Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Thailand ended their 2019 AFC Beach Soccer Championship campaign on a positive note, and did a favour for their Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia, by beating Afghanistan 2-0 in their final Group A match on Monday.
Goals from Thakorn Wikayaphan and Tanandon Praracha sealed the win for Abolfazl Khodabandehloo's team, who finished level with Malaysia on three points, but were unable to progress to the last eight by virtue of their inferior head-to-head record.
It was an opportunity missed for Afghanistan, who squandered the chance to reach the knockout stage to finish bottom of the group on two points.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Palestine finished as Group A winners with a dramatic 6-5 win against Malaysia at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 on Monday.
A hat-trick from Maisara Al Bawwab proved crucial for the Palestinians, who took their group stage tally to a full nine points from three matches, while Malaysia also squeezed through to the last eight thanks to Thailand's later 2-0 win over Afghanistan.
Mohammed Faizal So'od's charges advance due to their superior head-to-head record, with both they and Thailand finishing on three points.
Malaysia will meet Group B winners United Arab Emirates in Thursday's quarter-finals while Palestine will face Lebanon.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: United Arab Emirates emerged as Group B winners, recovering from two goals down to beat Lebanon 3-2 at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 on Monday.
Both sides had already guaranteed progression the last eight prior to the match, but UAE's win means head coach Mohammed Almaazmi's pre-tournament goal of winning the title without defeat remains a possibility.
United Arab Emirates will now meet Malaysia in the quarter-finals on Thursday, while Lebanon will face unbeaten Palestine.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: China PR ended their AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 campaign on a high, recording a thumping 9-3 win over Kyrgyz Republic, their first under head coach Ramiro Amarelle, on Monday.
Both sides had been eliminated from quarter-final contention two days prior, but a commanding performance which netted eight goals in the final two periods ensured China would leave the Land of Smiles with one of their own.
The result means Amarelle's men finish Group B in third place, while Kyrgyz Republic's first appearance in the competition ended in three defeats.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Bahrain's charge to the AFC Beach Soccer Championship Thailand 2019 quarter-finals comes as no surprise to head coach Mahmood Al Ghawi, who revealed he is happy for opponents to take his side lightly in the competition.
The West Asian nation are one of only six Asian teams to have been to FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, in 2006 and 2009, but the lack of a local league and a paucity of recent matches meant they were not initially expected to be among the major contenders in Pattaya.
That suits Al Ghawi perfectly, who said - ahead of his side's Matchday Three clash with Japan - that keeping expectations low prior to the tournament was all part of a strategy.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pattaya: Oman are not in Thailand just to make up the numbers, with head coach Talib Hilal calling for his side to continue their strong start at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship 2019 in their Matchday Three clash with holders Islamic Republic of Iran.
A 6-3 win over Iraq in their first outing has sealed Oman's progression to the last eight, but they will arrive in the quarter-finals as group winners if they take points against the defending champions and world number two on Tuesday.
Oman are chasing not only the Asian title, but one of three places up for grabs at this year's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay; a stage they reached in 2011 and 2015.
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.