Both the AFC Asian Champions League and AFC Cup get underway this week, as Melbourne City, Macarthur FC and Central Coast Mariners represent the Isuzu UTE A-League on the continental stage.
The three A-Leagues clubs earned places in Asia’s top competitions for their respective feats in 2022-23: City won the A-League Men Premiership, securing a spot in the Champions League, while a second-place finish for the Mariners and an Australia Cup title for Macarthur earned both clubs a spot in the AFC Cup – the second tier of continental football in Asia.
The three clubs are currently preparing for the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, kicking off on October 20.
The start of Asian competitions will help City, Macarthur and the Mariners ramp up their pre-season activity while offering each club the chance to hunt silverware – but there’s stern competition lying in wait as the best teams in Asia face off on the international stage.
Featured image credit: @J_League_En
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How to watch?
Melbourne City’s AFC Champions League matches will be live on Paramount+, while the AFC Cup fixtures featuring Central Coast Mariners and Macarthur FC will be broadcast live and free via 10Play.
Melbourne City’s Champions League opponents
Ventforet Kofu
Ventforet Kofu venture into the Asian Champions League from the second division in Japan after winning the Emperor’s Cup final last year – and the club from Yamanashi kick off their continental campaign with a clash against Melbourne City in Victoria on Wednesday night.
Kofu were relegated to the J2 League six years ago, but despite failing to earn promotion back into the Japanese top flight last season, defeated five J1 League clubs on the way to lifting the Emperor’s Cup. It was an incredible run for Ventforet decided by a winning penalty to 42-year-old Hideomi Yamamoto in a shootout victory over Sanfrecce.
As the team bus departed for the airport ahead of a trip Down Under, the club was met with raucous support from their home fans in a classy send-off:
And upon arrival in Melbourne, 39-year-old striker Peter Utaka helped to load luggage off the plane and back onto the team bus in a move lauded by the club’s fans on social media.
Despite verging on 40 years of age, Utaka is Kofu’s top scorer in the J2 League this season with 11 goals. Described as “ageless” on the official J.League social accounts, Utaka has been capped eight times by Nigeria and has won five golden boots in multiple leagues throughout his career across stints in Belgium, Denmark, China and Japan.
He has the most goals of any past or present Nigerian international still playing the professional game.
Buriram United
It’s an Aussie reunion for Buriram United head coach Arthur Papas as he prepares the Thai League 1 champions for an ACL run after departing A-Leagues club Newcastle Jets at the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign.
And under Papas, Buriram are soaring. Four games into the Thai League 1 season, his side have won three games and drawn one, scoring eight goals and conceding zero to sit equal with league-leaders Bangkok United on 10 points and a goal difference of +8.
Buriram United have great pedigree in Asia – they were the first Thai club to win a domestic treble during the 2011 season. They have also won the quadruple twice, in 2013 and 2015, during their run to the Champions League quarter-finals. In 2019, Buriram also earned $A1.2million only from merchandise sales on just one matchday.
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Zhejiang Professional FC
The fourth and final team in City’s Champions League group is China’s Zhejiang Professional FC, previously known as Hangzhou Greentown. The Chinese Super League outfit, who finished first last season, qualified via the play-offs and currently sit fourth in the domestic standings in China.
The CSL club is spearheaded by Léo Souza (Leonardo) and Nyasha Mushekwi who are combining to devastating effect this season.
The 36-year-old Zimbabwean forward Mushekwi has bagged 14 league goals this campaign to sit equal-second in the golden boot standings, while Leonardo’s 16 goals for the campaign – split across loan spells Zhejiang and Changchun Yatai – puts the Brazilian on top of the leaderboard. Their combined 30 league goals will have City scrambling to formulate a plan to curtail the two-pronged threat when they meet Zhejiang in China on October 4.
Melbourne City’s AFC Champions League fixtures
Melbourne City v Ventforet Kofu
Date: September 20, 2023
Kick-off: 8.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Broadcast: Paramount+
Zhejiang Professional FC v Melbourne City
Date: October 4, 2023
Kick-off: 11.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Hozhou Olympic Sports Center, Zhejiang
Broadcast: Paramount+
Buriram United v Melbourne City
Date: October 25, 2023
Kick-off: 9.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Buriram Stadium, Buriram
Broadcast: Paramount+
Melbourne City v Buriram United
Date: November 8, 2023
Kick-off: 8.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Broadcast: Paramount+
Ventforet Kofu v Melbourne City
Date: November 29, 2023
Kick-off: 9.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
Broadcast: Paramount+
Melbourne City v Zhejiang Professional FC
Date: December 12, 2023
Kick-off: 8.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Broadcast: Paramount+
Central Coast Mariners’ AFC Cup opponents
Terengganu FC
The Mariners return to Asian football for the first time in eight years, having last featured on the continent in a plyoff defeat to Guangzhou R&F in 2015. First up on the agenda for the Mariners is Malaysian club Terengganu FC, four-time Malaysia Super League runners-up who won the nation’s FA Cup last season to end a five-year trophy drought.
Terengganu are led by head coach Tomislav Steinbruckner, who has run hot and cold over his tenure in charge of the Malaysian club.
Back in June Terengganu’s FA Cup run was ruined by a shootout loss to Kuala Lumpur in the semi-finals, after which Steinbruckner sensationally called out members of his squad for lacking the courage to step up for a spot kick.
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But since that defeat in June, Terengganu have responded to Steinbruckner’s public blasting with a formidable run of form. They sit sixth in the league standings, but have enjoyed a stellar undefeated run heading into Wednesday’s clash with the Mariners.
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Stallion Laguna
Stallion Laguna are from the Philippines, where they have competed in the first division since 2012. They are yet to win the Philippines Football League, and sit third in the current standings, 16 points off second and 20 points off Kaya FC in first.
Bali United
Bali United play in Indonesia’s top flight. Bali won the league in 2021-22 – their second league crown within three years.
Central Coast Mariners’ AFC Cup fixtures
Terengganu FC v Central Coast Mariners
Date: September 20, 2023
Kick-off: 10.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, Terengganu
Broadcast: 10Play
Central Coast Mariners v Stallion Laguna FC
Date: October 4, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: 10Play
Central Coast Mariners v Bali United
Date: October 26, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: 10Play
Bali United v Central Coast Mariners
Date: November 8, 2023
Kick-off: 11.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Kapten I Wayana Dipta Stadium, Bali
Broadcast: 10Play
Central Coast Mariners v Terengganu FC
Date: November 29, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Broadcast: 10Play
Central Coast Mariners v Stallion Laguna FC
Date: December 13, 2023
Kick-off: 11.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Binan Football Stadium, Laguna
Broadcast: 10Play
Macarthur FC’s AFC Cup opponents
Shan United
The Bulls are away from home on matchday one, visiting Myanmar’s Shan United.
The team are currently top of the National League on 41 points and unlike Macarthur, they have experience in continental football, having featured in the AFC Cup on three previous occasions.
Dynamic Herb Cebu
Dynamic Herb Cebu are another Filipino outfit. Founded just two years ago, the club has finished second in the Philippines in both 2022 and 2023, and are now on the cusp of their continental debut.
Phnom Penh Crown
Making up the group is Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Crown, who have claimed a record eight league titles, two Hun Sen Cups, two Cambodian League Cups and two Cambodian Super Cups.
Macarthur FC’s AFC Cup fixtures
Shan United v Macarthur FC
Date: September 21, 2023
Kick-off: 10.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Thuwunna Football Stadium, Yangon
Broadcast: 10Play
Macarthur FC v Dynamic Herb Cebu
Date: October 5, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Broadcast: 10Play
Phnom Penh Crown v Macarthur FC
Date: October 26, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh
Broadcast: 10Play
Macarthur FC v Phnom Penh Crown
Date: November 9, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Broadcast: 10Play
Macarthur FC v Shan United
Date: November 30, 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Broadcast: 10Play
Dynamic Herb Cebu Macarthur FC
Date: December 14, 2023
Kick-off: 11.00pm (AEDT)
Venue: Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila
Broadcast: 10Play
