Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: After 25 matches, just four teams remain in contention at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019, with two mouth-watering semi-finals in prospect on Friday.
Palestine will be chasing history when they play Japan, while United Arab Emirates are set to meet Oman, with the winners sealing a title showdown, and qualification to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay this November.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/oman_celebrate-beach.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uae_celebrate-beach.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/mohamad_almaazmi-uae-beach.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/japan-joy-beach.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/ruy_ramos-japan-beach.html
www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_beach_soccer_asian_cup/video/quarter-finals_highlights.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/afc_beach_soccer_championship_2019_-_palestine_vs_lebanon_5.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Palestine dramatically sealed a place in the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 semi-finals, scoring with 90 seconds remaining to beat Lebanon 4-3 on Thursday.
A Mahmoud Al Neirab spot-kick eventually sealed the close-fought win, which keeps Palestine's dual dreams of the Asian title and a place at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup alive.
The result spells the end of the competition for Lebanon, whose dream of a first-ever World Cup berth is deferred for at least two more years.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Oman became the first side to book a place in the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 semi-finals, after they defeated Bahrain 5-3 in a close-fought quarter-final on Thursday.
Two goals from Khalid Al Oraimi, both scored at crucial times, were the key to victory for Oman, who are now one win away from both the competition's final and a place in the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.
Oman will now meet UAE in Friday's semi-final, while Bahrain's brave defeat eliminates them from the competition, and ends their hopes of returning to the global Finals after a 10-year absence.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: UAE kept their goal of becoming the beach soccer kings of Asia very much alive, cruising into the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019's final four with a convincing 8-1 victory over Malaysia on Thursday.
A three-goal opening period set up the win for the Emiratis, who will now meet red-hot Oman in Friday's semi-final, with the winners to advance to both the Asian final and November's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.
Malaysia's run in the competition comes to an end after Mohammed Faizal So'od's side defied expectations to reach the knockout stage for the first time.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Japan came from two goals down to secure a place in the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 semi-finals, after earning a stunning 3-2 extra time win against defending champions Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursday.
A 38th minute free-kick from Takuya Akaguma decided what was a sensational, see-sawing match, after the Continental heavyweights were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
The loss comes as a crushing blow to Iran, who will miss the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup after having qualified for seven of the last eight editions, and finishing third in 2017.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Japan captain Ozu Moreira believes Asian beach soccer is becoming more competitive every year, and dreams of a day where the Continent's best players can test themselves in each other's national leagues.
The Brazilian-born star has established himself as one of the standout players in Asia and beyond with a long list of achievements at both club and national team level.
Arriving in Japan in 2007, and naturalised five years later, Ozu has been an indispensable part of a national team which has been among the best in Asia, and was voted as one of the world's top five players in 2014.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Ramiro Amarelle's glittering playing career made him one of beach soccer's biggest stars, now he is tasked with growing the sport in the world's most populous country, starting with AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019.
For more than two decades, life has been a beach for Amarelle. After progressing through the youth ranks as a footballer at Deportivo La Coruña, he made the permanent switch to the sand as a 19-year-old, making his debut for the Spanish national team in 1997.
What followed was a stellar 16-year international career, which included over 300 international goals and an extensive list of individual accolades which included two MVP Awards at FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups in 2003 and 2008.