AFC Challenge League
Some enjoyed flying starts while other need victories to get their campaigns back on track and the-AFC.com takes a look at how the groups stand, with Matchday Two action to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The three group winners and best second-placed side from the West Zone will advance to the quarter-finals while the top two sides from the two East Zone groups will progress.
The three group winners and best second-placed side from the West Zone will advance to the quarter-finals while the top two sides from the two East Zone groups will progress.
Group A (Thimphu, Bhutan)
FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ) v Al Shabab Club (OMA)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 15:00 (UTC+6)
Paro FC (BHU) v Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 18:00 (UTC+6)
Oman's Al Shabab Club and Altyn Asyr FC of Turkmenistan will be seeking to continue their winning starts before facing off in what should be a decisive clash on Matchday Three.
FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ) v Al Shabab Club (OMA)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 15:00 (UTC+6)
Paro FC (BHU) v Altyn Asyr FC (TKM)
Venue: Changlimithang Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 18:00 (UTC+6)
Oman's Al Shabab Club and Altyn Asyr FC of Turkmenistan will be seeking to continue their winning starts before facing off in what should be a decisive clash on Matchday Three.
#ChallengeLeague | Group A: Al Shabab Club (OMA) 1-0 Paro FC (BHU)
Both sides had to work hard in their opening matches, winning by 1-0 margins against Paro FC of Bhutan and Kyrgyz Republic's FC Abdysh-Ata respectively.
Their opening match struggles should serve as a warning to both teams, with Paro and Abdysh-Ata knowing that a second defeat will end their campaigns.
Their opening match struggles should serve as a warning to both teams, with Paro and Abdysh-Ata knowing that a second defeat will end their campaigns.
Group B (Sulaibikhat, Kuwait)
Bashundhara Kings (BAN) v Al Ansar FC (LBN)
Venue: Jaber Al-Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 16:00 (UTC+3)
Kuwait FC (KUW) v Al Seeb Club (OMA)
Venue: Jaber Al-Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:00 (UTC+3)
It is a similar situation in Group B, with Oman's Al Seeb Club and Kuwait SC having registered thrilling 3-2 wins on Matchday One.
Bashundhara Kings (BAN) v Al Ansar FC (LBN)
Venue: Jaber Al-Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 16:00 (UTC+3)
Kuwait FC (KUW) v Al Seeb Club (OMA)
Venue: Jaber Al-Mubarak Al Sabah Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 19:00 (UTC+3)
It is a similar situation in Group B, with Oman's Al Seeb Club and Kuwait SC having registered thrilling 3-2 wins on Matchday One.
#ChallengeLeague | Group B: Group B: Al Ansar FC (LBN) 2-3 Kuwait SC (KUW)
Al Seeb Club defeated Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings while Kuwait SC beat Lebanon's Al Ansar FC.
Both are former AFC Cup™ winners and victory on Tuesday will set them up nicely for their face-off on Friday.
Both are former AFC Cup™ winners and victory on Tuesday will set them up nicely for their face-off on Friday.
Group C (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic)
Al Arabi SC (KUW) v FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK)
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 16:00 (UTC+6)
FC Muras United (KGZ) v Safa SC (LBN)
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 20:00 (UTC+6)
Something has to give in Group C with both Matchday One ties ending in stalemates.
Al Arabi SC (KUW) v FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK)
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 16:00 (UTC+6)
FC Muras United (KGZ) v Safa SC (LBN)
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Kick-off: Tuesday, 20:00 (UTC+6)
Something has to give in Group C with both Matchday One ties ending in stalemates.
#ChallengeLeague | Group C: Safa SC (LBN) 2-2 Al Arabi SC (KUW)
Lebanon's Safa SC and Al Arabi SC of Kuwait played to a 2-2 draw while Tajikistan's FC Regar-TadAZ and FC Muras United cancelled each other out in a goalless stalemate.
The Matchday One results mean all four teams are at a disadvantage if they hope to take the best second-placed side ticket and victory will be their only option on Tuesday.
The Matchday One results mean all four teams are at a disadvantage if they hope to take the best second-placed side ticket and victory will be their only option on Tuesday.
Group D (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
SP Falcons FC (MNG) v Manila Digger FC (PHI)
Venue: Morodok Techo National Stadium
Kick-off: Wednesday, 16:00 (UTC+7)
Ezra FC (LAO) v Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)
Venue: Morodok Techo National Stadium
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:00 (UTC+7)
Cambodia's Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC and Manila Digger FC of the Philippines will confirm their quarter-final spots with a match to spare with victories on Wednesday.
SP Falcons FC (MNG) v Manila Digger FC (PHI)
Venue: Morodok Techo National Stadium
Kick-off: Wednesday, 16:00 (UTC+7)
Ezra FC (LAO) v Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM)
Venue: Morodok Techo National Stadium
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:00 (UTC+7)
Cambodia's Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC and Manila Digger FC of the Philippines will confirm their quarter-final spots with a match to spare with victories on Wednesday.
#ChallengeLeague | Group D: Manila Digger FC (PHI) 3-1 Ezra FC (LAO)
Both registered victories on Matchday One, with last season's runners-up Svay Rieng cruising to a 3-0 win against Mongolia's SP Falcons FC while Manila Digger had to work a litte harder to see off the challenge of Ezra FC of Laos.
Both will be confident of securing victories but will do well to take their respective opponents seriously.
Both will be confident of securing victories but will do well to take their respective opponents seriously.
Group E (Tangerang, Indonesia)
Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) v Shan United FC (MYA)
Venue: Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Tangerang Stadium (Tangerang)"Kick-off: Wednesday, 15:00 (UTC+7)
Tainan City FC (TPE) v Dewa United FC (IDN)
Venue: Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Tangerang Stadium (Tangerang)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:00 (UTC+7)
Chinese Taipei's Tainan City FC will confirm progression with victory against host club Dewa United FC on Wednesday.
Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM) v Shan United FC (MYA)
Venue: Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Tangerang Stadium (Tangerang)"Kick-off: Wednesday, 15:00 (UTC+7)
Tainan City FC (TPE) v Dewa United FC (IDN)
Venue: Sport Centre Kelapa Dua Tangerang Stadium (Tangerang)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 19:00 (UTC+7)
Chinese Taipei's Tainan City FC will confirm progression with victory against host club Dewa United FC on Wednesday.
#ChallengeLeague | Group E: Shan United FC (MYA) 1-2 Tainan City FC (TPE)
Tainan City were the only winners in the group on the opening matchday, defeating Myanmar's Shan United FC 2-1.
Dewa United failed to maximise home ground advantage, settling for a 1-1 draw with Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown FC.
Phnom Penh and Shan United, meanwhile, will target victories to get their respective campaigns back on track.
Dewa United failed to maximise home ground advantage, settling for a 1-1 draw with Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown FC.
Phnom Penh and Shan United, meanwhile, will target victories to get their respective campaigns back on track.





