Vale urges Qatar to build on win; Indonesia’s Shin stays positive

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Vale urges Qatar to build on win; Indonesia’s Shin stays positive

Doha: Qatar produced a fine performance to secure a 2-0 victory over Indonesia in their opening AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2024 ™ match on Monday but head coach Ilidio Vale has urged his side to continue improving if they want to achieve success. 

Goals from Khaled Ali and Ahmed Al Rawi secured the win and the Group A top spot after Australia and Jordan settled for a draw in their tie.

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Australia's Vidmar, Jordan's Abu Zema satisfied with stalemate

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Australia's Vidmar, Jordan's Abu Zema satisfied with stalemate

Doha: Tony Vidmar declared himself satisfied with the point his Australia team claimed in their 0-0 draw with Jordan in Group A at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ on Monday as the Olyroos failed to break down Abdallah Abu Zema’s defensively disciplined outfit.

The Jordanians held on for a draw despite playing for the final eight minutes plus stoppage time with 10 men following captain Danial Afaneh’s sending off for a second bookable offence, leaving both teams to share the spoils at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.

Group A: Qatar 2-0 Indonesia

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Group A: Qatar 2-0 Indonesia

Doha: Qatar opened their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Group A campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Indonesia at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Monday. 

Qatar took the lead just before the halftime break through Khaled Ali’s penalty, with Ahmed Al Rawi scoring the second with a stunning free-kick after Indonesia were reduced to 10 men a minute into the second half.

Group A: Australia 0-0 Jordan

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Group A: Australia 0-0 Jordan

Doha: Ten-man Jordan held on to record a 0-0 draw with Australia at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday as the two nations shared the points in their opening Group A encounter in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™.

Jordan captain Danial Afaneh was sent off in the 82nd minute for a second bookable offence but Abdallah Abu Zema’s side kept the Olyroos at bay at the end of a cagey clash that yielded few clear-cut goal scoring opportunities for either side.

Preview - Group B: Korea Republic v UAE

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Preview - Group B: Korea Republic v UAE

Doha: Head coach Hwang Sun-hong has set his sights on an opening day win when Korea Republic take on United Arab Emirates in Group B of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ on Tuesday. 

With Japan and China PR also in the group, Hwang said three points are a must if his side are to advance to the knockout stage. 

Preview - Group B: Japan v China PR

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Preview - Group B: Japan v China PR

Doha: Go Oiwa will take a singular focus into his team’s opening AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Group B clash with China PR at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday as he looks to lead Japan to an eighth consecutive Olympic Games qualification.

The Japanese have appeared at every Olympics since 1996 and won the AFC U23 Asian Cup the last time it was played in Qatar in 2016, but the former Kashima Antlers head coach is refusing to look beyond his team’s opening game at this year’s competition.

Preview - Group C: Saudi Arabia v Tajikistan

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

Preview - Group C: Saudi Arabia v Tajikistan

Doha: Saad Al Shehri will leave no stone unturned in Saudi Arabia's bid to start their AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ campaign on the right foot when they take on Tajikistan in Group C on Tuesday.

Al Shehri, who led Saudi Arabia to the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 title, is determined his side gets off to a perfect start in a tournament which also serves as the Paris Olympics qualifier.

Preview - Group C: Iraq v Thailand

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

Preview - Group C: Iraq v Thailand

Doha: Group C pair Iraq and Thailand are looking to make an impression at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ as they prepare to face off in their opening encounter on Tuesday at the Al Janoub Stadium.

Winners of the inaugural edition in 2013, the Iraqis have qualified for every iteration since and head coach Radhi Shenaishil wants his side to “impose” themselves at this tournament.

Preview - West Semi-final (1st Leg): Al Ain FC (UAE) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Thu, 18 Apr, 2024

Preview - West Semi-final (1st Leg): Al Ain FC (UAE) v Al Hilal SFC (KSA)

Al Ain: Al Ain FC will have to overcome a major hurdle if their dream to lift the coveted AFC Champions League™ trophy for a second time is to be realised.

Winners of the inaugural edition in 2003, standing in Al Ain's way in the semi-finals of the 2023/24 edition are a phenomenal Al Hilal SFC.
 
Al Ain are making a return to the semi-final stage for the first time since 2016, when they went on to finish runners-up to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea Republic but the United Arab Emirates' side have, however, played some incredible football on the continental stage and will not be overawed by Al Hilal despite the Saudi Arabian side's incredible form.

Preview - West Zone Final (1st Leg): Al Ahed FC (LBN) v Al Nahda (OMA)

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

Preview - West Zone Final (1st Leg): Al Ahed FC (LBN) v Al Nahda (OMA)

Karbala: It will be a meeting between familiar foes when Al Ahed FC and Al Nahda square off in the first leg of the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 West Zone final on Tuesday.

The sides had already faced off in Group A and with either team having won once, the West Zone final is set to be tight affair.
 
Al Ahed, seeking a second title after having emerged champions in 2019, know they need to win by a comfortable margin ahead of next week's return leg in Muscat.

#ACFutsal2024 - Know Your Teams: Groups C & D

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

#ACFutsal2024 - Know Your Teams: Groups C & D

Bangkok: Groups C and D of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 promise thrilling action with defending champions Japan and 12-time winners the teams to beat.

Four-time winners Japan have Tajikistan, Korea Republic and Kyrgyz Republic for company in Group C while standing in Iran's way in Group D are Kuwait, Bahrain and Afghanistan.