AFC CUP 2017 MD3: ASEAN ZONE PREVIEW

Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN sides will resume 2017 AFC Cup action this week as the race for knockout stage qualification heats up ahead of five hotly anticipated Group Stage clashes.

Group F kicks off on Tuesday as early pacesetters Global FC of the Philippines travel to Johor Darul Ta’zim on the back of successive wins over Myanmar’s Magwe FC and Beoungket Angkor of Cambodia respectively.

2015 winners Johor, meanwhile, began their continental campaign with a victory over the Cambodian side but conceded a last-minute goal against Magwe on Matchday Two as the match ended 1-1.

At the other end of the table, Phnom Penh-based Beoungket will be looking to put their first points on the board when Magwe visit in a crucial bottom-of-the-table fixture.

Beoungket Angkor (CAM) v Magwe FC (MYA)Venue: National Olympic Stadium, Phnom PenhKick-off: March 14, 18:00 UTC+7

Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) v Global FC (PHI)
Venue: Stadium Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Yunos, Johor Baru
Kick-off: March 14, 20:45 UTC+8

Also on Tuesday, Singapore’s Home United and Than Quang Ninh of Vietnam will have the chance to close the gap on Group H pacesetters Yadanarbon of Myanmar as the two sides seek their first wins in the three-team group.

Than Quang Ninh played out a 1-1 draw with Yadanarbon last week while the Singaporean-side were defeated by their Myanmarese opponents in their continental opener in February.

Home United (SIN) v Than Quang Ninh (VIE)
Venue: Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Kick-off: March 14, 19:30 UTC+8

On Wednesday, Ceres Negros of the Philippines will look to build on their stunning 5-0 win over Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in Group G when Malaysia’s Felda United come to town.

Ceres currently occupy first place in the standings while debutants Felda picked up their first ever AFC Cup point after drawing 1-1 with Hanoi FC last week but remain bottom of the group.

Hanoi have drawn their opening two games on the continent so will be looking to turn one point into three ahead of a home fixture with second-placed Tampines, whose record reads won one, lost one.

Hanoi FC (VIE) v Tampines Rovers (SIN)Venue: My Dinh Stadium, HanoiKick-off: March 15, 18:00 UTC+7

Ceres Negros (PHI) v Felda United (MAS)Venue: Pana’ad Park and Football Stadium, Bacolod CityKick-off: March 15, 19:30 UTC+8