Latest news with #AFCAsianQualifiers
Times of Oman
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Oman's World Cup hopes remain alive as they hold Palestine to reach playoffs
Muscat: A ten-man Oman's booked their spot in the playoffs of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Group B as they scraped to a 1-1 draw against Palestine at the King Abdullah Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday night. Issam Al Subhi converted a penalty in the injury time to earn a much needed single point to help them reach the fourth round along with Iraq after trailing Palestine for most part of second half. Earlier, Oday Kharoub's powerful header in the 49th minute got Palestine the lead but a never-say-die spirit of Rasheed Jaber-coached Red Warriors' earned them a playoff spot. With thr draw Oman finished with 11 points while Palestine ended with 10 points. Oman went into the match, needing just a draw to advance into the playoffs, thus ended their campaign with 11 points. South Korea (22 points) and Jordan (16) booked direct spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from Group B while Iraq (15) and Oman advanced to the playoffs as third and fourth placed teams from the group. For Oman, it was a memorable comeback defeat after they lost 3-0 to Jordan at home last week. Oman escaped an early scare when a header from Palestine player hit the woodwork in the fourth minute of the match. Munther Al Alawi of Oman had the best chance in the first half as he darted into the box dangerously only to find a defender make a last minute save. Both the teams failed to find the target till thr break but Palestine broke the deadlock soon after resumption when off a corner kick, Kharoub's header beat the Oman defence and goalkeeper Faiz Al Rusheidi. Oman tried hard to find the much-needed equaliser but their efforts suffered a blow in the 73rd minute when the experienced midfielder Harib Al Saadi was given marching orders by the Iranian referee for a tackle that earned him his second yellow card. Down by a man, Oman continued to put pressure on Palestine but the equaliser remained elusive till the last minute of the injury time when they earned a spot kick after Oman's Mohsin Al Ghassani was brought down inside the box by Palestine's Ahmad Taha.
Observer
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
S. Korea beat Kuwait 4-0 to keep unbeaten record
SEOUL: Korea Republic closed out their campaign with a resounding 4-0 win over Kuwait in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 on Tuesday. The win meant Korea Republic ended their campaign unbeaten with 22 points, with Kuwait finishing at the foot of the table. Having already secured their 11th consecutive and 12th overall Fifa World Cup appearance, Korea Republic dominated the proceedings but Lee Han-beom, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Bae Jun-ho attempts fell off target. Kuwait remained calm under pressure as Korea Republic maintained the intensity with Oh seeing his attempt from distance blocked, while Bae brought the best out Kuwait custodian Sulaiman Abdulghafoor following Lee Kang-in's set-up in the 19th minute. Korea Republic finally broke the deadlock in the 30th minute after Hwang In-beom's corner bounced off Kuwait captain Fahad Al Hajeri before sailing past keeper Abdulghafoor. The Al Arabi SC custodian had to be on his toes moments later to deny Won Du-jae's close range header before foiling Lee's dangerous cross into the area. Kuwait, whose hopes of advancing to the playoffs were dashed following a 2-0 defeat to Palestine last Thursday, struggled to settle in the second half as Korea Republic turned up the intensity with Lee again threatening from outside the box. The East Asian side doubled their tally in the 50th minute after Bae played a through ball for Lee, who finished brilliantly past Abdulghafoor for his 11th goal for Korea Republic. The momentum carried Korea Republic further in front three minutes later after Bae Jun-ho nodded down Hwang In-beom's deep ball into the box for Oh Hyeon-gyu to finish on the turn. Abdulghafoor denied Won's headed attempt from close range in the 72nd minute before Kim Ju-sung saw his header from inside the six-yard-box denied by the bar. But there was no denying Korea Republic as they went 4-0 up moments later after Kuwait failed to clear the ball with Lee Jae-Sung striking home a low shot which took a deflection before settling in the back of the net to seal the emphatic victory. — AFC
Gulf Today
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
UAE coach Olaroiu shifts focus to crucial playoff preparation
UAE will be aiming to lock down third spot when they travel to face Kyrgyzstan in their final AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Group A tie on Tuesday. Thursday's goalless draw with Uzbekistan ended UAE's hopes of automatic qualification and the West Asian side sit only a point ahead of Qatar, with both having sealed their places in the playoffs. Cosmin Olaroiu would have known before the tie against Uzbekistan that automatic qualification was going to be a long shot but the newly appointed head coach saw positives in the match and is already preparing for the playoffs. 'You have a once in a lifetime chance,' Olaroiu said. 'I don't think you should talk about motivation as much as preparation. That is the most important thing. Now is the end of the season, we have a break, then the clubs will start their preparations. 'In September, there is (an international) break and we will have some friendly games. The preparation is very, very important because the work the clubs will do now will influence it.' Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand, will be aiming to finish their debut campaign at this stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers on a high note. Cosmin Olaroiu In a setback to the team ahead of the crucial match, the UAE Football Association has suspended defender Khalid Al Dhanhani and forward Sultan Adel for five domestic matches and fined each player Dhs500,000 on Sunday for misconduct during a national team training camp. The players have left the camp with immediate effect due to a violation of disciplinary rules and will not travel with the squad to Kyrgyzstan. 'The disciplinary committee of the UAE Football Association (UAEFA) has decided to suspend Sharjah player Khalid Al Dhanhani and Shabab Al Ahli player Sultan Adil for five domestic matches, and to impose a fine of Dh500,000 on each,' the UAEFA said in a statement on Sunday. 'They have also been removed from the senior national team list after committing a violation inside the national team training camp on June 7.' The clubs of the two players dismissed from the UAE national team have expressed their support for the Football Association's decision. While the specific nature of the 'violation' has not been disclosed, both players' clubs have backed the FA's actions. 'While the club reaffirms its full respect for the decisions and regulations of the UAE Football Association, it will proceed with the necessary disciplinary action against the player,' Sharjah club stated. Saudi aim for miracle against Australia: A Saudi squad that has scored six goals through nine qualifying games need to beat Australia by a five-goal margin to earn a direct spot at the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Herve Renard knows it's an extremely unlikely outcome for his Saudi team, but he's urging his players to go all in Tuesday in the last game of the third round of Asian qualifying for next year's global tournament. 'The door is closed but we have to try to qualify even if it is through the window,' Renard said after his team's 2-0 win over Bahrain last week kept Saudi Arabia in contention. 'Everything must go very well for us if we are to qualify; we have to score goals.' Anything less than a five-goal deficit means Australia — in second spot in Group C — will qualify for a seventh World Cup. The last time the Socceroos lost by such a margin was in successive 6-0 defeats against Brazil and France in 2013. The Australians have scored 14 goals and conceded six through nine qualifiers. After successive World Cup qualifications through the playoffs, Australia are close to securing a direct route but coach Tony Popovic is taking nothing for granted. 'We need to do a job in Saudi,' Popovic said. 'We're in a great position, but we need to finish it off.' Popovic has only been in the job since September, stepping in after Graham Arnold resigned after collecting just one point in the group's first two qualification games. 'It's been a really intense period since I've come in but everyone's embraced what we're aiming to do,' he said. 'And we're very close now to achieving our goal.'For China, Kuwait, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain, the run to 2026 is already over. UAE players take part in a training session in Bishkek on Monday, ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan.
Observer
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Rasheed targets playoff spot after Jordan defeat
MUSCAT, June 6 The national football team head coach, Rasheed Jaber, voiced confidence that the team can return back in the concluding match at the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26 on coming Tuesday against Palestine in Amman city. ' I am confident that the team can bounce back strongly and vie for a playoff spot. I hope all the players put the defeat behind and begin concentrating on the next assignment which is securing a place in the playoffs as an additional two tickets to next year's Fifa World Cup Finals will be at stake,' he added. Jordan imprinted their name in the history as they secured their maiden World Cup qualification in group B following their 3-0 win over Oman on Thursday night to join South Korea to the Fifa World Cup after their convincing 2-0 win over Iraq. Jordan's striker Ali Olwan was the man of the match as he starred with a hat-trick and delivered his team crucial three points to reach 16 points and book their spot at next year's global showpiece ahead of their match against Iraq on Tuesday as the latter suffered a 2-0 loss against South Korea. Oman, which has 10 ten points, will meet Palestine in Amman on Tuesday. Both teams will fight with Iraq on the remaining two playoff spots after Palestine edged Kuwait 2-0 on Thursday night to keep their hopes alive. "I extend my apologies to our fans, especially those who attended the match. We hoped to bring them joy, but the penalty late in the first half shifted the momentum. Jordan capitalised well and managed the second half with control and determination,' Jaber said 'We still have a final match in the qualifiers and we will fight for victory. It is important to rebuild our confidence and approach the game with full focus. The door to qualification via the playoffs is still open,' he concluded. On the other side, the head coach of Jordan Jamal Sellami celebrated his team's historic achievement, guiding Jordan to their first-ever Fifa World Cup qualification. Jordan's attendance in the global showpiece event was confirmed after South Korea's victory over Iraq by 2-0 as they secured top two slots in Group B of the AFC Asian Qualifiers — Road to 26. 'We believed in the win, but to finish 3-0 exceeded our expectations. This result reflects the spirit, ambition, and commitment of our players,' Coach Sellami said. 'Qualifying for the World Cup is a dream come true for Jordanian football, and I am proud to be part of this journey. The first goal gave us the upper hand, forcing Oman to push forward, and we used that to our advantage.' Moroccan Sellami ended ...
Times of Oman
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Oman hopes for direct World Cup spot dashed as Jordan win 3-0 in Muscat
MUSCAT- A dominating Jordan outplayed hosts Oman 3-0 in their penultimate AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to 26 Group B tie at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday. The defeat ended Rasheed Jaber-coached Red Warriors' hopes of a direct spot from the group as the top two would seal the berth. With just one game remaining, Oman, now at 10 points, can manage only three more points, which would not be enough to even keep the third spot as they are now fourth. South Korea lead the standings and have qualified with 17 points while Jordan after the win are second at 16. Iraq are third with 13 and the match between Jordan and Iraq in Amman on 10 June will decide the second team from the group to seal the spot. Oman take on Palestine in their final game of the round on 10 June with Palestine at fifth spot with seven points. Kuwait are at bottom with six points. Jordan will remain in pole position against Iraq as they only have to avoid defeat to advance. Jordan's win against Oman was marked by Ali Olwan's hat-trick. At the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, both sides tested each other in the first 10 minutes, and Oman captain and keeper Faiz Al Rusheidi had his first shot of adrenaline when Mousa Al Ta'mari put the ball past him in the 11th minute only for the Ligue 1 midfielder to be ruled offside. The hosts' slow and steady build-up was hampered by poor finishing, with Abdul Al Mushaifri and Harib Al Saadi both fluffing their shots in the 15th and 19th minutes respectively. Issam Al Sabhi then had a golden opportunity to put Oman ahead, but his close range shot in the 24th minute was resolutely palmed away by keeper Yazeed Abulaila. A brilliant through ball from Al Saadi from his own half in the 31st minute found Al Sabhi, who controlled the pass with his first touch but then stumbled under pressure in the box. Jordan, who only had two shots at goal in regulation, were awarded a penalty five minutes into time added on after a VAR review found Mohannad Taha had been brought down, with Olwan duly converting to give his side the advantage going into the break. It got even better for Jordan six minutes into the second half as a quick break saw Olwan getting his second when he side-footed home Yazan Al Naimat's pass from the left beyond the reach of a diving Al Rusheidi. Olwan completed his hat-trick in the 64th minute when he gleefully put the ball into an empty net after Al Rusheidi was caught off-position on the right by Al Ta'mari's pass. Oman made five substitutions but it proved a little too late and the West Asians will have to give it their all in their final match against Palestine on Tuesday.
