
Domestic Leagues
Palestine’s all-time leading scorer Oday Dabbagh stole the spotlight when he struck the only goal in his home debut for Aberdeen in their Scottish Premiership win over Kilmarnock.
There were also goals and assists galore for the Asian contingent as numerous household names featured for their respective sides across Europe the past week.
Follow the-AFC.com as we look at what Asia’s finest have been up to.
England: Khusanov’s City woes continue
Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov played a full match in Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Premier League leaders Liverpool. The defeat, which follows their loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, leaves City with 44 points, a whopping 20 behind the Reds.
Japan’s international midfielder Kaoru Mitoma scored Brighton’s third goal in the 72nd minute in their 4-0 defeat of Southampton - his third in as many games across all competitions. His Japan teammate Yukinari Sugawara came off the bench at halftime for The Saints.
Son Heung-min was involved in the first and second goals in Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. The Korea Republic international assisted in the 18th and 26th minutes before being substituted in the 74th minute.
The two assists took Son's tally in the Premier League to 126 goals and 71 assists
Japan international midfielder Daichi Kamada came on in the 75th minute for Crystal Palace in their 2-0 win over Fulham. The result saw Palace notch up four consecutive league wins for the first time.
Scotland: Dabbagh leads Aberdeen to second league win
Aberdeen’s Oday Dabbagh’s home debut saw the 26-year-old claiming the winner in injury time in their 1-0 win over Kilmarnock. The striker made his first appearance for the Red Army last week in a 2-1 victory against Dundee FC.
Celtic’s Japan international Daizen Maeda, assisted by compatriot Reo Hatate, scored in the 68th minute as the Premiership leaders were upset 2-1 away against Hibernian. Maeda scored his ninth league goal in a tie that ended his side’s nine-match unbeaten league run.
Hib’s Socceroos Martin Boyle and Nectarios Triantis assisted in Josh Campbell’s first half double while fellow Australians Jack Iredale and Lewis Miller played the full match.
Another Australian in action was international Ryan Strain, who assisted Dundee United’s 31st-minute sole goal in their win over Motherwell. Strain played the full match as did his countryman Johnny Koutroumbis, who turned out for Motherwell.
Their fellow Australian Josh Nisbet came on in the 82nd minute in Ross County’s 3-1 win over second-bottom Dundee to clinch their first home win since November.
Australian international Calem Nieuwenhof came on in the 72nd minute in Hearts’ 2-1 win over bottom-placed St. Johnstone, which moved them within striking distance of the Premiership’s top six.
Germany: Ito, Doan and Lee on target
SC Freiburg’s Ritsu Doan claimed a brace in their 5-0 win over Werder Bremen, with the Japanese international scoring in the 76th minute and two minutes into injury time to take his tally for the season to eight goals.
Hiroki Ito also got his name on the scoresheet when he put away the second goal in Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich’s 4-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. The Japan international defender played for 63 minutes while teammate and Korea Republic international Kim Min-jae was on for the full match.
Korea Republic’s Lee Jae-sung scored Mainz’s first goal and assisted the second in their 2-0 win over St Pauli. He was substituted after the break while Japanese midfielder Kaishu Sano played the full match. Socceroo and St Pauli captain Jackson Irvine played 90 minutes.
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Japanese international Ko Itakura was involved for the full match in their 3-0 loss to Augsburg.
His fellow international Shuto Machino played for 63 minutes in Holstein Kiel’s 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen.
Korea Republic midfielder Jeong Woo-yeong played for 72 minutes as Union Berlin crashed 6-0 to Borussia Dortmund.
Italy: Shomurodov lends a hand
Uzbekistan’s national team captain Eldor Shomurodov assisted the first goal in Roma’s 3-2 loss to Porto in their Europa League knockout round playoff. Roma, however, progressed to the last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate.
Indonesia’s national team captain Jay Idzes, who also leads Venezia, played a full match in his side’s 2-0 loss to Genoa. He also captained them in their following match, a 0-0 draw with Lazio.
Parma custodian Zion Suzuki kept his first clean sheet in five matches when his side defeated Bologna 2-0. Parma are now fourth from the bottom of Serie A, one spot above relegation.
Islamic Republic of Iran national Mehdi Taremi came off the bench after the break in Inter’s 1-0 win over Genoa, which moved them to the top of the table with 57 points, one ahead of Napoli.
Netherlands: Makuma on form
AZ Alkmaar’s Seiya Makuma scored the first goal in their 2-2 draw with Galatasaray in their Europa League knockout round playoff to take them into the Round of 16.
The Japanese international also played the full match in his side’s 1-0 win over Fortuna Sittard in a later Eredivisie tie.
Indonesia international Thom Haye was on the pitch for 90 minutes in Almere City’s 2-1 loss to Feyenoord while his Iraq counterpart Ali Jasim came on three minutes before regulation.
Japan’s Koki Ogawa and Kento Shiogai went on in the 68th and 84th minutes respectively in FC Twente’s 2-0 win over NEC Nijmegen. Their teammate and Indonesia international Calvin Verdonk played the full match.
France: Minamino strikes again
Japan international Takumi Minamino scored Monaco’s first goal in the 32nd minute in their 3-3 draw with Benfica in their Champions League knockout round playoff.
He also struck a minute after the break in his side’s 2-1 Ligue 1 loss to Lille to notch his third goal of the season, extending his goalscoring feats to three straight in all competitions.
The Japanese trio of Keito Nakamura, Junya Ito and Hiroki Sekine started for Riems in their 1-0 loss to Rennes, who fielded Jordan international Mousa Al Tamari for 61 minutes.
Their countryman Ado Onaiwu, meanwhile, came on in the 88th minute for Auxerre in their 3-0 win over Marseille.
Korea Republic international midfielder Lee Kang-in came on in the 74th minute for Paris Saint-Germain and assisted their third goal in the 85th minute as they overcame Lyon 3-2.

Maty Ryan let in three goals as Lens fell 3-1 to Nantes, It was the Australian national’s third game for his side after keeping two clean sheets.
United Arab Emirates’ Junior Ndiaye came on in the 83rd minute for Montpellier in their 2-0 loss to Nice. His side sustained their fourth straight loss and are now at the bottom of Ligue 1 with 15 points from 23 matches.
Spain: Kubo breaks his dry spell
Takefusa Kubo scored Real Sociedad’s second goal as they defeated Leganes 3-0 to take his total LaLiga goals to five this season. It was also the Japan international’s first league goal since mid-January.
Belgium: Al Ghamdi’s Beerschot winless streak continues
Saudi Arabia’s Faisal Al Ghamdi played 90 minutes for Beerschot in their 0-0 draw with Dender, an outcome that stretches the bottom’s club’s winless streak to 11 matches.
Westerlo’s Isa Sakamoto started for his side in their 3-1 loss to Sporting Charleroi but the Japanese left the pitch in the 86th minute.
Photos: AFP