Group A
Sabah FA (MAS) v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN)
Abu Dhabi Country Club (UAE) v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (KOR)
Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC suffered a dramatic defeat in a game they led for so long against Abu Dhabi on Thursday and head coach Chang Weiwei will demand higher focus from his charges for the vital clash against Sabah FA.
Capitalising on their dominance will also be high on Chang’s agenda with better finishing needed from forward Kabange Mupopo if Wuhan Jiangda are to earn their first win.
As for Sabah, a sluggish start saw them down 3-0 at half-time to the Red Angels and head coach Justin Ganai will demand complete focus against Wuhan Jiangda, where they could be required to defend for long periods.
The possibility of Myanmar forward Tun Wheingi Tun being available should also give the Malaysian side more threat up front with the player having bagged two goals in the preliminary stage.
Sabah FA (MAS) v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN)
Venue: Hankou Culture Sports Centre (Wuhan)
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+8)
Abu Dhabi and Red Angels will square off in a match that will pit two teams on a high with both looking to take a significant advantage in the hunt for a place in the knockout stage.
UAE’s Abu Dhabi pulled off a late smash-and-grab against Wuhan Jiangda with Naeema Ibrahim scoring twice in the final minutes to turn the game around and head coach Sara Hassanien could reward the 24-year-old with a start on Sunday.
Tereza Engesha, meanwhile, netted a brace of goals against Sabah and the Kenyan will again be at the forefront as as Red Angels seek another win.
Head coach Kim Eun-sook has not shied away from the favourites tag and the former Korea Republic international will target three points against Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi Country Club (UAE) v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (KOR)
Venue: Hankou Culture Sports Centre (Wuhan)
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+8)
Group B
Melbourne City FC (AUS) v Bam Khatoon FC (IRN)
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) v College of Asian Scholars (THA)
Australian champions Melbourne City FC will be keen to get their campaign off to a winning start when they face Islamic Republic of Iran’s Bam Khatoon FC.
Melbourne have recruited well for the new season with the likes of Mariana Speckmaier, Malena Mieres, Lourdes Bosch, Alexia Apostolakis and Emilia Murray possibly being given debuts on Sunday.
Bam Khatoon reached the group stage after topping Group D of the Preliminary Round with wins against Hong Kong, China’s Kitchee SC and Royal Thimphu College FC of Bhutan.
Veteran forward Zahra Ghanbari continues to be the heartbeat of Bam Khatoon and her performance will play a crucial role in determining whether Marziyeh Jafari’s side can take something from this match.
Melbourne City FC (AUS) v Bam Khatoon FC (IRN)
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium (Pathum Thani)
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+7)
College of Asian Scholars will be looking to utilise home ground advantage as they start their Group B campaign against Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines.
Brazilian pair Beatriz da Silva and Stefani Cabral are the only imports in the team, with as many as six locals who were part of the Thailand national squad in August’s international friendly against Chinese Taipei.
Standing in their way are a Kaya side who won the PFF Women’s League in 2023 and are making their continental debut.
Former Philippines international Let Dimzon helms the side and the head coach looks likely to call upon Spaniard Judit Peran to be her on-field general.
Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI) v College of Asian Scholars (THA)
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium (Pathum Thani)
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+7)
Group C
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (JPN) v Odisha FC (IND)
Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE) v Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team (TPE)
Champions of the AFC Women’s Club Championship™ 2023, Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies are the overwhelming favourites as they start their Group C campaign against Odisha FC.
Naoki Kusunose remains in charge as head coach and he isn’t the only continuity in the squad with all but one of their starting 11 players from the final against Red Angels in May still part of the team.
While Kiko Seike left to link up with English Women’s Super League side Brighton Hove & Albion, the Red Diamonds Ladies still have plenty of firepower in their ranks.
Odisha won Group B of the Preliminary Stage when Jennifer Yeboah’s brace against Etihad Club sent the Indian side through and Crispin Chettri’s team will not make this an easy game for Red Diamonds Ladies.
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (JPN) v Odisha FC (IND)
Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium (Ho Chi Minh)
Kick-off: 15:00 (UTC+7)
Hosts Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC have brought in several new players as they attempt to make full use of playing at home to take one of the quarter-final berths.
The arrival of the United States trio of Meghan Root, Talani Barnett and Tatiana Mason has added strength to a team that already has Vietnam national team captain Huynh Nhu.
Chinese Taipei side Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team will present a tough challenge for Ho Chi Minh, having previously participated in the AFC Women’s Club Championship in 2022.
Thai international Saowalak Pengngam joined recently to bolster Lu Kuei-Hua’s team and they will enter the field at Thong Nhat Stadium with confidence that a win can be achieved.
Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE) v Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team (TPE)
Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium (Ho Chi Minh)
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+7)
