AFC Women's Champions League
After an exciting group stage which had it all, Wednesday's knockout stage draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur identified the path for the teams who are aiming to be the inaugural champions to plot their charge.
The-AFC.com takes a look at what can be expected in the single leg last eight ties, which will be played on March 22 and 23.
Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (KOR) v Bam Khatoon FC (IRN)
Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC will be aiming to make home ground advantage count against Bam Khatoon FC.
That aside, the tie promises to be a thrilling affair with both teams highly experienced.
#AWCL | Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN) 0 - 2 Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (KOR)
Korea Republic's Red Angels topped Group A with seven points while Bam Khatoon finished as the Group B runners-up on four points.
Both sides will definitely strengthen their respective squads ahead of the quarter-finals and will be aiming to go all the way.
Tereza Engesha starred for Red Angels in the group stage, netting five of their seven goals while team effort took Bam Khatoon through, with their four goals coming through contributions from three different players.
Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE) v Abu Dhabi Country Club (UAE)
This will be a meeting between two sides who finished second in their respective groups.
Abu Dhabi Country Club were the Group A runners-up with five points, two behind Hyundai Steel Red Angels.
The UAE side, however, showed their quality in the 2-1 win over Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC of China PR and will feel they have a strong chance of advancing to the semi-finals.
#AWCL | Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN) 1 - 2 Abu Dhabi Country Club (UAE)
Ho Chi Minh City will be equally confident after finishing second in Group C behind Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies of Japan.
The Vietnamese side held their own against Urawa, restricting the free-scoring Japanese team to just a 2-0 win in their encounter and the experienced gained will be put to good use against Abu Dhabi.
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (JPN) v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN)
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies are the overwhelming favourites to add the AFC Women's Champions League title to the AFC Women's Club Championship™ 2023 trophy, with the Japanese side showing phenomenal form in the group stage.
The Japanese side topped Group C with three wins, scoring 21 goals and conceding none in the process.
#AWCL | Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (JPN) 17 - 0 Odisha Football Club (IND)
Miki Ito and Yuzuho Shiokoshi netted five and four goals respectively during the group stage but what made Urawa a really fearsome force was their multiple sources for goals.
In comparison, Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC advanced from Group A as one of the two best third-placed teams despite having home ground advantage.
The China PR side will, however, not let that stop them from trying to upstage Urawa.
Melbourne City FC (AUS) v Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team (TPE)
Melbourne City FC will be the favourites after a peerless Group A campaign which saw them scoring nine and conceding just one in their three victories.
Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team endured a more difficult journey, advancing from Group C as one of the best two third-placed teams.
#AWCL | Melbourne City FC (AUS) 4 - 0 Kaya FC Iloilo (PHI)
The Chinese Taipei side only garnered three points but with the quarter-final being a single leg affair, they will be determined to upset their Australian opponents.
Barring changes, Melbourne City will be powered by Mariana Speckmaier and Lourdes Bosch, with the duo each scoring three times in the group stage.
The winners of the quarter-final ties will advance to the centralised semi-final and final stage, scheduled to be played on May 21-24.
The victors of the Urawa-Wuhan Jiangda tie will face either Ho Chi Minh City or Abu Dhabi Country Club while Red Angels-Bam Khatoon will square off against Melbourne City-Taichung Blue Whale in the semi-finals.
Related News
- AFC Women's Champions League
#AWCL - Road to glory finalised
- AFC Champions League Elite
#ACLElite - Lopes effort voted as best goal of MD2 (East)
- AFC Asian Cup
Two-year countdown: Dates for AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ confirmed
- AFC Asian Qualifiers
Dutch great Kluivert named head coach of Indonesia
- AFC Champions League Elite
Li Ke joins Shenhua from Beijing
Item 1 of 5