Victor Karpenko's Volley among 5 of the Best in Asia

In the second edition of the '5 of the Best' series, The-AFC.com turns the attention to volleys and recall some of the greatest strikes the Continental competition has ever witnessed.

Huang Bowen – Guangzhou Evergrande
vs Kashiwa Reysol, September 15, 2017

In a tie synonymous with great goals (think Paulinho's wonder-strike in the first leg), Huang Bowen produced a spectacular effort that flew into the top right corner and brought the 48,000 inside Tianhe Stadium to their feet.

Captain Zheng Zhi delivered from the left and Huang, with his weaker left foot, struck a first-time volley from the edge of the area that gave goalkeeper Sugeno Takanori no chance with what was one of several world-class goals from the Chinese international in Guangzhou's triumphant 2015 campaign.

Aqeel Al Sahbi – Al Ahli
vs Al Ain, March 13, 2017

Aqeel Al Sahbi showed the goalscorer's instinct you'd expect from his teammate Omar Al Soma and not of someone who spent the majority of his game time in the centre of the Al Ahli defence.

Abdulfattah Asiri sent in a corner and Al Sahbi, facing away from goal, produced a deft touch with the outside of his right that sailed over Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa to open the scoring in a 2-2 draw.

Ryoichi Kurisawa – Kashiwa Reysol
vs Suwon Samsung Bluewings, April 3, 2013

A spectacular strike that has been replayed over an over again in the ensuing years, Ryoichi Kurisawa delighted the travelling band of Kashiwa Reysol fans with this volley for the ages at Suwon World Cup Stadium.

Leandro's corner from the right was half cleared by the Suwon Samsung Bluewings defence but, unmarked 25 yards out, Kurisawa, with minimal backlift, sent it goalwards in emphatic style with his first of two in a 6-2 win.

Victor Karpenko – Bunyodkor
vs Pohang Steelers, September 23, 2009

The Bunyodkor team of 2008-2012 brings back many great memories – think FIFA World Cup winners Rivaldo and Luiz Felipe Scolari – but Victor Karpenko's volley in the 2009 quarter-finals against Pohang Steelers takes some beating.

Rivaldo's corner was punched out by goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong, only for Karpenko to fizz it back in the direction it came from to draw the hosts level with a strike even his Brazilian teammate would have been proud of.

Bader Al Sulaitin – Al Shabab
vs Al Jazira, May 1, 2013

Bader Al Sulaitin played the super-sub role to perfection at home to the UAE's Al Jazira in the 2013 group stage, with the midfielder brought off the bench midway through the second half and producing the winner 13 minutes later.

Al Sulaitin first received the ball on the left, played a pair of give-and-goes and then, after flicking the ball up, sent an outrageous volley flying over the despairing Khalid Eisa to seal a 2-1 victory.