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AFC Asian Qualifiers
As the teams traverse the continent for Tuesday's second matchday, the-AFC.com takes a look at the facts and figures from Thursday's opening round of matches.
No home comfort for trio
Kuwait, Philippines and Thailand failed to capitalise on home ground advantage as all three suffered opening day defeats. Kuwait were beaten 1-0 by India in Group A, China PR came from behind to edge Thailand 2-1 in Group C while Philippines lost 2-0 to Vietnam in Group F.
Kuwait, Philippines and Thailand failed to capitalise on home ground advantage as all three suffered opening day defeats. Kuwait were beaten 1-0 by India in Group A, China PR came from behind to edge Thailand 2-1 in Group C while Philippines lost 2-0 to Vietnam in Group F.
Hotshots
Almoez Ali leads the Round 2 scoring chart with four goals in Qatar's 8-1 win over Afghanistan in Group while following closely behind are Japan's Ayase Ueda and Jamie Maclaren. Ueda netted a hat-trick in Japan's 5-0 defeat of Myanmar in Group B while Maclaren netted three as Australia cruised 7-0 past Bangladesh in Group I.
Almoez Ali leads the Round 2 scoring chart with four goals in Qatar's 8-1 win over Afghanistan in Group while following closely behind are Japan's Ayase Ueda and Jamie Maclaren. Ueda netted a hat-trick in Japan's 5-0 defeat of Myanmar in Group B while Maclaren netted three as Australia cruised 7-0 past Bangladesh in Group I.
Fastest goal
Harry Souttar scored the fastest goal on Matchday One, with the Australian finding the back of the net in the fourth minute against Bangladesh.
Harry Souttar scored the fastest goal on Matchday One, with the Australian finding the back of the net in the fourth minute against Bangladesh.
Dramatic finishes
Malaysia's winning goal against Kyrgyz Republic in their Group D tie was scored by Faisal Halim in the third minute of second half added time while there was also an exciting finish in the Group G encounter between Tajikistan and Jordan, with Shahrom Samiev's 89th minute opener cancelled out by Yazan Al Naimat three minutes into stoppage time.
Malaysia's winning goal against Kyrgyz Republic in their Group D tie was scored by Faisal Halim in the third minute of second half added time while there was also an exciting finish in the Group G encounter between Tajikistan and Jordan, with Shahrom Samiev's 89th minute opener cancelled out by Yazan Al Naimat three minutes into stoppage time.
Afghanistan's Sharifi proves a point
Afghanistan may have been beaten 8-1 by Qatar but Amiruddin Sharifi (pictured below, left) could walk tall at the Khalifa International Stadium, with the forwardthe only player to score against one of the six Asian sides that had competed in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Afghanistan may have been beaten 8-1 by Qatar but Amiruddin Sharifi (pictured below, left) could walk tall at the Khalifa International Stadium, with the forwardthe only player to score against one of the six Asian sides that had competed in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Clean sheets
Twelve of the 36 teams kept a clean sheet on Matchday One with the Group I tie between Lebanon and Palestine ending in a goalless stalemate.
Twelve of the 36 teams kept a clean sheet on Matchday One with the Group I tie between Lebanon and Palestine ending in a goalless stalemate.
Red mist
Kuwait's Faisal Al Harbi and Afghanistan's Farzad Ataie were the only players to be red-carded on Matchday One.
Kuwait's Faisal Al Harbi and Afghanistan's Farzad Ataie were the only players to be red-carded on Matchday One.
Pakistan make their bow
There may not have been a winning start for Pakistan as they fell 4-0 to Saudi Arabia but the South Asian side had every reason to be proud after making their debut at this stage of the competition.
There may not have been a winning start for Pakistan as they fell 4-0 to Saudi Arabia but the South Asian side had every reason to be proud after making their debut at this stage of the competition.
