Al Nassr part ways with Pedro Emanuel

Thu, 11 Nov, 2021

Al Nassr part ways with Pedro Emanuel

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia giants Al Nassr have announced the termination head coach Pedro Emanuel's contract just a month after the Portuguese took charge of the team.

The decision follows Al Nassr's recent run of results in the Saudi Pro League, where they have failed to win their last three matches and sit ninth in the standings.

Preview - Group A: Iraq, Syria face off to keep hopes alive

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021

Preview - Group A: Iraq, Syria face off to keep hopes alive

Doha: Thursday’s AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar Group A clash between Iraq and Syria bears the hallmarks of a final as the two sides battle to pick up a first win at the halfway stage of the qualifiers.

It is a clash of the bottom two sides in the group, with Syria having picked up just one point from their first four games - a draw against the United Arab Emirates, while Iraq have fared slightly better - losing just once against the Islamic Republic of Iran but drawing their other three games.

Preview - Group A: Lebanon looking forward to IR Iran test

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021

Preview - Group A: Lebanon looking forward to IR Iran test

Saida: Lebanon captain Hassan Maatouk will miss his country’s Group A clash in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar 2022 against the Islamic Republic of Iran on Thursday with a shoulder injury as Ivan Hasek’s side look to build on last month’s win over Syria.

The Lebanese will host the Group A leaders, who dropped their first points of the campaign when they drew with Korea Republic in Tehran in October, at Saida Municipal Stadium in Saidon sitting in third place following their victory against the Syrians in Amman.

Preview - Group A: Korea Republic, UAE to lock horns in crucial match-up

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021

Preview - Group A: Korea Republic, UAE to lock horns in crucial match-up

Goyang: Korea Republic will look to strengthen their position in the top two of Group A while the United Arab Emirates are aiming to pick up their first win in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar when the pair square off at Goyang Stadium on Thursday. 

Korea sit in second place in the standings, two points behind the Islamic Republic of Iran, having won two and drawn two of their first four games as they target an incredible 10th successive appearance at the FIFA World Cup.

The Emiratis, meanwhile, have been tough to beat but have yet to pick up a victory, after drawing three of their four games, and they will be looking to pick up a result in Goyang to reignite their hopes of a top-three finish. 

Preview - Group B: China PR aiming to get back on track against Oman

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021

Preview - Group B: China PR aiming to get back on track against Oman

Sharjah: The race for qualification spots in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar resumes on Thursday as China PR and Oman look to close the gap on the top two when they lock horns at Sharjah Stadium.

Unable to host matches at home due to COVID-19 restrictions, China PR return to Sharjah which had also served as their adopted home ground in the previous round of the qualifiers.

Preview - Group B: Vietnam seek first points, Japan aim to close in on top two

Fri, 12 Nov, 2021

Preview - Group B: Vietnam seek first points, Japan aim to close in on top two

Hanoi: For the first time in the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar campaign, Vietnam will have the benefit of home support with fans permitted into My Dinh Stadium for the match against Japan on Thursday. 

Having suffered four straight defeats, the hosts will be looking to pick up their first points in Group B, while Japan, - who lost two of their first three games - will be aiming to build on the momentum from beating Australia 2-1 last month. 

The fixture also marks a repeat of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-final, when Japan edged into the semi-finals following a Ritsu Doan penalty at Dubai’s Al Maktoum Stadium. 

Preview - Group B: Australia wary of Saudi Arabia disrupting homecoming

Thu, 11 Nov, 2021

Preview - Group B: Australia wary of Saudi Arabia disrupting homecoming

Sydney: Australia are relishing playing on home soil for the first time in over two years, but those celebrations will come to an abrupt end if Graham Arnold’s side fail to defeat Saudi Arabia in Thursday’s crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar clash at Western Sydney Stadium.

Forced to play home matches thousands of kilometres away from home due to Australia’s recently loosened pandemic travel restrictions, the Socceroos have seldom missed a beat on the Road to Qatar, stringing together 11 consecutive wins to put themselves well in contention for a fifth successive FIFA World Cup appearance.

But last month’s 2-1 defeat to Japan, coupled with Saudi Arabia’s own relentless run of wins, means Thursday’s match looms as an early six-pointer in the race to secure one of the two direct qualification spots on offer in Group B.

With nine points from four matches, Australia know a win in front of an anticipated 25,000 fans will send them to the top of the standings at the halfway point of the group, but defeat will see them fall six points adrift of the Green Falcons, while their three-point advantage over third placed Japan could vanish if the Socceroos slip up.

Streaks, records and key men: The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar stats you need to know

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

Streaks, records and key men: The AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar stats you need to know

Kuala Lumpur: The race for a berth in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is well and truly heating up, with 12 crucial fixtures over the next week set to leave a significant impact on the Road to Qatar.

As Thursday’s blockbuster night of matches draws closer, we’ve picked out a series of key facts and stats which shine a light on the state of play and the significance of the action ahead.
 
Among them are winning and winless streaks, two standout contributors – one of whom won’t play – and records which may soon fall.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group A stands

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group A stands

Kuala Lumpur: The final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar campaign enters its midway stage as the sides return for their crucial Matchday Five and Six fixtures on November 11 and 16. Ahead of the games, the-AFC.com gives you an overview of how things look in Group A.

Asian powerhouses Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic already have a strong foothold in the group. Both teams are unbeaten, with leaders Iran starting their campaign with three consecutive wins before a share of the spoils with the Koreans last time out. Two points back, the Taeguk Warriors have won two and drawn two. 

Three goals in four games has seen captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh lead the Iran scoring chart. The Feyenoord forward’s superb header against Korea on Matchday Four secured a 1-1 draw to maintain Team Melli’s place at the top of Group A after Mehdi Taremi’s goal had sunk the United Arab Emirates a few days earlier.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group B stands

Wed, 10 Nov, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar: How Group B stands

Kuala Lumpur: With the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar returning on November 11 for another crucial pair of double-headers, the-AFC.com brings you up to speed with how things look in Group B.

Saudi Arabia are the runaway leaders, boasting a perfect record, with Australia keeping up the chase three points back. Oman and Japan come next, while China PR and Vietnam occupy the bottom two places. 

Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia have made a blistering start to the campaign as home wins against Japan and China PR on Matchdays Three and Four added to earlier victories over Vietnam and Oman. They have now won all nine of their games in 2021.