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AFC Asian Cup
Back-to-back losses had ended hosts Mongolia’s chances of reaching the AFC Asian Cup Finals before the Matchday Three encounter but they opened the scoring inside 10 minutes through Ganbayar and then doubled their advantage when their Europe-based star again found the back of the net early in the second half.
Yemen pushed to get back into the game but were met with stubborn Mongolian resistance as the West Asians' second successive defeat ended their chances of finishing second in the standings and remaining in the hunt for a place at the continental competition.
Yemen pushed to get back into the game but were met with stubborn Mongolian resistance as the West Asians' second successive defeat ended their chances of finishing second in the standings and remaining in the hunt for a place at the continental competition.
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Yemen went into the game needing to win by at least two goals to claim the runners-up spot in Group B ahead of Philippines and keep alive their hopes of advancing to the AFC Asian Cup as one of the five best second-placed sides.
But it was Mongolia who started the brighter, showing more attacking intent from the off than they had done in their narrow defeats to Palestine and Philippines, with Tuguldur Munkh-Erdene’s early shot over the bar sending a warning to the West Asians.
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And the hosts then took the lead in the eighth minute when the Yemeni defence failed to deal with goalkeeper Munkh-Erdene Enkhtaivan’s long kick up the pitch, allowing Ganbayar to control the bouncing ball before placing a lovely effort into the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.
It wasn’t until midway through the first half that Yemen got their first sight on goal, but Abdulwasea Al Matari was off the mark from just inside the box after doing well to create space for the shooting opportunity.
Yemen were starting to see more of the ball, though, and just moments later Al Matari found Ahmed Al Sarori, who broke into the box from the right and fired a vicious shot goalwards that was superbly tipped over by Munkh-Erdene.
Yemen were starting to see more of the ball, though, and just moments later Al Matari found Ahmed Al Sarori, who broke into the box from the right and fired a vicious shot goalwards that was superbly tipped over by Munkh-Erdene.
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The visitors had another half chance shortly after the restart with Nasser Al Gahwashi drilling wide from 20 yards as they sought a way back into the game, but they were to be dealt a major blow when Mongolia added a second in the 53rd minute.
Captain Tsend-Ayush Khurelbaatar delivered an inswinging free-kick from the left that was headed back across goal by Oyunbaatar Otgonbayar and volleyed home by Ganbayar for his second of the game.
Captain Tsend-Ayush Khurelbaatar delivered an inswinging free-kick from the left that was headed back across goal by Oyunbaatar Otgonbayar and volleyed home by Ganbayar for his second of the game.
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Yemen kept pushing forward and substitute Omar Al Dahi picked out Al Matari’s run into the box but a combination of defender Purevdorj Bayartsengel and goalkeeper Munkh-Erdene kept the midfielder out as he bore down on goal.
Ganbayar continued to trouble the Yemen defence, dancing infield from the right with a little over 10 minutes to play and fizzing another effort on target as he looked to complete his hat-trick, but this time his attempt was easily kept out by goalkeeper Salem Al Harsh.
But there were to be no further goals as Ichiro Otsuka’s Mongolia held out for a 2-0 win to rise to third in Group B and bring the curtain down on a campaign that they can take plenty of positives from, while one point from three games sees Yemen finish bottom.
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