Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Reigning champions Islamic Republic of Iran eased into the last eight with two huge wins, but head coach Shahrzad Mozafar is wary of the challenge posed by China PR in Wednesday’s AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 quarter-final.
Fourteen goals against Turkmenistan and nine more against Uzbekistan showed Iran remain a team of outstanding quality, but Mozafar has been impressed with what she has recently seen from her Chinese opponents.
The two sides met in a pair of friendly matches in Tehran just over a month ago, and although Iran won the first match 6-1, the second was a much more competitive 3-3 draw, with the hosts ultimately prevailing on penalties.
“From the two friendly matches with China in Iran, we could see that China really improved from the (2017) Asian Indoor Games. That was obvious,” Mozafar said.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Two undefeated Southeast Asian nations will go head to head for a place in the final four as Vietnam meet Indonesia in Wednesday's AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Vietnam have swept all before them in Bangkok, notching consecutive wins against Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh and Malaysia to reach the Knockout Stage as Group D winners.
Their reward for topping their section of the draw is a quarter-final meeting against an Indonesia side they beat 2-1 in last August’s SEA Games, but head coach Truong Quoc Tran is concerned his opponents are on an upward trajectory.
“After the group stage we have seen Indonesia are a very strong team that have improved in a short time since the SEA Games,” he said.
“In the last six months from the SEA Games to their performances here, I have noticed Indonesia have made a tactical improvement and I also believe their defence is better.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Thailand’s preparations for their AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 quarter-final against Chinese Taipei have been dealt a blow, with the revelation that tournament leading scorer Sasicha Phothiwong has suffered a knee injury.
The 26-year-old who has lit up the court, and the scoring charts, with seven goals in Thailand’s three group stage matches sustained the knock after scoring a hat-trick in Sunday’s 8-0 win against Hong Kong.
Head coach Udom Taveesuk confirmed the news, but stopped short of saying the star would miss Wednesday’s match.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: 2015 runners-up Japan are among the favourites to lift the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 trophy on Saturday, but Uzbekistan head coach Avaz Maksumov is aiming to mastermind an upset against the East Asians in Wednesday's quarter-final.
Uzbekistan finished winless and rock bottom of their group in the 2015 edition of the tournament, but reaching the Knockout Stage this time around is only the first step towards achieving Maksumov’s lofty pre-tournament goal.
“Maybe this is strange, but before this tournament our goal was to play in the final match,” he revealed.
“I think every coach should be wanting their team to play well every time. Maybe our team is not the best team here, but our goal is to go as far as we can and reach the final match.”