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Favourites earn first points to get on top of their groups, with brutal 0-20 by Iran over Philippines
Afghanistan claims first-ever Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier victory
In the first-ever Beach Soccer World Cup Qualifier for both Qatar and Afghanistan, the Afghan captain, S. Mohammadi, put five goals past the Qatari keeper to claim a 7-3 victory for Afghanistan.
The Qataris and Afghans exchanged spirited attempts in the first period, with both teams testing each other?s nets. Midway through the second period, Qatar and Afghanistan were level on three.
Afghanistan then pulled away toward the end of the second period with four unanswered goals.
Qatar now faces a tough qualification test, but can re-ignite their chances with a victory tomorrow evening against Australia.
Goals:0-1: R. Al Kaabi, min. 6 (1); 1-1: S. Mohammadi, min. 3 (1); 2-1: S. Mohammadi, min. 11 (2); 2-2: Inrahim, min. 10 (2); 3-2: Mohammadi, min. 5 (2); 3-3: Al Sharqi, min, 3 (2); 4-3: Mohammadi, min. 3 (2); 5-3: Yaqoobi, min. 1 (2); 6-3: Mohammadi, min. 1 (2); 7-3: Yaqoobi, min. 11 (3)
Japan nudges past Thailand
Thailand turned to be a much tougher contender than what one could have expected, as the two-time and defending Asian Champions, Japan, found it difficult to edge past the mighty Thai, in this, their debut in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? Asian Qualifiers. In the end, Japan did just enough to beat Thailand 1-4.
Thailand were the ones who opened the scoring, through Poymee.
The Elephants were determined to turn the evening into a nightmare for the Nippon and even though Makino equalized for Japan soon thereafter, Thailand kept on the fight to make things difficult for Rui Ramos? side.
The minutes were slowly ticking down, and as the final whistle approached, the more decisive a goal would be.
After numerous attempts, the Brazilian-born Osmar Moreira, Ozu, as his team mates know him, found the way to the back of Khemkhaeng?s net, thus amending an underwhelming performance by the Japanese.
That was not the last rabbit he had in his bag. A couple of minutes later, he would steal the ball and send in a lob over the Thai goalkeeper for the 1-3.
That brilliant effort was followed by Shunta?s 1-4, what meant the end of the way for Thailand, and the end of suffering, for the moment, for Japan, who joins Lebanon at the top of the table in Group B.
Goals: 1-0: Poymee, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Makino, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Osmar, min. 6 (3); 1-3: Osmar, min. 4 (3); 1-4: Shunta, min. 0 (3)
Four Star Nikas leads Beach Socceroos to victory
With a spectacular individual effort, Australian forward Nikas led the Beach Socceroos to a 4-6 victory over Oman. The Omanis, having previously qualified for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011, now stare early elimination in the eye.
The action started quickly between the Omanis and the Australians, with both teams getting good looks on goal in the initial minutes of the first Group A match.
Crevani ended the stalemate with five minutes left in the first period with a fantastic strike for Australia, in what is arguably one of the best goals of the qualifiers thus far.
Australia?s Nikas made it 0-2 from the spot, as the Aussies continued to build on their dominant performance in only their second Asian Beach Soccer World Cup qualifiers.
Oman pulled one back in the dying minutes of the first half and, halfway through the second period, the Omanis captured an equalizer off the head of Is?haq, turning the tides around.
Nikas thought he had stopped the Omai resurgence with a cracking strike with under a minute left in the second period. But, Oman?s Balushi again pulled the Arabian side level.
Nikas completed his hat trick early in the third period to put the Beach Socceroos ahead for the third time of the match. And with time winding down, Nikas took advantage of a mistake by the Omani keeper to give Australia a two-goal lead.
Zdrilic capped off Australia?s victory with sixth goal in the dying seconds.
Oman managed to tack-on another goal onto the scoreboard as the match ended, but the damage had been done. Oman 4- Australia 6.
0-1: Crevani, min. 5 (1); 0-2: Nikas, min. 3 (1); 1-2: K.Oriami, min. 1 (1); 2-2: Is?haq, min. 6 (2); 2-3: Nikas, min. 1 (2); 3-3: Balushi, min. 1 (2); 3-4: Nikas, min. 10 (3); 3-5: Nikas, min. 3 (3); 3-6: Zdeilic, min. 1 (3); 4-6: K.Oriami, min. 1 (3)
China keep up Iran’s momentum
After Iran trounced the Philippines, China needed a convincing victory to let the Persians know that they would not fall so easily. The Chinese side, current Asian Beach Games bronze medalists, defeated Iraq 8-3. China now sit second in Group D, behind Iran on goal differential. With the victory, China keep up their chances of qualifying for the semis.
The first stages of the game were fairly level, with Iraq keeping close behind China.
And despite the Chinese taking a 3-1 lead, Al Makssoossi?s lads cut the distance to one goal before the first break.
In the second period, China again pulled ahead, only to have Iraq half China’s lead back to one goal, after Hussain J. pulled one back in the beginning of the third period.
Iraq’s hopes were immediately cut-down by the Chinese with goals by Cai and Wan (two) that gave Ross Ongaro?s team a resounding three goal advantage.
Some minutes later, Han released a left-footed torpedo to give China an 8-3 victory and three points.
Goals: 1-0, Sun, min. 6 (1); 1-1: Murtadha, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Yilihanmu, min. 1 (1); 3-1: Yilihanmu, min. 0 (1); 3-2: Abdullah, min. 0 (1); 4-2: Han, min. 8 (2); 4-3: Hussain J., min. 11 (3); 5-3: Cai, min. 10 (3); Wan, min. 8 (3); 7-3: Wan, min. 7 (3); 8-3: Han, min. 4 (3)
Hat Trick Fattal hands Lebanon a comfortable win over Bahrain (3-5)
Lebanon, who are participating in the Asian qualifiers for the first time, held on to a four-goal lead over Bahrain to achieve a comfortable 5-3 victory.
Lebanese keeper, Mohamed Choker, made a huge save in first half to keep Bahrain from scoring.
Lebanon?s Capitan Haisam Fattal quickly seized on the save?s momentum with two successive goals to give Lebanon a 2-0 lead.
With three minutes left in the first period, Mohamad Mchleb Matar made it three for Lebanon, smashing a header past the Bahraini keeper.
Captain Fattal finished off his hat trick with a goal in the middle of the second period to give the Lebanese a comfortable 4-0 lead.
Lebanon began to falter late in the second period when Bahrain finally got on the scoreboard with a goal from defender Ayoob Mubarak.
Bahrain kept stacking on the pressure in the third period, forcing the Lebanese keeper to make another superb save. Seconds later the Bahraini team riddled a shot off the post.
Mubarak then made it two for Bahrain with four minutes left in the match.
Mohamed Halawi put a dent in Bahrain resurgence with Lebanon?s fifth and final goal.
In the dying seconds, Sadeq Marhoon scored a consolation goal for Bahrain, but it was too little, too late. Lebanon won 5-3.
Goals: Lebanon – 11 Haithan Fattal, Min. 9; 11 Haithan Fattal, Min. 9; 7 Mohamed Mchleb Matar, Min. 3; 11 Haitan Fattal, Min. 8 (2nd period); 2 Mohamad Halawi, Min 1 (3rd Period)// Bahrain – 3 Ayoob Mubarak, Min 1 (2nd period); 3 Ayoob Mubarak, Min 4 (3rd period) ; 7 Sadeq Marhoon, Min 1 (3rd period)
No Iranian mercy for the Philippines
Iran inflicted severe pain on the Philippines on the first day qualifiers. The Persian side could not find a better way to send the message that they intend to go to their fifth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup than by smashing the Philippine National side by a 20-goal margin.
Needless to say, this record-breaking goal difference has lifted the Iranians to the top of Group D, and gives them a tyrannical lead.
After Iran’s captain, Naderi, opened the scoring account in the sixth minute of the game, the goal-shower never ceased, with the ball hitting the back of Mercado?s net one too many times.
The heavy defeat puts Philippines in a very difficult position, with virtually no options to proceed to the next stage.
Iran will have to keep performing at their best against China and Iraq, if they want to seal their ticket to semifinals.
Goals: 0-1: Naderi, min. 6 (1); 0-2: Ahmadzadeh, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Boulokbashi, min. 0 (1); 0-4: Ahmadzadeh, min. 11 (2); 0-5: Naderi, min. 11 (2); 0-6: Boulokbashi, min. 6 (2); 0-7: Mokhtari, min. 6 (2); 0-8: Boulokbashi, min. 6 (2); 0-9: Mokhtari, min. 5 (2); 0-10: Mesigar, min. 0 (2); 0-11: Abdollahi, min. 10 (3); 0-12: Morshed, min. 9 (3); 0-13: Mokhtari, min. 8 (3); 0-14: Mesigar, min. 5 (3); 0-15: Mesigar, min. 5 (3); 0-16: Naderi, min. 3 (3); 0-17: Ahmedzadeh, min. 2 (3); 0-18: Ahmadzadeh, min. 1 (3); 0-19: Mokhtari, min. 0 (3); 0-20: Abdollahi, min. 0 (3);
Palestine holds on to defeat Uzbekistan (5-6)
Palestine were unable to hold to a three-goal lead in regular time in the 2nd match of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? AFC Qualifiers on Tuesday against Uzbekistan. It is was up to forward Husam Nawal to score the winning goal in extra-time to give the Palestinians a 6-5 win.
With the majority of the opportunities in the first period, the Mediterranean team opened up the scoring in the first period with Husam Nawal scoring via a free kick.
The Palestinians started the second period with a second goal, this time off the foot of Mohammed Dahman
Artur Yusunov pulled one back for Uzbekistan minutes later with off drilling free kick. Jafar Irismetov followed Yusunov?s goal with an equalizer seconds after.
The scoreboard did not remain equal for long, though. Palestine?s Alaa Atiya recaptured the lead with a twisting scissor kick.
Atiya added a second, quickly followed by a third, with four minutes left in the second period, giving the Palestinians a 5-2 lead.
But just when Palestine looked like they were beginning to pull away, Yusunov and Irismetov scored two goals in quick succession to bring the Uzbeks back into the match.
And halfway into the third period, Uzbekistan scored a resounding equalizer to cap off an impressive comeback.
Goals: Uzbekistan – 11 Artur Yusinov ? 2 goals; 10 Jafar Irismetov ? 2 goals; 7 Furkat Azizov// Palestine – 11 Husam Nawal ? 2 goals; 8 Alaa Atiya ? 3 goals; 7 Mohammed Dahman
UAE?s experience makes the difference in Tuesday’s opening match
The United Arab Emirates went to the top of Group C after defeating Saudi Arabia 6-3 in the opening game of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? AFC Qualifiers at Katara Beach in Doha, Qatar. The Emiratis, who narrowly missed qualification to the last World Cup, wanted to ensure it did not happen again. This victory is a step in the right direction.
UAE, crowned Asian Champions in 2007 and 2008, found it difficult to break the Saudi resistance during the opening minutes. But, when they finally did, thanks to Rami, Lima?s Saudi Arabia immediately equalized.
Despite their limited international experience, Saudi Arabia played well, proving wrong whomever might have thought that the opener would be smooth sailing for Marcelo Mendes? UAE.
After Rami unbalanced things one minute before the first break, the picture changed. Saudi Arabia?s forces began lagging and the Emiratis took advantage.
Ali Karim and Kamal widened the gap in the second period, giving the UAE the control of the score, and the game.
Saudi Arabia were unable to find any way to counteract Mendes? dominant side, instead, Ali Karim kept piling on the misery.
Despite Mohammed Bashaweeh and Hamad managing to fire home two free kicks for the Saudis, things were already too lopsided.
The final whistle, then, has UAE on top of the table in Group A, a position they will need to maintain if they wish to make it to the semifinals of these FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? AFC Qualifiers.
Goals: 0-1: Rami, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Hamad, min. 3 (1); 1-2: Rami, min. 1 (3); 1-3: A. Karim, min. 8 (2); 1-4; Kamal, min. 0 (2); 1-5: Ali Karim, min. 8 (3); M. Abbas, min. 5 (3); 2-6: Mohammad, min. 4 (3); 3-6: Hamad, min. 2 (3);
FIFA BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP 2013 ? ASIA QUALIFIER QATAR
Results:
Tue 22.01.13
14:00 ? Saudi Arabia 3-6 UAE
14:00 ? Uzbekistan 5-6 Palestine (pitch 2)
15.15 ? Philippines 0-20 Iran
15.15 ? Bahrain 3-5 Lebanon (pitch 2)
16:30 ? China 8-3 Iraq
17:45 ? Oman 4-6 Australia
19:00 ? Thailand 1-4 Japan
20:15 ? Afghanistan 7-3 Qatar
Matches for tomorrow
Wed 23.01.13
14:00 ? Bahrain vs Thailand
14:00 ? Iran vs Iraq (pitch 2)
15.15 ? UAE vs Palestine
15.15 ? Oman vs Afghanistan (pitch 2)
16:30 ? Uzbekistan vs Saudi Arabia
17:45 ? Japan vs Lebanon
19:00 ? China vs Philippines
20:15 ? Qatar vs Australia
