Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: He has impressed his head coach with successive Player of the Match performances at the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018, but red hot United Arab Emirates forward Ali Saleh has his sights set on further improvement in the competition.
The 18-year-old has been one of the star performers of the opening week of the tournament, producing three goals in two dazzling displays to help the Emiratis register back to back wins over Qatar and Chinese Taipei.
But, not content with his superb start to the campaign, Saleh is still looking for ways to improve.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uaes_ali_saleh_v_chinese_taipei_-_afc_u-19_2018.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uae_head_coach_ludovic_batelli.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uae_warm-up_-_afc_u-19_2018.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uaes_ali_saleh_v_chinese_taipei_-_afc_u-19.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/uae_rejoice_v_chinese_taipei_-_afc_u-19_2018.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bogor: After seeing his side become the first to qualify for the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 quarter-finals, Japan head coach Masanaga Kageyama believes there is still room for the reigning champions to improve.
Having beaten DPR Korea in their opening game, Monday’s comfortable 3-1 win over Thailand in Bogor saw Japan guarantee themselves top spot in Group B and a last eight fixture against Group A’s runners-up.
Japan’s victories have been highly impressive and, with a final group stage game against Iraq to come on Thursday, Kageyama is hoping his young charges can continue an upward trajectory as they look to retain the title they captured in Bahrain two years ago.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bekasi: Korea Republic looked to have let two points slip through their fingers for the second time in a week against 10-man Jordan, but head coach Chung Jung-yong was left delighted after they hit back with two late goals to seal a 3-1 win in their second Group C fixture on Monday.
The East Asians led for 74 minutes after Cho Young-wook's third minute goal, before a defensive mix-up allowed Omar Al Zebdieh to level the tie, but Jeon Se-jin hit back immediately to steer the 12-time champions towards victory, before Choi Jun added a late third.
Having seen his side squander a lead in their Matchday One draw with Australia, Chung, who is taking charge at the Finals of an AFC competition for the first time, said he was pleased with his side's resilience.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bekasi: Ante Milicic beamed with pride following Australia's 2-1 AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 win over Vietnam, revealing a number of his charges had overcome illness to claim the three crucial points.
Goals to Angus Thurgate and Ben Folami put the Young Socceroos one point away from a first quarter-final appearance since 2012, and their head coach disclosed the adversity they had overcome to achieve the result.
"First and foremost, I just want to say how proud I am of our team today," said the former Australian international.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bogor: Head coach Qahtan Chitheer believes Iraq’s relative inexperience was to blame for their narrow 1-0 defeat to DPR Korea at the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 on Monday.
A second half Pak Kwang-chon goal proved the difference at Bogor’s Pakansari Stadium, as Iraq failed to add to the point they gained in their opening draw with Thailand.
The result leaves the West Asians’ occupying third spot in Group B and now needing a win against an already qualified Japan in their final group stage game on Thursday to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bekasi: Goalkeeper Azri Ghani believes Malaysia can ill afford to dwell on their AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 loss to Saudi Arabia if they are to keep their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals alive.
Goals from Turki Al Ammar and Salem Al Saleem helped the Saudis record a 2-1 win in the opening Group D fixture – a game throughout which saw Azri excel, not least when he saved Al Ammar’s second half penalty to keep his side in contention.
However, with a crucial clash against second-placed Tajikistan to come on Tuesday, Azri is adamant that Malaysia must now look forward instead of reflecting on what could have been against the Saudis.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jakarta: Indonesia head coach Indra Sjafri was quick to admit that calamitous first half defending cost his side dear during Sunday’s dramatic 6-5 loss to Qatar in their second AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 Group A fixture.
On what proved to be a sensational night at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Qatar made the most of several Indonesian defensive lapses to take a 4-1 lead into the half-time break and then extend their advantage with two more goals after the break.
Despite a subsequent Indonesian revival which saw them come within a whisker of taking a point, Sjafri was more than aware of the damage that had been done in the opening 45 minutes.