SINGAPORE – FC Jurong scored their first goal in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League, but their debut campaign will end at the preliminary stage after they were beaten 2-1 by Taiwanese team New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar on Aug 20.
The Singaporean side defended resolutely but trailed 1-0 at the break as Kano Kiyamoto scored a 38th-minute penalty after being fouled in the box by Jurong skipper Rosnani Azman.
They then equalised from a set-piece of their own in the second half when Kyra Taylor’s free-kick was headed in at the back post by Kana Kitahara eight minutes after the restart.
Jurong missed out on their first point of the competition, however, when they were outpaced by Chen Yu-chin on the left flank before He Jia-shiuan stole in between two defenders to score the 64th-minute winner for Hang Yuan.
The preliminary stage consists of 24 teams who are divided into six groups that will be played in a single round-robin format at centralised venues.
The six top teams will qualify for the Nov 1-7 group stage, where they will join defending champions Naegohyang Women’s FC of North Korea as well as domestic league winners Melbourne City (Australia), Hwacheon KSPO (South Korea), Kobe Leonessa (Japan), Beijing Jingtan (China) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).
Their latest defeat, coupled with the 4-0 loss to hosts Ayeyawady on Aug 17, means Jurong can no longer finish top of Group F. They will play their final game, a dead rubber against Lebanon’s No Limits FC, on Aug 23, while Ayeyawady and Hang Yuan will battle for the top spot.
In 2025, the Lion City Sailors became the first Singapore team to reach the group stage after winning all three games against Jordan’s Etihad Club (2-0), Kyrgyzstan’s Sdyushor SI-Asiagoal (3-0) and Malaysia’s Kelana United (3-1) in the preliminary stage. They then lost their three group-stage matches without scoring.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian football team's journey in the Hyundai AFF Cup has ended after they suffered a 2-0 loss to Vietnam in their second-leg semi-final in Hanoi on Wednesday (Aug 19). Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe's men exited the tournament 0-4 on aggregate. Vietnam were the more dominant side at the MyDinh Stadium as they created two chances in the first 15 minutes but wingback Doan Van Hau fluffed his attempts.
The Harimau Malaya had to depend on their defensive solidity to frustrate the hosts, coached by South Korean Kim Sang-sik. Malaysia also suffered a misfortune in the 25th minute when key midfielder Sergio Aguero had to be stretchered off due to an injury, and he was replaced by Syafiq Ahmad.
They failed to gain control of the game after that, as Vietnam took charge and looked the more dangerous side. The Golden Star Warriors should have taken the lead at the start of the second half, when Van Hau’s header off a corner was superbly saved by Malaysia goalkeeper Azri Ghani. Malaysia finally created their first chance in the 53rd minute when two attempts from winger G. Pavithran and Syafiq within seconds were stopped by Vietnam custodian Patrick Le Giang. Vietnam's attacking industry was rewarded in the 62nd minute when striker Rafaelson Bezerra, now known as Nguyen Xuan Son, capitalized on a rebound to thump the ball past Azri. And the lethal Brazilian-born hitman added his second in the 89th minute with a superb solo effort.
Vietnam will play Thailand in the two-legged final.
ASEAN Championship 2026 (02.06 to 26.08.2026)
Srikandi Merdeka Cup 2026 (14.08 to 23.08.2026)
Continental Futsal Championship 2026 (01.08 to 06.08.2026)