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Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Japan, Oman & Palestine earn tickets to last-8 of the Asian Beach Games. Other two to be known tomorrow
Lebanon upset UAE to secure Quarterfinal berth
Surprising Lebanon where the first ones to get into the quarterfinals stage of this II Asian Beach Games taking place in Haiyang, China, this June 2012. Despite being drawn into one of the most difficult groups in the competition, Group C, together with two continental champions such as Bahrain and current gold-holders UAE, Moghaddam’s side has marched past the two favourites to secure a place among the best eight teams in the competition. To do so, they have managed a brilliant and uncontestable win today over UAE, in which Marcelo Mendes’ side saw their options banish really soon, thanks to the 0-5 run by the Lebanese by mid second period. The contribution by captain Fattal, with an amazing six-goal tally today, was the key for Lebanon to run over defending champions straight to quarterfinals.
Goals: 0-1: Fattal, min. 9 (1); 0-2: Fattal, min. 9 (2); 0-3: Fattal, min. 11 (2); 0-4: Merhie, min. 11 (2); 0-5: Halaweh, min. 7 (2); 1-5 Alzaabi, min. 6 (2); 1-6: Fattal, min. 5 (2); 2-6: Ali Karim, min. 4 (2); 2-7: Fattal, min. 8 (3); 3-7: Ali Karim, min. 3 (3); 3-8: Fattal, min. 2 (3)
Bahrain captures first points
A tight victory over the Independent Olympic Athletes from Kuwait granted Bahrain the chance to take on UAE tomorrow with the chance of making their way to quarterfinals. Rosa’s side found it never easy to bend the Kuwaiti squad, all spirit, seeing every hit counteracted rather quickly by Alotaibi’s lads. After their bitter defeat yesterday to Lebanon, losing a 4-0 rent, there was no other possible goal for the Bahraini team than victory, but it was not until Al Abdulla’s winner in late third period that the doors to next round remained open. Instead, the Independent Olympic Athletes from Kuwait see those same doors definitely closed, as no chance is left for them to get into next round.
Goals: 0-1: Almughawi, min. 9 (1); 1-1: Alsaqer, min. 5 (1); 1-2: Marhoon, min. 0 (1); 2-2: Alsafin, min. 7 (3); 2-3: Al Abdulla, min. 4 (3);
Syria makes debut, wins and qualifies
Just as it reads… Syria made their debut today in this III Asian Beach Games – Haiyang 2012 securing their ticket to the next round. The Syrian, one of the three members of Group B just needed to beat Iraq, who lost yesterday to Oman, to secure a berth in next round. And so they did, in a quite solid fashion, having things 3-1 on their favour by the end of the second period, only to finish the game in the third. Their victory, at the same time, qualifies the Omani, who they are to take on tomorrow to see who claims the first place in the group. The Iraqi, with zero points on their records, are out.
Goals: 1-0: Nassif Kanaan, min. 4 (1); 1-1: Al Qaraghuli, min. 8 (2); 2-1: Nassif Kanaan, min. 6 (2); 3-1: Dyar Bakerli, min. min. 0 (2); 4-1: Adrah, min. 7 (3); 5-1: Al Qaraghuli, min. 0 (3)
Irani earn place in quarterfinals
Iran kept their unalterable march to earn a place in the last eight, after a new power display over Thailand. The Thai were this time much less impermeable than in their first game yesterday, against Japan, and succumbed to the Persian offensive. After Naderi’s opener, hat-trick scorer Boulokbashi took the baton to lead Marco Octavio’s team to an almost game-finisher 5-0 at the end of the first period, supported by Mesigar. Thailand’s only hit, thanks to Nanan at the last minute of the second period, managed little more than ruining the Iranian’s clean sheets, as the second defeat in the competition sends them home, together with Qatar.
Goals: 1-0: Naderi, min. 6 (1); 2-0: Boulokbashi, min. 2 (1); 3-0: Boulokbashi, min. 0 (1) ; 4-0 : Mesigar, min. 0 (1) ; 5-0 : Boulokbashi, min. 2 (2); 5-1: Nanan, min. 0 (2)
Japan, in; Qatar, out
The quarterfinals in group D were also known today, as Japan beat Qatar to follow Iran onto next round. Current Asian Qualifier champions did little more than what it took to beat the Arabian, opening the score by mid third period, and securing the victory with two more hits. These hits, together with a tight defense was the formula through which Rui Ramos’ lads worked this qualifying win out over the Qatari. Tomorrow, the Nippon will have to face group leaders Iran to settle who finally tops group D.
Goals: 1-0: Yamauchi, min. 7 (2); 2-0: Makino, min. 5 (2); 3-0: Sakaguchi, min. 11 (3)
Vietnam stay alive in group A
Vietnam managed to recover from yesterday stroke (Palestine bent them in their first game of the III Asian Beach Games) edging Afghanistan to keep having options to see themselves into next round. It will not be easy, though, but the three points achieved against the Afghan side get them the chance to, at least, fight for the second place of the group if they beat hosts China tomorrow. The match against Afghanistan turned into a really hard-fought enterprise for the Vietnamese, who never lost the leading position after Phung swept them ahead with the first of his three goals this evening. Notwithstanding, Afghanistan never lost face to the game, and tried to fight back until cutting the distance to one single goal. There was no time for more, though, and the points ended at Vietnam’s hands for the final battle tomorrow.
Goals: 0-1: Phung, min. 10 (1); 0-2: Phung, min. 11 (2); 1-2: Mohammadi, min. 8 (2); 1-3: N. Xuan, min. 6 (2); 2-3: Akbari, min. 1 (2); 2-4: Phung, min. 0 (2); 3-4: Mohammadi, min. 0 (3)
Palestine get into quarterfinals…China to wait
Hosts China will have to fight for the ticket in their last chance, after their comeback against Palestine found a dead end when just one last step was left to climb. The final 4-5 score, in turn, gets Palestine making a huge leap, conquering the quarterfinals of the competition. Palestinians took a good advantage of the hosts dubitative beginning, earning a 0-3 rent that would have them far enough to see any dangerous situation come… Despite China’s determination, fostered by the breath of the crowd, Hashim’s team managed to cut the first Chinese reaction, with Atiya scoring his third after Han’s 1-3. But China kept believing, Han hit again an Wan had things tighter at the last seconds of second period. The Ongaro-coached team tried everything during that last minutes, even despite Salem’s 3-5, but they found it impossible, after Liyihanmu’s last goal, to complete a great comeback that would have absolutely delighted the vivid supporters and confirmed their place in next round. Now, the hosts will play an all or nothing against Vietnam, with the winning side going on for the medals.
Goals: 0-1: Atiya, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Atiya, min. 5 (1); 0-3: Barakat, min. 5 (1); 1-3: Han, min. 4 (2); 1-4: Atiya, min. 3 (2); 2-4: Han, min. 3 (2); 3-4: Wan, min. 0 (2); 3-5: Salem, min. 9 (3); 4-5: Liyihanmu, min. 4 (3);
Results today:
Sunday, June 17th
10:30 – UAE 3-8 Lebanon
12:00 – Independent Olympic Athletes from Kuwait 2-3 Bahrain
13:30 – Syria 5-1 Iraq
15:00 – Iran 5-1 Thailand
16:30 – Qatar 0-3 Japan
19:00 – Afghanistan 3-4 Vietnam
20:30 – China 4-5 Palestina
Matches for tomorrow:
Monday, June 18th
10:30 – Oman vs Syria
12:00 – Iran vs Japan
13:30 – Thailand vs Qatar
15:00 – UAE vs Bahrein
16:30 – Lebanon vs Independent Olympic Athletes from Kuwait
19:00 – Palestina vs Afghanistan
20:30 – China vs Vietnam
