[donar]

Group A
21 Jan: Hong Kong 1-3 Bahrain
20 Jan: Japan 2-1 Yemen
28 Jan: Bahrain 1-0 Japan
28 Jan: Yemen 1-0 Hong Kong

Group B
19 Jan: Oman 0-0 Indonesia
28 Jan: Indonesia 0-0 Australia
28 Jan: Kuwait 0-1 Oman
05 Mar: Australia - Kuwait

Group C:
21 Jan: Malaysia 0-5 UAE
28 Jan: UAE 0-1 Uzbekistan

Group D
14 Jan: Syria 3-2 China
14 Jan: Vietnam 3-1 Lebanon
21 Jan: China 6-1 Vietnam
28 Jan: Lebanon 0-2 Syria

Group E
14 Jan: Iran 6-0 Singapore
14 Jan: Jordan 0-0 Thailand
28 Jan: Thailand 0-0 Iran
28 Jan: Singapore 2-1 Jordan

 

[Wally]

Asian Cup qualifiers

Iraq as previous winners, Saudi Arabia and South Korea already have spots in the finals as do hosts Qatar but so do AFC challenge cup winners of 2008, India
Another spot will be open to the winners of the 2010 edition which will include the likes of North Korea but a whole lot of lesser footballing nations like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh too.

There also are qualifiers in which the top 2 of each group qualify for the finals
http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-asian-cup-2011-schedule-a-results

So far going to schedule for all the big boys but surprising to see Syria on top of Group D and already qualified for the thing.

 

[Jeffrey]

So far going to schedule for all the big boys

We're in an OK position but it's been very tough. Started off with a loss and a draw then followed up by two narrow victories. The last one we were reduced to ten men and Emerton struck a late volley. Schwarzer and crap finishing saved us. And now we head to Kuwait with no Kewell, Cahill, Bresciano, Schwarzer, Emerton, Neill, Grella, so on. Still some good players to call on and can win, although Kuwait have won the last two against us. Oman three points behind.

Thanks for that link.

 

[Jeffrey]

Firdaus, about Singapore, I didn't make that 'Asians Abroad' list and unfortunately I'm not aware of any Singaporeans playing abroad. But I notice they stand second in qualifying only one point behind Iran. South-East Asia is regarded as the weakest region so they're really flying the flag, standing ahead of a team like Jordan. Despite that they've conceded the most goals by far and not scored a lot, they've still managed to claim results somehow along the way. Seen any of their matches?

 

[Wally]

Looks like Japan might pull out of the qualifier away against Yemen in January.

Understandable with the conflicts there.

 

[Wally]

FT Indonesië 1 - 2 Oman
FT China 0 - 0 Syrië
FT Singapore 1 - 3 Iran
FT Thailand 0 - 0 Jordan
FT Libanon 1 - 1 Vietnam

China :wth:

Japan currently 2-2 against Yemen after being 2 down lol and Australia already 2 up against Kuwait after 20'

 

[Wally]

2-3 FT

HATTRICK Sota Hiroyama

Surely he has to make it now, ILA :stuckup: p

Him to be Japan's Joshua Kennedy?

 

[Jeffrey]

Australia already 2 up against Kuwait after 20'

The first half was ****ed up. Australia were two up around the five minute mark due to a combination of cliicial opportunistic finishing and schoolyard-level defending.

There was talk about the state of the pitch and truly it was awful. Rough, uneven, the ball kept bobbling in the air when the players wanted to keep it flat. They could have opted to play at a bigger stadium with a more refined pitch but the decision was made to bring it to this particular venue due to the NTs winning record there.

Fans were let in for free and they created a great atmosphere.

Just as the match started with a bang, so the half ended. Heffernan made a mistake, misjudging the bounce of the ball, then Al Enezi capitalised, running into the box to finish clinically at the far left post. Then a few minutes later a cutting through ball was produced by Mutwa which Nasser ran onto inside the penalty box. He beat our GK at the far post.

Before Australia fell apart we pressured well and didn't give them time to create much. Then when we claimed the ball the key was to keep it simple and direct.

I missed most of the second half, fell asleep. When I woke Nikita was on the pitch.

Ended 2-2.

2-3 FT

HATTRICK Sota Hiroyama

Surely he has to make it now, ILA :stuckup: p

Him to be Japan's Joshua Kennedy?

"I was wondering. In another thread they were talking about Kennedy who was awful with his feet. He's 194, Hirayama is 190 and is much better with his feet considering his size. I was wondering why Kennedy is an international striker with a very good record for the socceroos and Hirayama doesn't even come close. any thoughts?"

lol I found this at the place that shall not be named. Btw I think this poster, AKITOD, is one of the better ones.

Well Japan don't really have a plan B, do they? Something different to call upon when in trouble. And someone like Sota, well, the opposition wouldn't be expecting such a player and tactic from this team, they're so rigid with nippy-type guys.

As for China, despite being played at home, Syria are doing well, aren't they?

 

[Wally]

Sota has some skill. He even once scored from a bicycle kick for Heracles. The Japanese Crouch :stuckup:

and yeah Syria have improved but still would have expected China to edge it. Once again, what's up with Chinese football? why can't you find a Yao Ming for football p

 

[Jeffrey]

The thing with Sota is that he's been distracted so far in his career. Not for bad reasons exactly, but in Holland unlike Keisuke he grew homesick and in Japan I believe he's been more concerned with his studies than playing football.

"Another draw, 0-0...... I used to think our players had the quality but not the mentality, im starting to realise we have neither. What bothers me the most is that they almost never know what to do with the ball, which always end up in losing the ball or a back pass.."

"No decent attacking players, Han Peng is not a lone striker, they already tried it during the Zhu Guanghu era and we already saw how bad that turned out. Personally Gao Hongbo has to drop the 4-5-1 formation if he going to play Han Peng because he lacks the skill and pace to scare defenders and Shao Jiayi isn't the player to fill that void"

"pathetic, we gonna be destroyed in asian cup"

 

[Jeffrey]

And yet, saying this... do you know the last team to beat Australia in WC Qualifiers?

 

[Wally]

hmm Uruguay in one of those play-offs?

with Dario Silva probably punching and diving his way to a goal lol

 

[Jeffrey]

China in the first round of qualifying

 

[Wally]

Thought it'd be China hence the link but didn't know about it happening.

I take it you guys played them then with like an A league B side or the pitch in Beijing must have been real bad or something

 

[Jeffrey]

Familiar goalscorer

22 June 2008
Stadium Australia, Sydney
Attendance: 70,054
Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)

Sun Xiang 12'

Can't find line-ups.

 

[Wally]

In Sydney?! you losers lol

and we can't even beat you guys. Guess your loss had more to do with underestimating your opponents. Surely.

 

[Jeffrey]

Sun didn't work out at PSV but I recall some members feeling good about his chances somehow. "I'm not sure why but I've got a feeling he'll be good." Even when he'd arrived and hadn't made so many appearances some felt comfortable to give him a starting birth in the CL... against my team, Arsenal! I remember the match at the Emirates. He was so tame, so unwilling to try things, so scared to make a mistake, and his team mates helped him out. He was fouled and the ensuing FK led to Alex's crucial goal, making him a God in China. lol

 

[Wally]

Sun wasn't that bad like real bad flops like Du Wei or Toda. He just didn't add that much to the PSV of then so his loan wasn't extended.

 

[Jeffrey]

In Sydney?! you losers lol

and we can't even beat you guys. Guess your loss had more to do with underestimating your opponents. Surely.

Another thing is that it was the final match of the GS and qualification had been attained.

But it's true, something I dislike about our players and teams at times is a visible lack of respect against Asian teams. Best example was Asian Cup. Underestimated the opposition and are duly punished.

 

[Wally]

ah already qualified. Not the worst time to lose but yeah, better watch out

From yesterday's qualifier between Indonesia and Oman. Indonesia 1-2 down and this pissed a fan off so much so that he decided to show the boys how to do it..

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