Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Dushanbe: Afghanistan coach Otto Pfister is predicting a bright future for football in the country after seeing his side notch a win over Cambodia to close out their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifying campaign.
Jabar Sharza scored twice on Tuesday as the Afghans guaranteed themselves a third place finish in Group C, and although that meant they missed out on the Finals behind group winners Jordan and second placed Vietnam, the German saw plenty to be positive about in his team’s performance.
“Generally we have played some good matches throughout this campaign,” said the veteran coach, who took Togo to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals.
“We are raising a team and the players have gathered a lot of experience against teams at a good level. I believe the future of Afghanistan football will be bright, we just have to have more and more professionalism.”
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/afghanistan-cambodia-action.html

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Dushanble: Jabar Sharza scored twice as Afghanistan closed out their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over Cambodia on Tuesday evening at the Pamir Stadium.
Victory ensured Otto Pfister’s team claimed third place in Group C with six points from their six games while Cambodia ended bottom of the standings three points behind.
Jordan and Vietnam had already secured the top two spots and the berths at next year’s Finals in the United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan were looking for their first win of the campaign after three draws and two losses and Pfister’s team started strongly, with Sharza looking particularly lively in attack.
But it was the Cambodians who fashioned out the best opening of the first quarter of the game when Chan Vathanka forced Afghanistan goalkeeper Sou Yaty into action in the 21st minute.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kuala Lumpur: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has congratulated the final three teams – DPR Korea, Philippines and Yemen – for sealing their spots at the biggest ever AFC Asian Cup.
After more than three years of captivating action, the final day of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final Round Qualifiers culminated in an epic night of football with Philippines sealing their first-ever berth for the ultimate stage as well as Yemen, who have advanced for the first time since the country’s unification.
Philippines clinched their historic qualification after overcoming Tajikistan 2-1 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Tuesday to take pole position in Group F. The result also confirmed Yemen’s passage in the UAE with Abraham Mebratu's men benefiting from a superior head-to-head record over Tajikistan.
The West Asians, who participated as South Yemen in the 1976 edition, maintained their unbeaten record in Group F after defeating Nepal 2-1 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Earlier in the day, DPR Korea secured their third consecutive appearance in the AFC Asian Cup after a convincing 2-0 home victory over Hong Kong to finish as runners-up in Group B behind Lebanon.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Kuala Lumpur: The decision to expand the AFC Asian Cup to 24 teams has had an immediate impact with Kyrgyz Republic, the Philippines and Yemen qualifying for the Finals for the first time in history.
A frenetic final day of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 saw DPR Korea, the Philippines and Yemen taking the last three available spots on Tuesday.
Kyrgyz Republic ended their campaign with a 2-1 win over India in Group A but they had sealed their place in the Finals after defeating Myanmar 5-1 last Thursday.
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the three teams who have taken their place among the Continent’s best for next January’s extravaganza in the United Arab Emirates.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Manila: Phil Younghusband scored the 50th goal of his Philippines career from the penalty spot against Tajikistan on Tuesday, but the joy of reaching that auspicious landmark paled compared to the elation of booking a berth at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The Azkals missed out on a place at the 2015 Finals when they lost to Palestine in the final of the AFC Challenge Cup and their dreams of making a debut appearance at the continental championship were in danger when Akhtam Nazarov scored from the penalty spot to give Tajikistan the lead on Tuesday.
But Kevin Ingreso’s perfectly placed header pulled the Philippines - who only needed a draw to secure a top two finish in Group F – level before Younghusband’s last minute spot-kick sealed the Southeast Asian nation’s passage to their first-ever Finals as group winners.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Bishkek: Aleksandr Krestinin was left with a bittersweet feeling after seeing his Kyrgyz Republic side round out their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win over India but narrowly missing out on claiming top spot in Group A.
Jeju Lalpekhlua’s goal for India two minutes from time was just enough to ensure Stephen Constantine’s side finished on top of the standings after both nations had already guaranteed their progress to January’s Finals in the United Arab Emirates.
“We are happy with the victory, but we missed out on gaining first place in the group in the last minutes,” said Krestinin.
“We began the game very well. We put up a strong battle on the pitch and scored an early goal. We did that for a second time in a row.
“India are a good team and they haven't lost any of their recent matches so we were able to achieve victory over a tough opponent.
“Our aim was to win this match and I think we showed the fans some good football. We have qualified to the final stage of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. It’s a good achievement and means a dream has come true for my players.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Pyongyang: Jorn Andersen believes he is leaving the DPR Korea national team in a much stronger position than when he arrived to take charge two years ago after signing off as head coach by securing a berth at next year’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
DPR Korea needed to avoid defeat against Hong Kong on Tuesday to clinch qualification to the Finals for a third tournament in a row and goals from Jong Il-gwan and Pak Kwang-ryong proved enough to claim all three points.
Andersen’s team finished qualifying in second place in Group B, five points behind winners Lebanon but well clear of third placed Hong Kong and basement dwellers Malaysia as they booked their spot in the Finals.