Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: A habitual trophy-winner at world famous clubs as a player, and a European champion as a head coach, Ljubinko Drulovic is hoping his wide catalogue of footballing experiences can propel Uzbekistan to a first-ever Olympic Games appearance at the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020.
Before Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo rewired football’s statistical parameters in the 2010s, a player scoring 50 goals in a single season was usually confined to comic books and computer games, except in the case of Mario Jardel.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: Uzbekistan head coach Druvolic Ljubinko is targeting no less than three points when his side face China PR in a crucial AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 Group C clash at the Tinsulanon Stadium on Sunday.
The defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw in their opening match, and with a final group stage clash against a strong Korea Republic outfit still to come, there will be little room for error when they meet a Chinese side chasing their first points of the competition.
While Drulovic believes his side is capable of challenging any team in Thailand, he knows a win on Sunday would make for a much easier path to the last 16 and believes there is no reason why his side can’t be successful against Hao Wei’s side.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: Introducing Mehdi Ghayedi at half-time was all part of the plan, head coach Hamid Estili said, after the Esteghlal star was part of a second half revival in Islamic Republic of Iran’s 1-1 AFC U23 Championship draw against holders Uzbekistan on Thursday.
With Team Melli Omid facing a 1-0 deficit at the interval, Estili introduced Ghayedi in place of Ali Shojaei, with the shift forcing Allahyar Sayyadmanesh into a positional change after he had led the line in the opening 45 minutes.
The reshuffle paid dividends, with Iran manufacturing five efforts on goal in quick succession after the break; pressure that ultimately produced Reza Dehgani’s equalising goal in the 58th minute.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: Islamic Republic of Iran’s second-half revival helped them to a 1-1 draw with reigning champions Uzbekistan in their opening AFC U23 Championship Group C clash on Thursday.
Uzbekistan went ahead through an Islomjon Kobilov penalty kick just before half-time, but Iran drew level through Reza Dehghani’s 58th minute goal to claim a share of the spoils at Tinsulanon Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Songkhla: Islamic Republic of Iran head coach Hamid Estili believes his side will arrive for Sunday’s AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 clash with Korea Republic armed with all the information they need to get a positive result.
Having impressed in a 1-1 draw against defending champions Uzbekistan on Thursday, Team Melli Omid can take a major step towards the knockout stage as well as their ultimate goal of a first Olympic football qualification since 1976, with a win against the Koreans.
In stark contrast to Iran’s Olympic drought, Korea Republic haven’t missed out on the Games since 1984, but Estili is confident his staff have pinpointed a path to victory at Tinsulanon Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez has urged his players to put aside the late heartbreak they suffered against Syria and focus on winning all three points when they face table-topping Saudi Arabia in Group B of the AFC U23 Championship on Sunday.
After racing into a two-goal lead within the first 22 minutes of their campaign opener, Qatar were eventually forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Alaa Aldin Dali struck deep into stoppage time to earn his side a share of the spoils.
Despite the last gasp disappointment, Sanchez believes the result will have little or no bearing on proceedings when they face a Saudi side who began their title bid with a win over Japan.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Syria head coach Ayman Hakeem knows he will have to adopt a new approach to the one used in his side’s draw with Qatar in their opening AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 Group B game when his team take on Japan at Thammasat Stadium on Sunday.
The Syrians fought back from going two goals down to earn a point against Felix Sanchez’s side and Hakeem is hoping his players can perform a quick turnaround to make amends against Hajime Moriyasu’s team.