
Domestic Leagues
The rest of the continental contingent also kept their eyes firmly on the ball, so follow the-AFC.com as we look at what Asia’s finest have been up to in Europe this past week.
England: Burgess lends a hand
Australian international Cameron Burgess assisted the second goal in Ipswich Town’s come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Everton. Burgess lent a hand in the 41st minute in his full appearance.
Korea Republic international Hwang Hee-chan came on in the 86th minute in Wolves’ 1-0 loss to Manchester City, which put an end to the former’s six-match winning streak.
Newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool sent in Japanese international captain Wataru Endo in the 69th minute as they fell 3-1 to Chelsea.
Scotland: Socceroos lift Hibernian
Australian international Martin Boyle claimed his 17th goal of the season when he struck for Hibernian in their 3-1 win over Dundee United. Fellow international Nectarios Triantis assisted their second goal while countrymen Jack Iredale and Lewis Miller also made appearances for the winners. Socceroo Ryan Strain played 90 minutes for United.
Premiership champions Celtic’s Daizen Maeda assisted the only goal in their 1-1 draw with second-placed Rangers. The Japanese international played the full match alongside fellow international Reo Hatate while Yang Hyun-jun, who represents Korea Republic, came on in the 63rd minute.
Australia’s Johnny Koutroumbis was red-carded in the 80th minute in Motherwell’s 2-1 win over Dundee FC.
Hearts’ Australian international Calem Nieuwenhof was on from the 70th minute in their 3-1 win over Ross County, who brought on his fellow international Josh Nisbet in the 62nd minute.
Aberdeen’s Palestine forward Oday Dabbagh played from the 66th minute in their 1-0 loss to St Mirren. His side are currently fourth in the Premiership with 53 points, three behind Hibernian as both sides race for third spot.
Germany: Machino scores from the spot
Japan international Shuto Machino converted a 25th-minute penalty in Holstein Kiel’s 3-1 win over Augsburg. It was his 11th goal in 30 appearances for his club, who are second from bottom in the Bundesliga with 22 points from 31 matches.
Japan international Ko Itakura was on for a full 90 minutes in Borussia Monchengladbach’s 4-4 draw with Hoffenheim in a match that saw eight players get their names on the scoresheet.
Itakura’s international teammate Ritsu Doan played 81 minutes for Freiburg in their 2-2 stalemate with second-placed and defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. The tie gave Bayern Munich their 12th Bundesliga title in 13 years.
Mainz’s Japan international midfielder Kaishu Sano put in 90 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt. Korea Republic international Lee Jae-sung came on in the 81st minute for Mainz, who have not won in seven matches and are seventh in the table.
Netherlands: Shiogai, Hwang on target
Japan international Kento Shiogai scored an 83rd-minute goal in NEC Nijmegen’s 1-1 stalemate with Willem II after his teammate and Indonesia international Calvin Verdonk scored an own goal in the first minute. Japan’s Kodai Sano and Koki Ogawa both started for Nijmegen.
Hwang In-beom scored Feyenoord’s third in their 4-1 rout of Heracles. The Korea Republic international, who struck two minutes into time added on in the first half, came off after the break while his teammate and Japan international Ayase Ueda played the full match.
Nac Breeda’s Australian international midfielder Max Balard put in a full match in their 3-1 loss to PEC Zwolle, who fielded Indonesia national Eliano Reijnders from the start.
Reijnders’ fellow international Mees Hilgers, who plays for FC Twente, made a full appearance in their 2-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam. Japan international defender Seiya Maikuma was on for 78 minutes in AZ Alkmaar’s 3-0 win over Go Ahead Eagles.
France: Ndiaye’s Montpellier relegated
UAE international Junior Ndiaye was on the pitch for 66 minutes in Montpellier’s 1-0 loss to Brest. His side, on a 13-match winless Ligue 1 streak, are bottom of the table with 16 points and have been relegated to Ligue 2.
Reims’ Japan international Keito Nakamura played a full match while his countryman Hiroki Sekine came on in the 81st minute in their 1-0 loss to Nice.
Korea Republic international midfielder Lee Kang-in played the first half in Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 defeat to Strasbourg. The Ligue 1 leaders have lost two consecutive matches, which are their only two defeats in 32 matches.
Japan international Takumi Minamino played a full match as second-placed Monaco beat St Etienne 3-1. Monaco are on 58 points, a distant 20 behind leaders PSG.
Jordan international Mousa Al Tamari came on in the 67th minute in Rennes’ 2-1 loss to Toulouse. Ado Onaiwu of Japan played 73 minutes in Auxerre’s 2-1 defeat to Le Havre.
Lens’ Australian custodian Mathew Ryan let in a second-half goal in their 2-1 win over Lyon.
Italy: Shomurodov claims season’s fourth assist
Roma’s Eldor Shomurodov assisted the only goal in their 1-0 defeat of Fiorentina. The Uzbekistan national team captain, who played for 65 minutes, has four goals and four assists to his name in 24 appearances this season.
Parma’s Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki let in two goals in their stalemate with Lazio. The 22-year-old, however, kept a clean sheet in their next match against Como, which ended 1-0.
Islamic Republic of Iran international Mehdi Taremi was on after the break in Inter’s 3-3 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, with the Spanish side coming from behind to share points in the first leg.
Taremi also made an appearance from the 77th minute in Inter’s 1-0 Serie A win over Verona, which moved them to within three points of leaders Napoli with three matches remaining for both sides.
Jay Idzes, Indonesia’s national team captain who doubles as Venezia’s skipper, played a full match in their 1-1 tie with Torino.
Belgium: Relegation blues for Al Sahafi, Al Ghamdi’s Beerschot
Beerschot’s Saudi Arabia international Marwan Al Sahafi played a full 90 minutes while fellow international Faisal Al Ghamdi was on for 83 minutes in their 2-1 loss to Sint-Truiden in the Belgian Pro League’s Relegation Round. Bottom-of-the-table Beerschot have been relegated to the Challenger Pro League next season.
Isa Sakamoto of Japan played 93 minutes in Westerlo’s 4-2 win over Dender in the league’s Conference League Group playoff match.
Spain: Kubo’s Sociedad winless in four
Real Sociedad’s Japan international forward Takefusa Kubo played for 82 minutes in their goalless La Liga tie with Athletic Club as his 11th-placed side continue to look for their first victory after a four-match winless streak.
Photo: AFP