Five Takeaways from AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ Matchday Nine

Sat, 26 Mar, 2022

Five Takeaways from AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ Matchday Nine

Dubai: A thrilling day of AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ action produced some big stories across the continent as Saudi Arabia and Japan officially joined Korea Republic and Islamic Republic of Iran as well as hosts Qatar as Asia’s four confirmed representatives on the global stage later this year.

Australia were consigned to finish third, having previously confirmed they cannot mathematically finish any lower. Across the two groups, there was plenty of drama, late goals, managerial debuts gone right and wrong and more. So the-AFC.com takes us through five key takeaways from Matchday Nine.

Bento hails Son after Korea Republic claim long-awaited win over IR Iran

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

Bento hails Son after Korea Republic claim long-awaited win over IR Iran

Seoul: Korea Republic head coach Paulo Bento was full of praise for Son Heung-min after his captain’s goal on the stroke of half-time paved the way for a 2-0 win over the Islamic Republic of Iran in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ on Thursday. 

With both nations having already sealed their places at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™, Bento’s side went into their penultimate match second in the standings, two points behind an Iranian team they were aiming to beat for the first time in eight attempts in a run that stretched back to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup™. 

And after dominating the opening 45 minutes at a sold-out Seoul World Cup Stadium, Son finally broke the deadlock with a fizzing shot from distance in first-half stoppage time as the Tottenham Hotspur forward’s goal set the Taeguk Warriors on their way to a rare victory over Team Melli. 

Renard satisfied with Saudi Arabia's progress despite China PR draw

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

Renard satisfied with Saudi Arabia's progress despite China PR draw

Sharjah: Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard celebrated his team’s qualification for the FIFA World Cup™ despite a 1-1 draw with China PR in Sharjah on Thursday that saw the Gulf nation relinquish top spot in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ with one match remaining.

The draw with the already-eliminated Chinese saw the Saudis slip to second in the standings, one point behind Japan after the Samurai Blue defeated Australia in Sydney to book their berth at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and move into pole position.
 
Japan’s win over Graham Arnold’s side also meant Saudi Arabia had qualified for the FIFA World Cup ahead of Thursday’s game.

Japan’s Moriyasu credits players for Sydney success, Arnold looks ahead

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

Japan’s Moriyasu credits players for Sydney success, Arnold looks ahead

Sydney: Delighted Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu lauded the winning mindset of his players after they scored twice in the dying minutes to qualify for this year’s FIFA World Cup™ with a 2-0 AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ win over Australia on Thursday.

Substitute Kaoru Mitoma was the hero, breaking the deadlock from close range in the 89th minute before a low effort skidded on the greasy surface and under goalkeeper Mat Ryan four minutes into stoppage time as Japan celebrated their first away win over the Socceroos since 1998.

‘Better late than never’, says Iraq captain Abdulameer after UAE win

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

‘Better late than never’, says Iraq captain Abdulameer after UAE win

Riyadh: Iraq captain Saad Abdulameer hailed his side’s character in Thursday's 1-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™.

The Lions of Mesopotamia ended their long wait for a first win in the qualifiers, collecting all three points at the King Fahd International Stadium thanks to a second-half goal from Hussein Ali to keep alive their hopes of sealing third place in the group and a ticket to June’s playoff against Australia.

Oman's Ivankovic satisfied with three points, Vietnam's Park looks to Japan

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

Oman's Ivankovic satisfied with three points, Vietnam's Park looks to Japan

Hanoi: Branko Ivankovic admitted that while Oman were not at their best in Thursday's 1-0 victory over Vietnam in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™, he was happy to leave My Dinh Stadium with all three points. 

In a closely fought encounter, Khalid Al Hajri’s fine header from Salaah Al Yahyaei’s corner 20 minutes into the second half proved the difference between the sides as Oman won for the first time since defeating the same opponents in Muscat on Matchday Four. 

That result, coupled with China PR’s 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia later in the day, means the West Asians are guaranteed to finish fourth in Group B as they prepare to bring the curtain down on their campaign against the fifth-placed Chinese side in the Omani capital on Tuesday. 

Lebanon's Hasek disappointed with heavy defeat to Syria

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

Lebanon's Hasek disappointed with heavy defeat to Syria

Sidon: Lebanon head coach Ivan Hasek was a disappointed man following his side’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Syria in Group A of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ at the Saida Municipal Stadium on Thursday.

The defeat virtually ended Lebanon’s hope of reaching the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time ever as they now have an impossible task that would require them to win their final match and wait for the other results to go their way.

Sergeev late show helps Uzbekistan past Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan fall to Uganda

Sat, 26 Mar, 2022

Sergeev late show helps Uzbekistan past Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan fall to Uganda

Namangan: Uzbekistan will face Uganda in next Tuesday’s Navruz Cup Final after both sides earned wins on the opening day of the tournament at the Markaziy Stadium.

Uganda scraped past Tajikistan on penalties after the opening match of the event finished 1-1, while striker Igor Sergeev was the hero for Uzbekistan, who came from behind to defeat Kyrgyz Republic by a 3-1 margin in the late match.

China PR, Philippines soar, DPR Korea still Asia’s number one in FIFA women’s rankings

Fri, 25 Mar, 2022

China PR, Philippines soar, DPR Korea still Asia’s number one in FIFA women’s rankings

Kuala Lumpur: AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ success powered China PR and the Philippines up the list, while DPR Korea remained Asia’s highest ranked side in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings update.

China PR’s ninth Asian title saw them climb three places from 19th to 16th on the global list, and are now the fourth-highest ranked team in Asia, having moved one place ahead of Korea Republic, who they defeated in last month's continental decider.