The favourites play their roles in group B and C as hosts and Vietnamese fight for the top of group A
Vietnam opens Games with laudable win
Vietnam claimed the first win in the Asian Beach Games Phuket 2014, after a consistent win over Kuwait in the opener. Tan and Bui, with 3 and 2 goals each, respectively, led the Vietnamese attack, in a game in which it took most of the first period to see the first ball get to the back of the net. Immediately afterwards, Vietnam widened their advantage, building a safety cushion that they would be able to maintain despite the Kuwaiti attempts to cut the distance off. After Yaqoub’s last effort for the Al-Zaraq, Vietnam used a wonderful third period to finish any Kuwaiti option with three hits that secured the three points for the Tuyen.
Goals: 1-0: Tran, min. 3 (1); 2-0: Bui, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Hussain, min. 10 (2); 3-1: Mai, min. 5 (2); 3-2: Yaqoub, min. 2 (2); 4-2: Tran, min. 7 (3); 5-2: Bui, min. 1 (3); 6-2: Tran, min. 0 (1)
China come from behind to secure first points
China, one of the favourites for the medals, needed a mighty comeback against Uzbekistan in their first game in these Asian Beach Games Phuket 2014. After a first period in which both opponents chose to lean back and study their opponent, the Uzbeks were the first ones to find the back of the net, thanks to a brilliant effort by Sharipov. Fahriddinov added the second for the surprising Uzbekistani side, leaving China eventually helpless.
Fortunately for the defending silver medalists, Cai could pull one back before the end of the period, getting his team ready for the final assault during the last stage. Wan lead the comeback in the last period, with two goals that got the Chinese ahead for the first time, and for good. To prevent any late scare, Han sealed the win for the Ongaro-coached side with the 4-2, which gets China on top of group C.
Goals: 0-1: Sharipov, min. 10 (2); 0-2: Fahriddinov, min. 4 (2); 1-2: Cai, min. 2 (2); 2-2: Wan, min. 9 (3); 3-2: Wan, min. 6 (3); 4-2: Han, min. 0 (3).
Iran evidence power and roll past Syria
Iran sent today a loud message to all its opponents in the Asian Beach Games, inflicting their first opponent in the competition, Syria, a heavy defeat, with which they made clear that they aim for the gold again. After Ahmadzadeh opened the score for the defending champions, Hosseini, one of the best goalkeepers in the world contributed to his team’s offensive production with two goals for the 3-0. Boulokbashi added to the Iranian advantage with the 4-0.
After a truly terrifying first leg, Syria could pull themselves together again, and replied with their first hit, immediately replied by the Iranian force. Although being 6-1 down, for some minutes, it seemed that Syria had learnt how to keep the Asian kings under control, keeping them away from their box for more than a period and even managing to cut the distance with two goals. But the Persian Princes would not let that moment last for too long, as Mokhtari made clear, with the 7-3. Just in case they had not fielded enough beach soccer today, Mozdeh and Akbari pushed the score to the final 9-3 almost over the hooter.
Goals: 1-0: Ahmadzadeh, min. 9 (1); 2-0: Hosseini, min. 9 (1); 3-0: Hosseini, min. 5 (1); 4-0: Boulokbashi, min. 1 (1); 4-1: Habeib, min. 11 (2); 5-1: Ahmadzadeh, min. 9 (2); 6-1: Mokhtari, min. 9 (2); 6-2: Kbaili, min. 4 (2); 6-3: Cheikh Amad, min. 7 (3); 7-3: Mokhtari, min. 6 (3); 8-3: Mozdeh, min. 0 (3); 9-3: Akbari, min. 0 (3)
Hosts impose their law over Qatar
Thailand shares with Vietnam the head of group A, after the 1-5 victory over Qatar in this first matchday of the Asian Beach Games they are hosting in Phuket. Despite the match was fairly contested during the first two periods, with only one goal for ach side, the Elephants geared up in the last frame to clinch a bright win over the Qatari. With a terrific support from their crowd, Thailand found their momentum, got in control of the ball and the game,and managed to do real harm on the Qatari defense in the last 12 minutes. With four goals, the hosts unbalanced the score dramatically and finished all options Nenem’s lads might have had to grasp the points.
Goals: 0-1: Tapinna, min. 8 (1); 1-1: Al Sharqi, min. 1 (2); 1-2: Nanan, min. 10 (3); 1-3: Nanan, min. 10 (3); 1-4: Songpiew, min. 8 (3); 1-5: Tapinna, min. 6 (3)
ASIAN BEACH GAMES PHUKET 2014
Results today:
Saturday, 15th of November, 2014
11:00 – Vietnam 6-2 Kuwait
12:15 – China 4-2 Uzbekistan
13:30 – Iran 9-3 Syria
14:45 – Qatar 1-5 Thailand
Matches for tomorrow
Sunday, 16th of November, 2014
11:00 – Japan vs Malaysia
12:15 – Vietnam vs Qatar
13:30 – Oman vs Syria
14:45 – Thailand vs Kuwait
