#ACL - Review: Matchday Four

Kuala Lumpur: The cast for the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Round of 16 has started to assemble with two teams booking their spots on Matchday Four.

There is, however, still much to play for and as we await the next round of fixtures at the end of November, the-AFC.com takes a look at how the groups stand with UAE's Al Ain FC and Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic the first teams through to the Round of 16.

Group A
Al Fayha (KSA) 2-3 Al Ain FC (UAE)
Ahal FC (TKM) 1-1 Pakhtakor FC (UZB)

Al Ain FC are looking like the real deal as a fourth consecutive win saw them becoming the first team to book a spot in the next round.

Saudi Arabia's Al Fayha tried their best but the inaugural AFC Champions League winners - powered by two goals from Kodjo Laba - were not to be denied as they surged to a 3-2 win for an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.

#ACL - Group A | Al Fayha FC (KSA) 2 - 3 Al Ain FC (UAE)

With Ahal FC and Pakhtakor FC settling for a 1-1 draw, the best the two and Al Fayha can hope for is to advance as one of three best second-placed teams from the West Zone but all three have to pick up the pace in the remaining matches to stand a chance.

Turkmenistan's Ahal will face Al Fayha away on November 28 while Uzbekistan champions Pakhtakor travel to face Al Ain.

Group B
Al Faisaly (JOR) 2-0 Al Sadd SC (QAT)
FC Nasaf (UZB) 1-1 Sharjah FC (UAE)

Sharjah FC and FC Nasaf are set for a thrilling race to the end after playing to a 1-1 draw.

The result maintained Sharjah's one-point lead at the top of the standings and the UAE side will be determined to not slip up in their remaining two matches with only the group winners assured of advancing.

#ACL - Group B | FC Nasaf (UZB) 1 - 1 Sharjah FC (UAE)

Qatar's Al Sadd SC, the 2011 winners, look set to miss out on the Round of 16 for a third consecutive edition after losing 2-0 to Al Faisaly, with the Jordan club creating history by winning their first ever AFC Champions League group stage match.

Al Sadd, on four points, face Sharjah away on November 27 while FC Nasaf will host Al Faisaly.

Group C
Sepahan FC (IRN) 9-0 AGMK FC (UZB)
Air Force Club (IRQ) 2-0 Al Ittihad FC (KSA)

Air Force Club produced one of their best performances in recent times to defeat Al Ittihad FC 2-0, a result which threw the Group C race for the next round wide open.

Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad went into the tie with nine points but simply had no answers for Iraq's Air Force Club, with the talented Ali Jasim again playing a pivotal role with his fourth goal of the campaign.

#ACL - Group C | Air Force Club (IRQ) 2 - 0 Al Ittihad (KSA)

The defeat left Al Ittihad on nine points, two ahead of Air Force Club and Islamic Republic of Iran's Sepahan FC.

Sepahan were phenomenal as they cruised 9-0 past AGMK FC and will be confident of their chances in the remaining matches.

They next face Air Force Club on November 27 with Al Ittihad travelling to face AGMK.

Group D
Nassaji Mazandaran (IRN) 1-3 Navbahor (UZB)
Mumbai City (IND) 0-2 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Al Hilal SFC and Navbahor FC are set for a thrilling race after both emerged winners on Matchday Four.

Two-time winners Al Hilal overwhelmed India's Mumbai City 2-0 as the side from Saudi Arabia showed no signs of missing the injured Neymar.

#ACL - Group D | Mumbai City FC (IND) 0-2 Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Navbahor were equally impressive in their 3-1 defeat of Nassaji Mazandaran of Islamic Republic of Iran as the Uzbekistan side maintained pace with Al Hilal on 10 points.

That, however, is likely to change with the two set to face off on November 28, with Navbahor having the advantage of playing at home.

Group E
Al Duhail SC (QAT) 2-3 Al Nassr (KSA)
FC Istiklol (TJK) 1-1 Persepolis FC (IRN)

Cristiano Ronaldo was not in the matchday squad but it was business as usual for Al Nassr as they maintained their perfect start with a thrilling 3-2 win over Al Duhail SC of Qatar.

Five points ahead of Persepolis FC means a draw for Al Nassr when they host the Islamic Republic of Iran side on November 27 will seal the Saudi Arabian club top spot and a place in the Round of 16.

#ACL - Group E | Al Duhail SC (QAT) 2 - 3 Al Nassr (KSA)

Two-time AFC Champions League runners-up Persepolis, however, will be driven to produce their best after having had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Tajikistan's FC Istiklol.

Group F
Bangkok United FC (THA) 1-1 Kitchee SC (HKG)
Lion City Sailors FC (SGP) 2-0 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (KOR)

A 1-1 draw with Kitchee SC meant Bangkok United's winning run was halted but the Thai side remain the favourites to top Group F.

#ACL - Group F | Bangkok United (THA) 1 - 1 Kitchee SC (HKG)

The stalemate took Bangkok United to 10 points and their hopes of advancing were boosted by Lion City Sailors' 2-0 defeat of two-time AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC of Korea Republic.

The Sailors and Jeonbuk are both on six points, meaning that a win for Bangkok United against the Singaporean side on November 29 will confirm them as the group winners.

Group G
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) 1-2 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)
Shandong Taishan FC (CHN) 3-1 Incheon United (KOR)

Yokohama F. Marinos and Shandong Taishan FC are locked at the top of Group G after both picked up three points on Matchday Four.

Japanese champions F. Marinos have rebounded impressively from their opening day defeat against Incheon United to register three consecutive wins, beating Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines 2-1 on Tuesday.

#ACL - Group G | Kaya FC-Iloillo (PHI) 1 - 2 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Shandong responded in fine fashion, defeating Incheon 3-1 and will be looking for another win when they host Kaya FC on November 28.

F. Marinos, meanwhile, will not only be targetting the three points but also revenge for the 4-2 loss suffered against Korea Republic's Incheon when the two met in the reverse fixture.

Group H
Ventforet Kofu (JPN) 4-1 Zhejiang FC (CHN)
Melbourne City FC (AUS) 0-1 Buriram United (THA)

The race for the automatic Round of 16 spot from Group H is too tight to call with even bottom placed Zhejiang FC still in with a chance.

Japan's Ventforet Kofu lead the standings ahead of Melbourne City FC on goal difference, with Buriram United just one adrift on six points.

#ACL - Group H | Ventforet Kofu (JPN) 4-1 Zhejiang FC (CHN)

A shock 1-0 defeat to Thailand's Buriram meant Australia's Melbourne City lost their advantage, with Japan's Ventforet capitalising with a 4-1 win over Zhejiang of China PR.

Ventforet host Melbourne City on November 29 with Buriram facing Zhejiang away.

Group I
Johor Darul Ta'zim (MAS) 2-1 Ulsan Hyundai FC
Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4-2 BG Pathum United (THA)

Kawasaki Frontale look set to atone for missing out on last season's Round of 16 after picking up a fourth consecutive win on Tuesday.

The 4-2 defeat of Thailand's BG Pathum United means the Japanese side only need a point from their remaining two matches to confirm the Group I top spot.

#ACL - Group I | Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4 - 2 BG Pathum United (THA)

Frontale, however, cannot afford to be complacent as up next for them are Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim, who stayed in the race with a 2-1 win over former AFC Champions League winners Ulsan Hyundai FC.

The Korean side are not out of the race as wins in their final two matches - which includes facing Frontale in their concluding tie - may just take them through.

Group J
Hanoi FC (VIE) 2-1 Wuhan Three Towns FC (CHN)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Pohang Steelers booked their Round of 16 spot in style, defeating defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 on Wednesday.

The victory meant Pohang advanced with two matches to spare and installed themselves among the favourites to go all the way.

#ACL - Group J | Pohang Steelers (KOR) 2-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN)

Three-time AFC Champions League winners Urawa's hopes now depend on advancing as one of the three best second-placed sides from the East zone but the Japanese side, on four points, have much to do.

They face China PR's Wuhan Three Towns FC on Matchday Five in a tie both teams have to win to keep their hopes alive, with Vietnam's Hanoi also hoping for two wins from their remaining games.

#ACL - Review: Matchday Four

Kim pleased with Pohang’s resilience

Impressive win has Buriram’s Papastamatis purring

Castro hails phenomenal Al Nassr players

Al Ain's Schreuder a hard coach to please

Oniki praises Kawasaki’s positivity

#ACL - Review: Matchday Four

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Kim pleased with Pohang’s resilience

Impressive win has Buriram’s Papastamatis purring

Castro hails phenomenal Al Nassr players

Al Ain's Schreuder a hard coach to please

Oniki praises Kawasaki’s positivity