Kuching City vs Gangwon FC: ACL Two Group H Rematch at Sarawak Stadium on Thursday, 8.15pm Malaysia Time
Bottom-placed Kuching City host Gangwon FC in ACL Two Group H on Thursday 5 November at 8.15pm MYT, a week after losing 1-0 in South Korea.
Kuching City host South Korea's Gangwon FC in the AFC Champions League Two on Thursday. It is a must-win night for Malaysia's only club in the competition. The Group H matchday-four game at Sarawak Stadium kicks off at 8.15pm Malaysia time on 5 November. Kuching City lost the first meeting 1-0 in Korea a week ago and are bottom of the group with one point from three games.
How the first meeting went
The teams met on Thursday 29 October in Gangwon, and one goal settled it. In the 28th minute Cho Byeong-chan took a short pass from Kang Joon-hyuck and shot from outside the box past the Kuching City defence. According to the AFC, it was Gangwon's first win of the group stage.
Kuching City, coached by Singaporean Aidil Sharin Sahak, kept the score close but could not find an equaliser. The defeat continued a difficult debut on the continental stage. They lost 2-1 to Phnom Penh Crown on matchday one and drew 1-1 with Hong Kong's Kitchee SC on matchday two.
Group H standings
Bernama reported the Group H table after three rounds as follows:
- Phnom Penh Crown (Cambodia): 6 points
- Gangwon FC (South Korea): 4 points
- Kitchee SC (Hong Kong): 2 points
- Kuching City (Malaysia): 1 point
The top two teams in each group go through to the round of 16. Kuching City have three games left, so they can reach at most 10 points. They are five points behind Phnom Penh and three behind Gangwon. A home win on Thursday would pull them level with Gangwon on four points and keep their qualification hopes alive. A defeat would leave them six points off second place with two games to go. They would then need a lot to go their way in the last two rounds.
Why home advantage matters
The Cats earned this place by finishing second in the 2025-26 Liga Super, which gave them their first-ever ACL Two group-stage campaign. This week is their first home game against Gangwon in the group, and the Sarawak crowd will matter. Gangwon arrive with momentum from their win in Korea. They have also had to travel a long way to Borneo.
Rest of the schedule
After Thursday, Kuching City meet Phnom Penh Crown on 26 November and Kitchee on 3 December to finish the group stage. In the AFC's East Region, matchday four runs over 4 and 5 November.
Key takeaways
- Kuching City host Gangwon FC at Sarawak Stadium on Thursday 5 November at 8.15pm MYT.
- Gangwon won the first meeting 1-0 in Korea on 29 October with Cho Byeong-chan's 28th-minute strike.
- Kuching City are bottom of Group H on one point. Phnom Penh Crown have 6, Gangwon 4 and Kitchee 2.
- Only the top two qualify, so a home win is close to essential for the Malaysian club.
FAQ
What time is Kuching City vs Gangwon FC? The ACL Two Group H match kicks off at 8.15pm Malaysia time (MYT, UTC+8) on Thursday 5 November 2026, at Sarawak Stadium in Kuching.
What happened when Kuching City played Gangwon last week? Gangwon won 1-0 at home on 29 October. Cho Byeong-chan scored from outside the box in the 28th minute.
Can Kuching City still qualify from ACL Two Group H? Yes, mathematically. They can still reach 10 points and the top two go through, but they are three points behind second-placed Gangwon, so Thursday's home game is close to must-win.
Sources: AFC, Bernama, ESPN, Borneo Post