By Mohammed Al-Kinani
JEDDAH – Iraq secured first position in Group C of the 2010 qualifiers for AFC U-19 Championship after defeating Saudi Arabia 3-0 in their last match of the group at the Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, Iraq, Sunday.
With this win, host Iraq topped the group with 13 points to qualify first while the Saudi team stayed second with 10 points. However, both teams qualified for the Finals of the championship.
Muhanned Al-Farsi almost scored for Saudi Arabia in the 30th minute, but his shot hit the post. After a barren first half, Mohammed Sa’ad scored for Iraq in the 58th minute. Seven minutes later, he increased the margin. Amjed Waleed sealed the win in the 90th minute with a penalty kick.
Iraq has won the Asian title five times – 1975, 1977, 1978, 1988 and 2000. In contrast, Saudi Arabia has won in 1986 and 1992.
In other matches, Oman blanked Afghanistan 4-0. Abdullah Saif scored in the 12th minute before Abdullah Abdul-Hadi scored from the spot to increase the margin in the 35th minute. Two minutes before the break, Abdullah Saif scored the third goal. Khaled Al-Alawi completed the tally in the 76th minute.
India succeeded to beat Kuwait 3-0. Jeji Lalpekhlua scored an early goal in the seventh minute. Malsawmfela then struck twice in the 45th and 56th minutes.
With six points, India is in the fourth place in the group behind Oman (8 points). Afghanistan stayed at the bottom with no points.
According to the guidelines of the tournament, teams finishing first and second in each group will qualify for the finals. In addition, the best third in the three groups of Eastern Asia also qualifies along with the best third in the Western Asia’s four groups.
Hilal stays on top
Al-Hilal kept collecting points to top Group A when it defeated host Al-Riyadh 2-0 in the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Cup at Prince Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.
Nawaf Al-Ayed and Abdul Aziz Al-Kaltham scored for Al-Hilal.
In another match in the group, Al-Wattani whipped its host Al-Shoa’lah 5-3 at Al-Sho’alah Club Stadium in Al-Kharj. The guest team’s goals came through Tiraiqi Al-Otaibi, Eisa Abu Qada’ah (hat trick) and Fahd Abu Jebir. Abdul-Mejeed Al-Hemdan, Berj Ma’odah and Yousuf Al-Rasheedy scored for Al-Shoa’lah.
In the same group, Al-Shabab thrashed its host Al-Nasr 4-2 at Prince Abdurrahman Bin Saud Stadium. With this win, Al-Shabab stays second with 13 points behind group leader, Al-Hilal. Al-Nasr is fourth with nine points.
In Group B, Al-Adalah defeated Hejr 4-2 at Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium in Al-Hasa.
In another match, Al-Khaleej defeated its guest Al-Ittifaq 1-0 at Al-Khaleej Club Stadium.
Al-Fateh won its guest Al-Qadisiyyah 2-0 at Al-Fateh Club Stadium. Al-Fateh topped this group with 15 points followed by Al-Khaleej (11).
At Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz Sport City Stadium in Al-Madina, Ohud and Al-Ansar shared points after a goalless draw in group C.
In the same group, Al-Ahli defeated its home rival Al-Ittihad 2-1 at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium. Al-Ahli is on top of its group with 13 points followed by Al-Ansar (9) and Al-Ittihad (2).
In group D, Bassim Al-Baqi’s goal saved Al-Ta’ee in the extratime to share two goals with host Al-Ta’awon at King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Sports City Stadium. Al-Ta’awon topped the group with eight points. In another match, Al-Hazm shared two goals with Al-Ra’id.
No comments:
Post a Comment