Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Jordan coach Vital Borkelmans could barely suppress his delight as he celebrated his team’s progress to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday, with the Belgian claiming happiness has been key to his squad’s impressive performances so far.
Borkelmans’ team secured a 2-0 win over Syria in Al Ain that guaranteed the Jordanians a top two finish in Group B, having already opened their 2019 campaign with an impressive 1-0 win over defending champions Australia.
Those results mean Jordan will finish no lower than second in the group no matter what happens in the remaining matches and the country will advance to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup for the third time since making their debut at the competition in 2004.
www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/video/group_b_matchday_2_jordan_vs_syria.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/vital_borkelmans-jordan_2.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/jordan-fans.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Jordan became the first team to advance to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday as Vital Borkelmans’ side handed Syria a 2-0 defeat in Al Ain to seal their spot in the Round of 16.
The result saw the Syria Football Association announcing the sacking of coach Bernd Stange a few hours later, with Fajr Ibrahim appointed as his replacement.
For Jordan, the win - courtesy of goals from Mousa Suleiman Al Tamari and Tareq Khattab - means Borkelmans and his team can finish no lower than second in Group B no matter the outcome of the remaining games in the group.
Australia face Palestine in Abu Dhabi on Friday before Jordan take on the Palestinians in their final group game on January 15, when the Socceroos go head-to-head with the Syrians in Al Ain.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Bernd Stange became the latest managerial casualty of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday evening when the German was removed from his position at the helm of Syria following his side’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Jordan.
The Syrian Football Association issued a statement hours after the loss to their neighbours, stating Stange has been replaced by former coach Ayman Hakeem for the remainder of the tournament. However, in a later update, former head coach Fajr Ibrahim was announced as the replacement.
Syria are due to face Australia on January 15 in their final game in Group B and must win against the defending champions to have any hope of advancing to the knockout phase of the competition for the first time in the country’s history.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Australia may be the AFC Asian Cup defending champions, but head coach Graham Arnold said the achievements of 2015 are irrelevant ahead of Friday's must-win Group B fixture against Palestine.
A shock opening defeat to Jordan has left the holders in a potentially precarious position should they fail to win at Rashid Stadium, and Arnold said it was up to the players here and now to get their campaign back on track.
With Jordan having sealed one Round of 16 spot from the group after defeating Syria 2-0 on Thursday, Friday's match is a tie Australia can't afford to drop points in.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Host nation the United Arab Emirates edged a step closer to a place in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019’s Round of 16 on Thursday as a hard-fought 2-0 win over India saw Alberto Zaccheroni’s side go top of a decidedly tight Group A.
On a night of high-octane entertainment at a wonderfully atmospheric Zayed Sports City Stadium, goals from Khalfan Mubarak and Ali Mabkhout helped secure the vital victory, one which reignites the UAE’s aspirations of reaching the knockout phase following a 1-1 draw with regional rivals Bahrain on Matchday One.
With all still to play for in Monday’s final set of fixtures, the table-topping Emiratis are on four points, one ahead of India in second and third-placed Thailand after the Southeast Asians beat Bahrain 1-0 earlier in the day.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Kyrgyz Republic head coach Alexsandr Krestinin has done his homework and knows how to stop Korea Republic in their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Group C clash at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Friday.
The White Falcons started brightly in their opener against China PR, taking a first-half lead but conceded an own goal at the start of the second half before losing the tie 2-1 but Krestinin remains confident of his team’s abilities against the two-time champions.
“We have had some time to prepare. My team are ready to face the Koreans tomorrow (Friday). It’s going to be a tough contest but an interesting one for sure. China is a different team than Korea, so there will surely be changes in the lineup tomorrow,” said the 40-year-old.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Friendship will take a backseat when Marcello Lippi and Sven-Goran Eriksson lock horns in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Friday.
It is a friendship that started in the 1980s but China PR head coach Lippi and his Philippines counterpart Eriksson are both on a mission to ensure their teams enjoy a successful AFC Asian Cup.
China PR are on a better footing, coming from behind to defeat Kyrgyz Republic 2-1 on Matchday One while The Azkals were unfortunate to suffer a 1-0 defeat after a plucky display against Korea Republic.