Bento, Sin seek improvements after disappointing draw

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Bento, Sin seek improvements after disappointing draw

Al Ain: UAE head coach Paulo Bento and his DPR Korea counterpart Sin Young Nam expressed frustration after their teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Group A tie on Thursday.

Bento’s UAE took the lead in the 66th minute but a lapse in concentration by goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, who had earlier saved Han Kwang Song’s penalty, saw Jong Il Gwan equalising in the 86th minute.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/asian_qualifiers.html/video/asianqualifiers-road-to-26-|-group-a-uae-1-1-dpr-korea

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#AsianQualifiers - MD3: Results & Reports

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

#AsianQualifiers - MD3: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Japan were the big winners as Matchday Three of the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 came to a close on Thursday.

A 2-0 win against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah means Japan have opened a five-point gap at the top of the Group C standings.

Korea Republic would also have been satisfied with their night's work as their 2-0 defeat of Jordan in Group B not only avenged their loss to the West Asian side in the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ but also kept them on track for an 11th successive appearance at the FIFA World Cup.

The face-off between Group A pacesetters Uzbekistan and Islamic Republic of Iran ended in a goalless draw, with both teams moving to seven points.

With the teams to battle again on Tuesday, stay updated on all the action with the-AFC.com.

Mancini: Saudi Arabia must push on

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Mancini: Saudi Arabia must push on

Jeddah: Roberto Mancini has urged his players to look forward after Saudi Arabia suffered a 2-0 loss to Japan in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Group C tie on Thursday.

The defeat means Japan have opened a five-point gap at the top of the standings after only three matches, leading Mancini to admit that Saudi Arabia are in a fight with Australia to finish second in the group, which will also mean automatic qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026. 

Marhoon vows Bahrain will bounce back

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Marhoon vows Bahrain will bounce back

Riffa: A goal deep into added time salvaged Bahrain a 2-2 draw with Indonesia in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group C tie with midfielder Mohammed Marhoon admitting they nearly paid a price for not converting their chances.

Marhoon gave Bahrain a 15th minute lead but they were then pegged back by efforts from Ragnar Oratmangoen and Rafael Struick as Indonesia looked on course for a famous win. 

Marhoon, however, rescued a point with his goal in the ninth minute of added time at the Bahrain National Stadium. 

Ghalenoei, Radmanovic content with stalemate

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Ghalenoei, Radmanovic content with stalemate

Tashkent: Uzbekistan’s Vlado Radmanovic and Amir Ghalenoei of the Islamic Republic of Iran were both satisfied after seeing their sides played to a goalless draw in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Group A tie on Thursday.

The top of the table clash was fiercely contested but similar to their two meetings in the second round of the qualifiers, there was to be no winner.

Radmanovic, who took charge as head coach as Srecko Katanec was indisposed, was pleased to see Uzbekistan navigate what he considered the toughest match in the group, with their sights now set on the upcoming games.

Hong hails Korea Republic players for raising the bar

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Hong hails Korea Republic players for raising the bar

Amman: Korea Republic head coach Hong Myung-bo applauded his players’ focus in their 2-0 win over Jordan in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group B tie in Amman on Thursday.

Despite missing injured talisman Son Heung-min and then Hwang Hee-chan, who limped off in the 23rd minute, Korea Republic brushed aside Jordan with goals from Lee Jae-sung and Oh Hyeon-gyu for their second consecutive victory after having been held by Palestine in their opening match.

Popovic praises Australia's composure

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Popovic praises Australia's composure

Adelaide: Tony Popovic praised his Australian players for their perseverance as they came from behind to beat China PR 3-1 in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group C tie at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

With Australia only having a point to show from their earlier two matches, Popovic made significant changes to the starting lineup with Aston Villa goalkeeper Joe Gauci replacing Mat Ryan and Jackson Irvine taking the captain's armband and the newly-appointed head coach was pleased with how his players responded to the early setback.

IR Iran remain Asia’s top-ranked side

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

IR Iran remain Asia’s top-ranked side

Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Republic of Iran remained as Asia’s top-ranked team despite falling two spots to sixth in the latest FIFA Men’s Futsal World Ranking.

Iran stumbled in the Round of 16  of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024, losing 4-3 to Morocco.

#AWCL - Preview: Three more spots to be decided

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

#AWCL - Preview: Three more spots to be decided

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Women's Champions League™ 2024/25 Group Stage comes to a close on Saturday but still with a lot at stake as teams chase down the remaining quarter-final berths.

Following Wednesday’s matches, five spots have already been filled with four matches still to be played in Groups B and C that will decide progression or elimination for the teams, with the two best third-placed teams to join the three group winners and runners-up in the knockout stage.

Stage set for #WACFutsal2025 Qualifiers draw

Tue, 08 Oct, 2024

Stage set for #WACFutsal2025 Qualifiers draw

Kuala Lumpur: Asia will take one step closer to the return of top-class women’s futsal when the official draw ceremony for the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 Qualifiers takes place on Thursday, October 17 at 3pm.

Nineteen teams will be in the hat for the draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they will discover their qualifying pathways for the third edition of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ that is slated for May 2025.

Shin takes over as Korea Republic women’s head coach

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Shin takes over as Korea Republic women’s head coach

Seoul: Korea Football Association has announced the appointment of Shin Sang-woo as the head coach of the women’s national team.

Shin takes over from Colin Bell, who stepped down in June. 

Asia at the #U17WWC

Fri, 11 Oct, 2024

Asia at the #U17WWC

Kuala Lumpur: With Asian teams having won four of the seven previous editions, the continent's three representatives will head to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 optimistic of bringing the coveted trophy back to Asia.

Ahead of the tournament kicking off on Wednesday, the-AFC.com takes a trip down the memory lane of a tournament that Asian teams have thrived in.