Asian Football: AFC Asian Cup 2007
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Where was the Referee from? Well if it was level /half you still win half your $$$Originally posted by Jaeyoon:Korea 1-1 Saudi Arabia
Ninja, I'm referring to the penalty awarded to Saudi Arabia.
Even the commentators don't think it was a penalty.
Oh Beom Seok (pronounce like Bomb Sock
actually) didn't actually pushed the Saudi forward.
Well, it's been given. No choice but to accept. 1-1, at least Korea didn't lose even if they didn't manage to win. 
I think Korea is ready to explode in their second game unless of course someone turn off the lights on them again. -
favourable yes, but its really difficult to see indonesia going through to the next round, i still bet my money on south korea and saudi arabia to go through..but the ball is round..so anything can happen i guess >.<Originally posted by Short Ninja:Probably so or just the Indonesian soccer coach with the itchy hand.Last night's draw was definitely favorable to the home team -
I didn't catch the match, but was following it on the internet.Originally posted by Jaeyoon:Korea 1-1 Saudi Arabia
Ninja, I'm referring to the penalty awarded to Saudi Arabia.
Even the commentators don't think it was a penalty.
Oh Beom Seok (pronounce like Bomb Sock actually) didn't actually pushed the Saudi forward.
Well, it's been given. No choice but to accept. 1-1, at least Korea didn't lose even if they didn't manage to win.
no wonder the score was late...
Anyway, I think it's good that Korea has at least 1 point, otherwise saudi arabia would be the favorites... -
I feel the same way too...Originally posted by 4getmenot:favourable yes, but its really difficult to see indonesia going through to the next round, i still bet my money on south korea and saudi arabia to go through..but the ball is round..so anything can happen i guess >.<
assuming korea beat bahrain, and saudis beat indonesia,
korea and saudis would have 4 points, indonesia 3, bahrain 0
Looking at that, Korea would have a tougher time going through than the saudis, but I think they will still get at least 5 points to get out of the group. -
Picture this,if they play like men possessed to get just one draw and lose a game in the smallest margin Its free nasi padang for everybody at the quarterfinals!!!!Originally posted by 4getmenot:favourable yes, but its really difficult to see indonesia going through to the next round, i still bet my money on south korea and saudi arabia to go through..but the ball is round..so anything can happen i guess >.< -
But then again you are right about South Korea and Saudi Arabia.If Korea beat them (very likely)and they draw Saudi (unlikely) then Bahrain would kelong to their Arab brother (unlikely but likely )then they are FARKED!!! (Most likely)
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Koreans will not have a field day when playing the now desperate Bahrain but they will prevail.Saudis should be able to knock about 2 to 3 goals in as I predict Indonesia playing with 10 men in the second halfOriginally posted by ordinaryguy32:I feel the same way too...
assuming korea beat bahrain, and saudis beat indonesia,
korea and saudis would have 4 points, indonesia 3, bahrain 0
Looking at that, Korea would have a tougher time going through than the saudis, but I think they will still get at least 5 points to get out of the group. -
Group D News
Captain Lee Woon-Jae bemoans power failure
Jul 12, 2007
PA Sport
JAKARTA – Korea Republic captain Lee Woon-Jae believes that the power failure at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Wednesday helped Saudi Arabia re-group during the AFC Asian Cup Group D encounter.
The veteran custodian and his team-mates were on their way to claiming their first win in competitive fixtures against the Saudis in 18 years when Choi Sung-kuk header opened the scoring six minutes after the hour mark.
However, Saudi skipper Yasser Al Qahtani salvaged a point for his side when he converted a dubious penalty five minutes before the floodlight failure, which led to a 25 minute delay.
“It was disappointing,” said Lee Woon-Jae. “At that time, the Saudi Arabia players were tired and that gave them a break to recover.
“The weather conditions were not good but the same applies on the Saudi players and this is not an excuse. At the end of the day, it is a good result.”
However, Woon-Jae's counterpart Al Qahtani disagreed and insisted his side hand the upper hand in the game and deserved to claim all three points after clearing several clear-cut scoring chances.
“We dominated the game but we couldn't score from the chances that we had," he said. “This is football; if you score goals you will win.
“It may be true that the Koreans haven’t beat us in a competitive fixture in 18 years and the Saudi national team previously had the upper hand when the two sides met.
“However, today we had new young players who played their first game in such a big competition and they had a good game.”
Al Qahtani, who scored his 28th international goal against Korea, produced a quiet display on Wednesday, with strike partner Malek Maaz providing the majority of the attacking threat.
“You should ask the AFC who gave me the MVP Award," said Al Qahtani. “I have recently returned from injury and my fitness is still not 100% and I now have a slight cramp in my leg.”
Saudi Arabia will now look towards SaturdayÂ’s meeting with co-hosts Indonesia, who claimed a 2-1 victory over Bahrain in their Group D opener.
“We will prepare very well for our next match and will look at the tape of Indonesia's match against Bahrain,” added Al Qahtani. -
Group A News
Jitsawad doubtful for Thailand
Jul 11, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Thailand’s Jetsada Jitsawad has been rated doubtful for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup co-hosts vital clash against Oman after head coach Chanvit Polchovin revealed that the Bangkok University defender is struggling with a thigh injury.
“We will try our best for our second match against Oman but we have a few players who are carrying injuries,” Chanvit said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“Jetsada has a thigh muscle injury and hasn’t trained for the past two days while strikers Pipat Tonkanya and Teerasil Dangda both have ankle injuries but have resumed light training.”
Jetsada, an ever-present as Thailand finished runners-up to Singapore at the 2007 ASEAN Football Championship, has been playing alongside veteran stopper Niweat Siriwong at the heart of the Thai defence but Chanvit has no shortage of options should the 26-year-old fail to regain fitness.
“If Jetsada can’t play we have a couple of players who can cover his position but I will emphasise that a decision won’t be made until later this [Wednesday] evening.”
Chanvit may opt to replace Jetsada with his Bangkok University team-mate Patiparn Phetphun or might consider gambling on the inexperienced Kiatprawut Saiwaew, who lacks senior team experience but at 6Â’1 brings an imposing physical element not usually associated with Thai teams.
Whoever fills the Jetsada void Chanvit knows that with the group all square after one round of matches it is a match Thailand must win if they are to stand a chance of advancing to the Asian Cup knockout stage for only the second time in their history.
“The second match is often the most important and both teams know that they really have to play to win,” the former AFC Coach of the Year reiterated.
“I have told my players to turn the pressure into determination and have emphasised that they have to do their very best in order to win.”
Thailand acquitted themselves admirably in the 1-1 draw with Iraq, while Vietnam and Indonesia have silenced the critics that suggested the South East Asians maybe out of their depth when they enjoyed respective defeats over 2007 Gulf Cup winners the UAE and Bahrain, semi-finalists at the last Asian Cup.
And Chanvit is hoping that he can continue the trend and follow-up their own friendly defeat over Qatar with another Gulf scalp.
“I looked at the Indonesia and the Vietnam games and the quality of the teams is not so different. Vietnam and Indonesia did a good job in taking their chances and we will try to do the same.
“Each team in our group has one point so tomorrow’s game will be very tense.” -
Group A News
Calderon aware of Thai threat
Jul 11, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK - Oman coach Gabriel Calderon has warned his side not to allow Thailand any time on the ball ahead of their AFC Asian Cup Group A encounter on Thursday.
Calderon is hoping to mastermind OmanÂ’s qualification from the group stages for the first time in their history and a superb 1-1 draw with Australia on Sunday has given them the ideal platform to build from.
But Thailand will be no push-overs after the co-hosts earned a 1-1 draw against Iraq on Saturday.
Chanvit PolchovinÂ’s side were quick on the ball in that match and were the better side in the second-half and former Argentina striker Calderon knows it will not be an easy game.
“The players are more confident than before but we have no time to relax, we are playing three finals and we have only played one. There are still two more to come,” he said.
“It is always difficult to beat the home team especially when in front of a big crowd but I hope we will win so that we will be in a good position to qualify.
“I think the key is not to give the Thai players space as they are dangerous in this kind of situation.”
Calderon is hoping to be able to have the same pool of players he had at his disposal against Australia also fit for Thursday.
He has six players receiving treatment for cramp and will wait on a medical report before deciding whether they will feature, however the 47-year-old is confident that he will have the same team available that did so well against the Socceroos.
“We have no injuries but we have six players who are suffering from cramp,” he confirmed. “They are under treatment at the moment but they will most likely be ready for the game.
“We are at a bit of a disadvantage because the Thailand players have had one more rest day, we don’t know yet how the players suffering from cramp will respond to the treatment but hopefully everyone will be ready for the game.” -
Yesterday July 11, 2007 Match day 5
Match #7
11/7/07 18:20 (KL Time)
Iran 2-1 Uzbekistan
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Match #8
19:35 (Jakarta Time)
Korea Republic 1-1 Saudi Arabia
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Today July 12, 2007 Match day 6
12/7/07
Match #9
17:20 (BKK Time)
Oman v Thailand
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #10
19:35 (Hanoi Time)
Qatar v Vietnam
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Tomorrow July 13, 2007 Match day 7
13/7/07
Match #11
17:20 (BKK Time)
Iraq v Australia
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #12
20:35 (Hanoi time)
UAE v Japan
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Group A News
Oman edge Iraq, says Thai skipper Tawan
Jul 11, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Thailand skipper Tawan Sripan believes that Oman may prove to be a bigger threat than Iraq when the 2007 AFC Asian Cup co-hosts meet the Gulf Sultanate in their crucial Group A clash on Thursday.
The BEC Tero Sasana midfielder based his opinion on OmanÂ’s performance against pre-tournament favourites Australia during which the Socceroos needed an inspirational display from keeper Mark Schwarzer and a stoppage-time Tim Cahill equaliser to salvage a point and deny Gabriel CalderonÂ’s side the first major shock of the tournament.
“Looking at Oman in the first game it appears to me that they have better individual technique than Iraq,” said Tawan at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
“They are a very fast team but we are also fast and we will try not to feel the pressure and will play with determination,” continued Tawan, who scored with a trademark free-kick as Thailand defeated Oman’s Gulf rivals Qatar 2-0 in a warm-up match held four days before they took on Iraq.
The Thais also needed an inspired performance from their goalkeeper, Kosin Hathairattanakool, to keep them in their opening match against an Iraqi side that were rampant in the first-half but tired badly in the second period.
IraqÂ’s undoing was the heaviness of the Rajamangala pitch that took a battering from a torrential downpour that at one stage threatened to wash out both the official opening ceremony and the tournament curtain-raiser.
Thailand handled the underfoot conditions well and could have taken all three points after laying siege to the Iraqi goal in a barnstorming last 10 minutes. But at the very least, Tawan believes that the experience of the conditions will stand them in good stead should the July monsoons make a repeat performance at the Rajamangala on Thursday.
He added: “The condition of the turf played an important role in the game against Iraq. Now we have the experience of playing in the wet conditions we will be able to adapt quickly.”
Thailand are playing Oman for the second successive Asian Cup after the two sides met in Chengdu in the group stage of China 2004.
The Omanis, then under current Bahrain coach Milan Macala, emerged 2-0 victors thanks to an 11th minute own goal from Rangsan Vivatchaichok and a 49th minute effort from Imad Ali, who set up OmanÂ’s opener against Australia in an MVP award-winning performance. -
Finally get to watch Thailand Vs Oman live on TV.Surprise to see Thais playing a lot of long balls.In terms of experience the Thais have an edge with players averaging 29 years of age.The only Omani playing well is number 12 V.Sundramoothy look alike but still early to tell.I pick Thailand to win by one goal cuz a draw is no fun second time around.
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I picked Thailand to beat Oman when the draw was made in Group A and they really did it. (no kidding, my predictions Thailand would beat Oman and draw with Iraq and Australia to get 5 points) I mean they might lose to the Aussies but I really hope they can at least get a point from the last game against the Aussies. This is also to prove to the English media and Australia that they've been over-rated (just because they have some average (not stars) players in England)Originally posted by Short Ninja:Finally get to watch Thailand Vs Oman live on TV.Surprise to see Thais playing a lot of long balls.In terms of experience the Thais have an edge with players averaging 29 years of age.The only Omani playing well is number 12 V.Sundramoothy look alike but still early to tell.I pick Thailand to win by one goal cuz a draw is no fun second time around.
Result
Thailand 2-0 Oman.
Thailand played well. Well done Thailand.
Tomorrow evening, I'm flying to Bangkok. I'll be back next week in Singapore. I'll still be online at my home in Bangkok.
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Group A news
Super sub Pipat seals Thai win
Jul 12, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Thailand took a step closer to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 after substitute Pipat Tonkanya scored twice as the co-hosts defeated Oman 2-0 on Thursday to record their first-ever regulation-time victory in the competition.
After a goalless first-half, Thailand took a 70th minute lead when second-half substitute Pipat side-footed home Teerathep WinothaiÂ’s cross from close range before rifling in the second after collecting TeerathepÂ’s header for a victory which was a reversal of the score line when the two met at the previous tournament in China.
Thailand coach Chanvit Polchovin and his counterpart Gabriel Calderon both made one change from the sides that started their respective 1-1 draws in the opening round of fixtures.
Jetsada Jitsawad failed to recover from a thigh muscle strain and the Bangkok University stopperÂ’s place in the Thai defence was taken by 21-year-old Kiatprawut Saiwaeo, while Fawzi Basheer, who impressed in the last 30 minutes against Australia, earned a place in the starting 11 at the expense of Yousuf Al Busaidi.
The opening five minutes were played at a brisk tempo and while the Thais had the majority of possession it was the visitors who had the first half-chance of the game when keeper Kosin Hatthairattanakool safely gathered Ismail Al AjmiÂ’s cross-shot from the left.
Some Thai trickery in and around the penalty area almost saw the home side take a 20th minute lead but veteran striker Kiatisuk Senamuang couldnÂ’t connect with Sutee SuksomkitÂ’s pass across the face of goal.
Five minutes later Therdsak Chaiman got his shaven head on the end of Datsakorn ThonglaoÂ’s lofted pass but the diminutive Singapore Armed Forces playmaker was off target with his effort.
Ten minutes from interval Said ShoonÂ’s crunching tackle on Kiatisuk earned the Oman defender a yellow card and the Thais a free-kick in a dangerous position but Sutee wasted the opportunity by firing the set-piece straight into the Oman wall.
Kiatisuk was in the wars again seven minutes later when he was barged over by Juma Abdullah Al Wahabi, who became the fourth Oman player booked by referee Lee Gi-yong, before Therdsak fired an angle drive into the side netting on the stroke of half-time.
The inaugural AFC Champions League MVP saw his free-kick comfortably held by Oman keeper Ali Al Habsi one minute after the restart before a superb long pass from Kiatisuk deep inside his own half found Sutee in acres of space near the opponentÂ’s penalty area.
Sutee, who has featured in every one of ThailandÂ’s Asian Cup matches since Lebanon 2000, squared the ball to Thai skipper Tawan Sripan who blazed his shot high over the bar.
In the 58th minute Chanvit bolstered his attack by taking off playmaker Therdsak and bringing on striker Pipat, who tested Al Habsi with a low drive four minutes later.
Kosin, who was outstanding in the first-half of the draw with Iraq, had had a quite game up until the 65th minute when he turned Ahmed HadidÂ’s curling free-kick from the left onto the post.
With 20 minutes left to play ThailandÂ’s persistence finally paid off and it was Pipat and fellow substitute Teerathep who combined for the opener.
Nirut Surasiang played a pass through to Teerathep, who replaced Kiatisuk three minutes earlier, and the BEC Tero Sasana striker whipped in a cross that was side-footed home by the unmarked Pipat at the far post.
Al Ajmi flashed a header wide while Bader Mubarak tested Kosin with a superb turn and shot before Teerathep and Pipat combined again for ThailandÂ’s second eight minutes after they broke the deadlock.
Former Crystal Palace youth player Teerathep got up well to head a long ball into the path of Pipat who controlled the ball with his chest before firing past Al Habsi with authority to complete a win that put the Thais in an excellent position to go through to the last eight. -
Today July 12, 2007 Match day 6
Final Score
12/7/07
Match #9
17:20 (BKK Time)
Oman 0-2 Thailand
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #10
19:35 (Hanoi Time)
Qatar 1-1 Vietnam
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam -
Qatar should have won too bad luck isn't on their side,one shot hit bar(the rebound miss open goal) and one hit pole.
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Group A News
Thailand
Pipat was in my plans, says Chanvit
Jul 12, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Thailand coach Chanvit Polchovin revealed that he had wanted two-goal hero Pipat Tonkanya in the starting 11 but was reluctant to field the BEC Tero Sasana striker at the start of Thursday’s clash with Oman on account of a slight injury.
"Pipat was in my thoughts for a start but a few days ago he suffered a minor injury to his ankle and I was concerned it might lose his confidence a little bit,” said Chanvit.
Pipat came off the bench in the 58th minute and was twice set up by fellow substitute Teerathep Winothai to take the Thais a step closer to the knockout stages of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since they reached the semi-finals of the competition in 1972, when it was last held in Bangkok.
After a goalless first-half, in which the Thais dominated an out-of-sorts Oman, Thailand took a 70th minute lead when Pipat side-footed home TeerathepÂ’s cross from close range.
The 28-year-old, who has had spells in the Vietnam league with Binh Dinh and Dong Thap before returning to Bangkok, then took his tally to seven goals in 10 games when he rifled home his BEC Tero team-mateÂ’s header for a victory which was a reversal of the score line when Oman defeated the Thais at the previous Asian Cup in China.
Not surprisingly, Chanvit was full of praise for the deadly duo but refused to confirm whether they had done enough to earn a start in ThailandÂ’s final Group A match against Australia on Monday.
"Both of them did a very good job,” said the former AFC Coach of the Year.
“Whether they will start the next game or not depends on what tactic we use. So we cannot talk about it right now because if our tactics are known to our opponent then it will not be successful.
"It was a very tough game today as both teams needed three points. As you all saw it was a very technical game because to play too fast or too slow would not be good.
"We have four points and we have a great chance to progress to the second round." -
Group B News
Quintana saves Qatar again
Jul 12, 2007
PA Sport
HANOI – Sebastian Quintana salvaged a 1-1 draw for Qatar for the second straight game, heading home 11 minutes from time as the Middle Eastern side held co-hosts Vietnam at My Dinh Stadium on Thursday.
Phan Thanh Binh gave the home side the lead in the 32nd minute after a handling error by Mohamed Saqr but the Uruguay-born Quintana, who had also netted in the draw with Japan on Monday, scored a deserved equaliser late on to keep alive QatarÂ’s hopes of reaching the last eight.
Despite failing to hold on for the win, Vietnam remained top of Group B with four points, two ahead of the Qataris.
Once again, there was a capacity crowd at My Dinh National Stadium, eager to see their side build on their 2-0 win over United Arab Emirates in their opening match.
However, it was the Gulf side that dominated early on as the Qatari forward line of Waleed Jassim and Sebastian Quintana put the Vietnamese goal under heavy pressure in the opening half-hour.
Goalkeeper Duong Hong Son was kept busy, coming off his line quickly in the fifth minute to gather the ball as it was played through to Quintana.
On 20 minutes, Quintana received the ball on the edge of the Vietnamese box after it had been deflected to him off Nguyen Huy Hoang and fired in a hard low shot that forced Hong Son to go down low to his right to save.
The Song Lam Nghe An keeper did even better just before the half-hour as Quintana surged into the Vietnamese box, outpacing Vu Nhu Thanh before unleashing a low left-footed drive that Hong Son dived low to his left to parry away magnificently.
Vietnam were able to generate little until a calamitous error by goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr in the 32nd minute presented them with the lead.
Phan Thanh Binh received the ball from Le Cong Vinh on the edge of the box and turned a defender on the edge of the box before firing in a shot from 20 metres that appeared unlikely to cause much trouble for Saqr.
But the Al Sadd keeper misjudged the bounce and allowed the ball to bobble under his body, rolling agonisingly out of his reach and over the line.
Spurred on by the goal, the Vietnamese picked up their game and very nearly increased their advantage three minutes later when Thanh Binh fired in another low shot that went just wide of the right post.
Qatar were still creating the better chances though and Hong Son was called into action again to punch clear Meshal MubarakÂ’s speculative shot from 30 metres.
In stoppage time at the end of the half, Waleed Jasim ran onto a fine through pass played over the top of the Vietnamese defence by Wesam Rizik but lobbed his effort over the crossbar.
Qatar continued to exert much of the pressure in the second half and Hong Son was called into action again in the 52nd minute to stop Meshal MubarakÂ’s curling free kick from 25 metres, holding on to the ball as three Qatari players looked to pounce.
Shortly afterwards, Saad Al Shammari floated in a cross that was headed harmlessly over by Abdulla Koni with two teammates waiting in a better position behind him.
Magid Mohammed then went within inches of an equaliser as he received the ball on the left side of the box following a corner and fired in a shot with the outside of his right boot that bounced off the far post. Quintana gathered the loose ball off the rebound but shot wide.
Most of VietnamÂ’s efforts in the second half were on the counter attack, Phung Van Nhien curling an effort narrowly wide after surging into the Qatari box and Cong Vinh firing across the face of goal after winning possession off Mostafa Abdulla.
Qatari pressure finally paid off in the 79th minute when a low shot by substitute Ali Afef deflected off a Vietnamese defender and looped up towards the six-yard box where an onrushing Quintana powered in to head the ball home.
The Middle Eastern side turned up the pressure in the closing minutes with Ali Afef heading wide in the 82nd minute and then hitting the underside of the crossbar two minutes later after he was found unmarked in the box by Quintana.
With time running out, Seyd Bechir and Mostafa Abdulla also headed off target before Majadi Siddiq shot wide with the final effort of the game. -
Group A News
Calderon concedes Thais were fitter
Jul 12, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Amidst a catalogue of excuses explaining Oman’s 2-0 loss to co-hosts Thailand, beleaguered coach Gabriel Calderon accepted that the Thais’ superior fitness helped carry the day in Thursday’s AFC Asian Cup 2007 clash at the Rajamangala Stadium.
“Physically the Thais are better than Oman and they play football very quickly,” said the Argentine after seeing his side’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals take a hammering thanks to Pipat Tonkanya’s second-half double.
Calderon also suggested that fatigue from their 1-1 draw with Australia, a lack of preparation and some questionable refereeing from Korean official Lee Gi-yong were also factors as Thailand recorded their first Asian Cup win in regulation time.
“We have six players struggling with injury and the Thais had a day longer to recuperate,” lamented the former Saudi Arabia coach.
The players had a three-week holiday and have only been training for a month so we are not at a good level physically. But I am proud of the Oman players.”
Calderon pointed the finger at the referee arguing that most of the refereeÂ’s decisions went against his side and in favour of Thailand.
“We had four yellow cards and Thailand had zero,” he said referring to first-half bookings for defenders Hassan Yousuf Madhafar, Said Shoon and Juma Abdullah Al Wahabi as well as striker Imad Ali, who was a shadow of the player that picked up the MVP award against Australia.
“We believe there was a foul in the build-up to one of their goals and we should have had a corner-kick but the referee gave the ball to Thailand,” continued Calderon
“For me it is clear…this is not fair play.”
While the 47-year-old, who took over the managerial reigns from Milan Macala in April, feels that his team was the victim of some poor refereeing he also accepts that Oman must play up their game when they take on Iraq in their final group match on Monday.
“Maybe the referee made a few mistakes but the Oman players didn’t play well.
“I said that we have three finals. We drew the first, lost the second and now win must win the third.” -
Yesterday July 12, 2007 Match day 6
12/7/07
Match #9
17:20 (BKK Time)
Oman 0-2 Thailand
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #10
19:35 (Hanoi Time)
Qatar 1-1 Vietnam
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Today July 13, 2007 Match day 7
13/7/07
Match #11
17:20 (BKK Time)
Iraq v Australia
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #12
20:35 (Hanoi time)
UAE v Japan
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Tomorrow July 14, 2007 Match day 8
14/7/07
Match #13
18:20 (KL Time)
Uzbekistan v Malaysia
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Match #14
19:35 (JKT Time)
Saudi Arabia v Indonesia
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
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The first 10 minutes of the Thai/oman game was like be forced to watch S-league on TV but as the Thais step up their pace you could tell that Oman was in trouble and there was nothing #12 (Oman tall version of V Sundramoothy) could do.The second goal was a real gem but I noticed some weaknesses at ther back and this wont look good against the towering Australians.Nevertheless the Thais are almost to the next round.
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Good for Japan that Vietnam drew with Qatar.Rain or shine we have always beaten UAE at any level of football.I pick Japan to score 3 goals at least or esle we are not worthy to be called 'defending champions'.Watch out for Nakazawa's header!!! and Endo is going to 'endo' your dreams with 25m shots UAE GO HOME>
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If only Singapore had Sebastian Quintana as one of the Lions.This guy is really a threat to any defense and he will go a long way.FAS should go to South American countries to recruit talented players too.In Japan some players from these soccer playing countries are offered scholarships and education.Currently there is a 15 year old student from Senegal studying in a special international high school here and he hopes to play for Japan in 2010.By then Japan would also be desperate for super talented FTs
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Ninja, SumOne and other friends here. I'm leaving for BKK this evening. I wonder what's the atmosphere there now. I'll let you know.
As usual, i'll still be here in the forum. I have access to internet at my home in Bangkok. I'll be in Singapore again next week.
Tonight I might not be contributing the result and stuff due to .....you know
Ninja, good luck to the team you support tonight.
This Sunday, Korea will meet bahrain. I hope we really can get the 3 points we badly needed to ensure we can go through to the quarters. As long as we end up getting 1 point, we're in danger.
I'll see you guys again when I'm in Bangkok.
Have a wonderful Friday.