Ï Hong Kong's “Kitchee” with Turkmen footballer will play with the club from Thailand in the playoffs of the AFC Champions League
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Hong Kong's “Kitchee” with Turkmen footballer will play with the club from Thailand in the playoffs of the AFC Champions League

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Hong Kong's “Kitchee” with Turkmen footballer will play with the club from Thailand in the playoffs of the AFC Champions League

With the Thai club "BG Pathum United" will play in the playoffs of the AFC Champions League, the Hong Kong "Kitchee" for which the Turkmen footballer Ruslan Mingazov plays. This was reported by the Asian Football Confederation.

Both teams made it to the 1/8 finals following the results of the group stage of the competition. “BG Pathum United” topped in Group “G”, which also included “Melbourne City” (Australia),” Jeonnam Dragons” (Republic of Korea) and “United City” (Philippines). And “Kitchi”took second place in group “J”, in which “Vissel Kobe” (Japan) and “Chiang Rai United” (Thailand) also competed for tickets to the playoffs of the tournament.

Thailand club "BG Pathum United"from the city of Buenghitho in Pathum Thani province was founded in 2006 and was initially called "Bangkok Glass" in honor of the owner - a group of companies, engaged in the production of glass products. Starting from the 2019 season, it has been performing under its current name. The symbol of the club is the rabbit, which comes from the Chinese zodiac of the club's first president, Pavin Bhirombhakdi, who was born in the year of the rabbit. In 2014, the club won the Thai Cup, and in the 2020/21 season they became the national champion.

“BG Pathum United” made it past the group stage of the AFC Champions League for the second time. Last year, he reached the 1/8 finals, where he lost to the Korean “Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors” in a penalty shootout - 2:4 (in regular and extra time - 1:1).

As for “Kitchee”, thanks to the efforts of the 30-year-old midfielder of the Turkmenistan national team R. Mingazov, the current 11-time champion of Hong Kong received the right to play in the playoffs of the AFC Champions League for the first time.

Remind that Ruslan Mingazov, who has 26 matches and 4 goals for the national team of Turkmenistan, signed a contract with “Kitchee” as a free agent in March of this year, becoming the first Turkmen legionnaire in the Hong Kong football championship.

It is noteworthy that in the two-round tournament of the AFC Champions League, which was held in Buriram, the administrative center of one of the northeastern provinces of Thailand, Ruslan was twice recognized as the best player in matches with the Thai club “Chiang Rai United”.

The AFC Champions League Round of 1/8 match between “Kitchee” and “BG Pathum United” will take place in August 2022.

In other matches of the 1/8 finals in the East zone, two clubs from the Republic of Korea - “Daegu” and “Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors”, two clubs from Japan - “Yokohama F. Marinos” and “Vissel Kobe”, and also “Urawa Red Diamonds” (Japan) - “Johor” (Malaysia).

In the zone "West" at this stage of the tournament will play: "Al-Hilal" (Saudi Arabia) - "Shabab Al-Ahli" (UAE), "Al-Shabab" (Saudi Arabia) - "Nasaf" (Uzbekistan), "Al -Duhail" (Qatar) - "Er Rayyan" (Qatar) and "Al-Faisaly" (Saudi Arabia) - "Foolad" (Iran).

The matches of the 1/8 finals in the “East” zone will be held on August 18-19, 2022, and in the “West” zone on February 3-4, 2023.

The AFC Champions League final will consist of two matches. The meetings will be held on February 19 and 26, 2023. The first game will take place in the “West” region, and the second leg will take place in the “East” zone.