Favourites do not hesitate

Biggest guns in the continent remain firm in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – Asia Qualifier

Quarterfinals door wide open for China

The match between Kuwait and China was a new clear proof about the competitiveness of the Asian Beach Soccer. Current Asian Beach Games semifinalists found it hard to bend Kuwait, who confirmed they are a really uncomfortable team, just as the previewed in their match against Oman. Finally, the Chinese power prevailed, and Silveira’s lads have almost secured a place in the quarterfinals after having earned 6 points out of six in the group a of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – Asian Qualifier Muscat.

After a leveled but innocuous first period, Kuwait showed they are not an easy team to play against, when scoring stepping ahead thanks to Alsaqer. Fortunately for China, though, their talent began to be productive, and Yilihanmu achieved the equalizer two minutes afterwards. Another of the Chinese key players, Han Xue, completed the comeback with his left canon, and widened the distance, just seconds afterwards, with a brilliant personal move he tapped in with his right foot. Gui Qi’s final goal just secured the points for the Chinese, who see themselves topping the table in Group A again, and almost one foot on the next round. 

Goals: 0-1: Alsqer, min. 3 (2); 1-1: Yilihanmu, min. 5 (2); 2-1: Han Xue, min. 1 (3); 3-1: Han Xue, min. 2 (3); 4-1: Gui Qi, min. 4 (3)

Bahrain bend cheeky Indonesia for their sixth points

Bahrain is facing opponents that turn to be cheekier than they could imagine, finding things get hard during the first period due to enthusiastic teams. Up for the moment, though, Guga’s lads have been able to handle these surprising contenders by means of experience, talent and punch. If they had to push a thrilling three goal down comeback to snatch the three points against Uzbekistan yesterday, it was Indonesia today the ones to hit first. This time, notwithstanding, Bahrain never let them too far, and Rasheed equalized for two times the consecutive advantages achieved by Kariana and Jumada.

That last 2-2 by the end of the opening period meant a turning point to the match, since right from the beginning of the second one, the Bahraini got in command of the game. Two minutes afterwards, they were also in command of the score, too, thanks to Darwins’ attempt. That was the starting point of a pleasant stage for Guga’s side, since their advantage kept increasing up to the end of the game. These three new points give Bahrain a privileged position, as they could even be enough to get onto the next round of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – Asian Qualifier.

Goals: 0-1: Kariana, min. 5 (1); 1-1: Rasheed, min. 6 (1); 1-2: Jumada, min. 10; 2-2: Rasheed, min. 10 (1); 3-2: Darwins, min. 2 (2); 4-2: Yaqoob, min. 4 (2); 5-2: Hasan, min. 1 (3).

Iranian power was too much for Syria

Things get clear in group B, in which powerhouses Japan and Iran have placed themselves at the top of the table thanks to their respective blunt strokes on Syria. The Irani have placed their candidacy for one of the tickets to next FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup with an uncontestable 5-0 over the Syrian. After showing instances of what they are capable of during the last Asian Beach Games, the Persian are undoubtedly heading for the big appointment. They will give their best for this to happen.

And their first victim was Syria, who felt as well the exhaustion of yesterday’s game against Japan on their legs and could do little to stop the dynamic Iranians. Although their superiority was rather clear, Iran managed not to translate it into goals during the first stages of the game, thanks to an enthusiastic defense by the Syrian. By mid second period, the scoreboard was only 1-0 up for Dadashzadeh’s team, thanks to Farid’s hit in the seventh minute. But after Moslem turned it 2-0 in the same minute of the second time, the road became downhill for them, with Farid, Naderi and Mohammad to complete the severe win over Syria.

Goals: 1-0: Farid, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Moslem, min. 6 (2); 3-0: Farid, min. 9 (2); 4-0: Ali Naderi, min. 11 (2); 5-0: Mohammad, min. 11 (3)

Tight victory for UAE leaves quarterfinals near at hand

When seeing UAE get 2-0 ahead with just one minute into the game, many could have thought that the match against Uzbekistan would be a little more than a military stroll for the current Asian Champions. But after that frenetic beginning, the Uzbek learned how to shut their defense down and did not let any other Arabian attempt in. Yusupov’s team became then a nightmare for UAE, just as they were for Bahrain yesterday, confirming themselves as one of the unexpected surprises of the tournament thanks to their spirit, defensive solidness, and commitment.

At the beginning of the second period, the Uzbek number ten, Sharipov, shortened the distance, making things even more dangerous for Marcelo Mendes’ side. Fortunately for the Arabian, though, the menace did not go any further, and, although being unable to score any other goal, they secured three new points that help them see this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – Asian Qualifier with other eyes…

Goals: 1-0: Ahmed, min. 1 (1); 2-0: Adel, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Sharipov, min. 1 (2).

Big Omani feast at the expense of Iraq

Beach Soccer means action until the very last second. Whoever wants to know what does this mean needs only to consider this Oman-Iraq, in which up to three goals were scored in the twelfth minute, right before the final horn of this heavy, goal-packed victory of hosts over Iraq. Talib’s side managed this way to get even with the bittersweet taste in their mouths after Kuwait made things too difficult for them in their first match in this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 – Asian Qualifier.

Is’haq, with four goals, together with doubles by Yahya, Yaqoob and Al Zaabi, and the contribution of Haitham built a consistent victory that seemed in slight danger only during first period, in the end of which was reached with leveled 1-1 score. But after that moment, Oman began their goal frenzy to reach an almost definitive 7-1 by mid third period. Although Iraq had little options, action did not vanish in the last minutes of the stage, and up to six goals were yet to be witnessed in the last four minutes. Beach Soccer in its purest form…

Goals: 1-0: Is’haq, min. 1 (1); 1-1: Hussein, min. 5 (1); 2-1: Haitham, min. 3 (2). 3-1: Is’haq, min. 7 (2); 4-1: Yahya, min. 12 (2); 5-1: Yaqoob, min. 2 (3); 6-1: Al Zaabi, min. 4 (3); 7-1: Al Zaabi, min. 5 (3); 7-2: Moshtak, min. 8 (3); 8-2: Yahya, min. 8 (3); 9-2: Yaqoob, min. 11 (3); 10-2: Is’haq, min 12 (3); 10-3, Hussein, min. 12 (3); 11-3: Is’haq, min. 12 (3)

GROUP A

GROUP B

GROUP C

Results & Match Schedule

DAY 1 – 27/02/2011 

12:00              Bahrain 4 x 3 Uzbekistan

Followed by     China 5 x 2 Iraq

Followed by     Indonesia 1 x 6 UAE

Followed by     Japan 9 x 4 Syria

Followed by     Kuwait 6 X 8 Oman

DAY 2 – 28/02/2011

12:00              China 4 x 1 Kuwait

Followed by     Bahrain 5 x 2 Indonesia

Followed by     Iran 5 x 0 Syria

Followed by     UAE 2 x 1 Uzbekistan

Followed by     Oman 11 x 3 Iraq

DAY 3 – 01/03/2011

12:00              Uzbekistan vs Indonesia

Followed by     Iraq vs Kuwait

Followed by     UAE vs Bahrain

Followed by     Japan vs Iran

Followed by     Oman vs China