Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: After just two games into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, Jordan’s Mousa Suleiman Al Tamari is emerging as one of the stars of the tournament, with his game-changing performances helping Vital Borkelmans’ side secure their place in the Round of 16.
The Jordanians have impressed in their opening two matches, notching up wins over defending champions Australia and a Syria side that narrowly missed out on booking a berth at last year’s FIFA World Cup Finals.
Al Tamari has been instrumental in his team’s showing, scoring with an instinctive finish to give Jordan the lead on Thursday against Syria while also playing a key role in his side’s other two goals over the first two match days.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Jordan coach Vital Borkelmans could barely suppress his delight as he celebrated his team’s progress to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday, with the Belgian claiming happiness has been key to his squad’s impressive performances so far.
Borkelmans’ team secured a 2-0 win over Syria in Al Ain that guaranteed the Jordanians a top two finish in Group B, having already opened their 2019 campaign with an impressive 1-0 win over defending champions Australia.
Those results mean Jordan will finish no lower than second in the group no matter what happens in the remaining matches and the country will advance to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup for the third time since making their debut at the competition in 2004.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Bernd Stange became the latest managerial casualty of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday evening when the German was removed from his position at the helm of Syria following his side’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Jordan.
The Syrian Football Association issued a statement hours after the loss to their neighbours, stating Stange has been replaced by former coach Ayman Hakeem for the remainder of the tournament. However, in a later update, former head coach Fajr Ibrahim was announced as the replacement.
Syria are due to face Australia on January 15 in their final game in Group B and must win against the defending champions to have any hope of advancing to the knockout phase of the competition for the first time in the country’s history.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Jordan became the first team to advance to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday as Vital Borkelmans’ side handed Syria a 2-0 defeat in Al Ain to seal their spot in the Round of 16.
The result saw the Syria Football Association announcing the sacking of coach Bernd Stange a few hours later, with Fajr Ibrahim appointed as his replacement.
For Jordan, the win - courtesy of goals from Mousa Suleiman Al Tamari and Tareq Khattab - means Borkelmans and his team can finish no lower than second in Group B no matter the outcome of the remaining games in the group.
Australia face Palestine in Abu Dhabi on Friday before Jordan take on the Palestinians in their final group game on January 15, when the Socceroos go head-to-head with the Syrians in Al Ain.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been quick to reflect on what could have been for India in the wake of their narrow 2-0 loss to host nation the United Arab Emirates at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Thursday.
Chances came and went for India on a night when goals from Khalfan Mubarak and Ali Mabkhout left a talented Indian side with plenty to ponder following their earlier success against Thailand.
"I am proud of the boys, I don't think people would have expected we could have performed the way we did against the UAE. We were very unlucky and could have scored two or three goals,” declared the JSW Bengaluru custodian.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Young females across the United Arab Emirates have enjoyed an evening of entertainment both on-and-off the pitch, with AFC’s ‘It’s My Game’ initiative rewarding hundreds of school girls who excelled throughout the tournament’s community programmes.
More than 60 girls aged between 11-18 years old, were special guests of ‘It’s My Game’ in the tournament’s official Fan Zone, Al Bahar Corniche, before witnessing the UAE’s clash with India at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, giving many youngsters the opportunity of a lifetime to attend a live international football match.
Creating a fitting cultural feel to the popular Fan Zone, the group enjoyed special Bollywood performances from Indian dance acts and traditional Emirati Al Ayala dance, along with a meet and greet with female sports stars who continued to inspire the group to continue their sporting journeys.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: United Arab Emirates head coach Alberto Zaccheroni was grateful to be able to put his side’s opening day woes well and truly behind the host nation following Thursday’s vital 2-0 win over India at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The 1996 runners-up were held to a 1-1 draw by Bahrain on Matchday One, a result which raised doubts as to the genuine title credentials of a side which also finished third at the last continental extravaganza in Australia.
However, goals in either half from Khalfan Mubarak and Ali Mabkhout saw the Emiratis overcome a resilient India to go top of Group A and breathe new life into their bid to reach the tournament’s Round of 16.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Host nation the United Arab Emirates edged a step closer to a place in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019’s Round of 16 on Thursday as a hard-fought 2-0 win over India saw Alberto Zaccheroni’s side go top of a decidedly tight Group A.
On a night of high-octane entertainment at a wonderfully atmospheric Zayed Sports City Stadium, goals from Khalfan Mubarak and Ali Mabkhout helped secure the vital victory, one which reignites the UAE’s aspirations of reaching the knockout phase following a 1-1 draw with regional rivals Bahrain on Matchday One.
With all still to play for in Monday’s final set of fixtures, the table-topping Emiratis are on four points, one ahead of India in second and third-placed Thailand after the Southeast Asians beat Bahrain 1-0 earlier in the day.