Kuching City host Kitchee at upgraded Stadium Taha Ariffin on 15 October chasing first ACL Two points

Kuching City will play the first home match of their debut AFC Champions League Two campaign on Thursday, 15 October, when they host Hong Kong's Kitchee at Stadium Taha Ariffin in Petra Jaya. Kick-off is at 8.15pm Malaysia time, and Aidil Sharin Sahak's side need a positive result after a stoppage-time defeat in their opening Group H game.

A painful opener in Phnom Penh

Kuching City's first-ever match in Asian club competition ended in a 2-1 loss to Phnom Penh Crown in Cambodia on 17 September. After a goalless first half, Moses Dyer put the Cambodian side ahead, and Adjin Mujagic equalised for the Cats in the 73rd minute. Dyer then struck again in added time to take all three points.

The result left Kuching City bottom of Group H with no points. Phnom Penh Crown lead with three, while South Korea's Gangwon FC and Kitchee have one each after drawing 0-0 in their opening match.

On the same night as the Kuching game, Gangwon host Phnom Penh Crown at 6pm Malaysia time, so a home win for the Cats would pull them level with at least one of their rivals and keep the group tight.

Home comforts after a venue switch

The Sarawak club had initially listed Johor Bahru's Stadium Larkin as a fallback home ground while Stadium Taha Ariffin was upgraded to meet AFC requirements. Inspectors from the AFC, the ASEAN Football Federation and FAM visited on 23 September and gave conditional approval, and the AFC later confirmed the stadium as Kuching City's venue for the rest of the group stage.

Club chairman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman has said new seating raises capacity to 17,584. A friendly against Sabah and the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup game against Tampines Rovers on 7 October were used to test ticketing, security and crowd flow before the continental fixture. Fans have been urged to arrive early for Thursday's game.

In-form forwards

Kuching City arrive in decent form. They drew 2-2 with Singapore's Tampines Rovers in their Shopee Cup opener, and they have since booked a place in the Malaysia FA Cup semi-finals, where they will face Selangor. Mujagic, who scored their only ACL Two goal so far, hit a hat-trick in the quarter-final win over Kelantan City.

In the Malaysia Super League, the Cats finished runners-up to Johor Darul Ta'zim last season, which earned them this first ACL Two place.

Kitchee's challenge

Kitchee are one of Hong Kong's most experienced sides in Asian competition. They held Gangwon to a goalless draw in their opener, a result that shows they will be difficult to break down. Kuching City will be looking to avoid the sort of late lapse that cost them in Phnom Penh.

The return fixture against Kitchee and the meetings with Gangwon will shape whether Kuching City can challenge for a top-two finish. Malaysian viewers can watch ACL Two on Astro and its streaming platforms, which hold AFC club rights in Malaysia until the end of 2028-29.

Key takeaways

• Kuching City host Kitchee at Stadium Taha Ariffin on Thursday, 15 October, at 8.15pm Malaysia time.
• The Cats lost 2-1 to Phnom Penh Crown in their opener after conceding in stoppage time.
• Stadium Taha Ariffin was approved by the AFC as their group-stage home after upgrades, with capacity now 17,584.
• Gangwon and Kitchee drew 0-0 on matchday one; Phnom Penh Crown lead Group H.

FAQ

What time is Kuching City vs Kitchee in Malaysia? The match kicks off at 8.15pm Malaysia time on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Where is the match being played? At Stadium Taha Ariffin in Petra Jaya, Kuching, after the AFC confirmed it as the club's group-stage venue.

Who scored Kuching City's goal against Phnom Penh Crown? Adjin Mujagic scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute before Moses Dyer's late winner for the hosts.

Sources: Bernama, Utusan Sarawak, The Borneo Post, Makan Bola, Ticket Hotline, Inside World Football