By Michael Church
(Reuters) – Talking points from the week in Asian football:
AL-HILAL RECLAIM TOP SPOT AS SAUDI PRO LEAGUE RESUMES
Al-Hilal returned to the top of the Saudi Pro League standings with a 5-0 thrashing of Al-Orubah on Friday after action resumed following the mid-season break.
The Riyadh-based defending champions lead on goal-difference from Al-Ittihad, who missed the opportunity to return to the summit on Saturday when they were held 1-1 by Al-Fayha.
Fashion Sakala looked to have earned Al-Fayha victory when he struck in the 91st minute only for Fawaz Al-Soqoor to equalise two minutes later to earn Al-Ittihad a point.
MELBOURNE CITY CLIMB INTO FIRST AFTER AUCKLAND LOSE IN PERTH
Melbourne City went top of the A-League with a 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar as Auckland FC went down 1-0 to Perth Glory.
Ben Mazzeo’s 65th minute header earned City a seventh win of the season to move onto 24 points, ahead of second-placed Adelaide United on goal difference with Auckland dropping to third a point further back.
Adelaide beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 while Auckland lost at Perth due to Jaylan Pearmans’ 29th minute strike from the edge of the area.
CHINESE AUTHORITIES DENY GUANGZHOU RIGHT TO PLAY IN 2025
Former Asian champions Guangzhou FC will not play professionally in 2025 after the Chinese Football Association did not grant the eight-times Chinese Super League (CSL) winners permission to play in the coming campaign.
URAWA DRAWN TO MEET WUHAN IN WOMEN’S ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Reigning continental champions Urawa Red Diamonds will face China’s Wuhan Jiangda in the quarter-finals of the Asian Women’s Champions League in March after the draw for the last eight of the inaugural competition was held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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