-League scorer Davi (Nagoya Grampus) will move to Qatari side Umm Salal.
Nagoya and Umm Salal reached an agreement on the 25-year-old’s move. The transfer is due to be completed after a medical.
Umm Salal have reached the quarter-finals of this year’s AFC Champions League against FC Seoul of Korea and this is their first major signing for the knockout stage.
After playing for various Brazilian clubs, Davi joined Consadole Sapporo in the J-League’s second division in 2007. He scored 17 goals in 39 matches to help earn Sapporo …

A leading official is hoping that the arrival of former World Cup winning coach will help the country’s sagging fortunes at the international level.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, has signed an 18-month contract with Bunyodkor, Uzbekistan’s leading outfit and AFC Champions League quarter-finalists. Scholari will also manage the national youth football academy.

Bunyodkor’s executive director Tavakkal Ismailov said: “Scolari will boost the prospects of the club and also Uzbek football in general. His challenge will be to raise the standard of the club along with other Uzbekistan national teams in order to excel at the international level.”