AFC Cup: Final venue changed to Jaber Int'l Stadium

Kuala Lumpur: The 2010 AFC Cup final between Kuwaiti side Al Qadsia and Syrian outfit Al Ittihad on November 6, 2010, will now be played at the Jaber International Stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000.

The summit clash was originally scheduled to be played at the 22,000-capacity Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium.

The match will begin at 1900 hours local time.

Al Qadsia overcame Bahrain’s Al Riffa 4-3 on aggregate while Al Ittihad saw of Thailand’s Muang Thong United 2-1.

K-League Title Race To Go Down To Wire

The race for first place in the K-League and direct entry into the play-off final looks set to go down to the wire, after league leaders Jeju United were held to a 1-1 draw at home by second-placed FC Seoul.

Seoul are two points behind Jeju and have a game in hand over their fellow title challengers.

Both sides will be keen to secure a place in the play-off finals, a top-six competition that will determine the championship, with the team finishing second in the league having to face the winner of a mini-series involving those finishing third to sixth for a place in the final.

It was the sivitors who took the lead in Jeju courtesy of Choi Tae-Uk, who finished from close range after 24 minutes.

AFC Champions League: Igor Castro Sends Iranians Into ACL Final As Lee Young-Pyo Sees Red

Iranian side Zobahan will face Seongnam Ilhwa in the Asian Champions League final, after the underdogs dumped Al Hilal out of the competition with a 1-0 second leg (and 2-0 aggregate victory) in Riyadh.

A crisp Igor Castro finish just after half-time stunned the home side, as Zobahan grabbed a crucial away goal after Ghasem Hadadifar's strike had given them a 1-0 win in Iran. Veteran defender Lee Young-Pyo was then sent off on 71 minutes after petulantly kicking an opponent.

The defeat marks the end of Eric Gerets' reign as Al Hilal manager, as he departs now to take over the Moroccan national team, unable to secure a treble with the Saudi giants.

AFC Champions League: Cho Dong-keon Fires Koreans To ACL Final

Al Shabab's Asian Champions League dream came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday when they were beaten 1-0 by Seongnam Ilhwa in the second leg of their semi-final encouner. After Seongnam'4-3 loss in the first leg, the Koreans did just enough in the second leg to book their ticket for the final on away goals.

Seongnam started the match the better side of the two and were all over their opponents in the opening minutes of the game. The Koreans deservedly opened the score after 31 minutes of play via Cho Dong-keon.

Dzenan Radoncic headed on a long pass to set up Cho and the young forward calmly slotted home to make it 4-4 on aggregate.

Al Shabab desperately needed a goal in order to prevent elimination, but they struggled to break through the hosts defence.

AFC U-19 Cup: Jong's hat-trick hands DPR Korea the title

Jong Il-gwan scored a hat-trick as DPR Korea edged a thrilling AFC U-19 Championship final against Australia 3-2 at Zibo Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday for their second title in four years.

In what was a fine advertisement for Asian youth football, Jong (pictured) grabbed his first of the night early in the first half before the balance of play swung in Australia’s favour as Kerem Bulut scored twice in four minutes.

However, the Koreans equalised just before the break through Jong and the striker – comfortably the star performer of the night – grabbed the winner shortly before full time with an instinctive strike following a mistake by Australia keeper Mark Birighitti.

DPR Korea’s impressive performance at the tournament has been built on a solid defence that had been breached just once prior to the game and they ensured Australia had their work cut out by taking the lead in the 10th minute.

Jong picked up the ball just outside the area before embarking on a mazy run through the Young Socceroos’ defence, dodging the legs of defenders before hitting a low shot beyond Birighitti.

ACL, AFCC 2011 draws

Kuala Lumpur: The official draws for the group stage and Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League 2011 and AFC Cup 2011 will take place on Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

The draws will be held at the PJ Hilton Hotel here in the capital of Malaysia.

The AFC Cup 2011 draw is scheduled for 1500 hours (local time), followed by the AFC Champions League 2011 draw at 1600 hours.

More information about the teams, the draw procedure, etc, will be available soon on the-afc.com

AFC U-19 Cup: Our hard work will seal success - Yun Jong-Su

DPR Korea take on Australia at Zibo Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday in a battle for the AFC U-19 Championship crown and coach Yun Jong-su is determined to cap a year-long project with victory.

The 2006 champions comfortably qualified for the tournament last year but the only blot on their copy book was a 3-0 defeat in their final group game to China last November.

Keen not to replicate the mistakes they made in that match the Koreans worked harder than ever in the ensuing months to make sure they were well prepared for this tournament.