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Football AustraliaQantas Futsalroos romp past Macau Saturday 22 April 2006The Qantas Futsalroos have ended the AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers with an emphatic 16-2 win over Macau, to ensure they finished on top of their group.
After a sluggish start, which saw the score only at 3-1 at the half time break, the Australians put their foot down in the second half to 13 goals in a brilliant display of attacking play.
Leading the way for the Qantas Futsalroos was Adrian Vizzari, who scored five goals, Goran Josifovski and Elia Salloum each got a hat-trick, Lachlan Wright (pictured right) got a double, while Scott Manson, Keenan Duimpies and Andrew Nolan each got a single goal.
Australia got off to its usual fast start, scoring after just four minutes thanks to captain Andrew Nolan. But it was Macau that scored next in the 14th minute, as Australia played sluggishly.
Two late goals in the half by Goran Josifovski and Adrian Vizzari, saw Australia take a 3-1 lead into the break.
Some stern words by the coaching staff at half time, seemed to have the desired effect, right from the whistle, as Australia scored five goals in the first five minutes. Goals continued to flow at regular intervals, with 15-year-old debutant Keenan Duimpies grabbing a goal towards the end of the game.
The win made it three from three in the qualifying series, a result that has turned a few heads within the AFC Futsal fraternity.
“We’ve taken a few by surprise at these qualifiers,” said Australian assistant coach Glenn Lockhart. “For our 1st entry into Asia, it was very, very pleasing.”
“Today in the first half we started slowly, certainly not to our standard we expected of ourselves, but after some stern words at half time, we came out and scored five goals in the first five minutes and played to a level we know we are capable of.
“Our performances have been very encouraging, as it’s a young side, with a few new players and all performed where we wanted them to, but we know there is improvement in them.”
The team will now prepare for the AFC Futsal Championship next month in Uzbekistan, where it will join 15 other teams.
“We will go into camp a week prior to leaving, work more on our set plays and general play as a group,” said Lockhart. “We know we can play at this level in Asia and are really looking forward to the challenge in Uzbekistan.”
AFC Futsal Championship Qualifying tournament
Match Details
Australia 16 (Andrew Nolan 4’, Goran Josifovski 17’/22'/34', Adrian Vizzari 18'/21’/24’/25’/33’, Lachlan Wright 23'/33’, Elia Salloum 27’/29’/40’, Scott Manson 38’, Keenan Duimpies 38’)
Macau 2 (14’, 39’)
Australia starting five: Peter Spathis (gk), Andrew Nolan (c), Luke Haydon, Adrian Vizzari, Trent Flanigan
Substitutes: Scott Manson, Goran Josifovski, Christopher Zeballos, Lachlan Wright, Keenan Duimpies, Elia Salloum
Subs not used: Gavin O’Brien (gk),
Not in line-up: Miles Downie, Andrew Paine
Pool B - Results & Fixtures
Round 1 - 20 April 2006
Qantas Futsalroos 3 - Hong Kong 2
Korea Republic 8 - Macau 1
Round 2 - 21 April 2006
Qantas Futsalroos 5 - Korea Republic 4
Hong Kong 14 - Macau 2
Round 3 - 22 April 2006
Qantas Futsalroos 16 – Macau 2
Korea Republic v Hong Kong – still to be played
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The star on lineMalaysia come out tops in their groupSunday April 23, 2006PETALING JAYA: Malaysia emerged as Group A champions of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal qualifiers despite a 5-5 draw with Turkmenistan in their final group match at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium in Kuantan last night.
The two teams will join Group B champions Australia and runners-up Hong Kong in the Finals scheduled to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from May 21-27.
“We are glad that we managed to draw with the stronger Turkmenistan side and finished on top,'' said striker Mohd Zaidi Zulkapri.
“To make the Finals showed that we have the ability to be competitive.
“I just hope we can play just as well during the Finals in Uzbekistan next month.”
In the two earlier matches, Vietnam beat Maldives 5-0, Australia thumped Macau 16-2 while Hong Kong drew 2-2 against South Korea.
RESULTSGroup A: Vietnam 5 Maldives 0; Malaysia 5 Turkmenistan 5.
Group B: Australia 16 Macau 2; Hong Kong 2 South Korea 2.
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Malaysian FAMalaysia finishes top22nd April, 2006 – Malaysia finishes at the top of Group A of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal qualifiers this evening when it held Turkmenistan to a 5-5 draw in the final group match at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium in Kuantan.
The draw today only served to confirmed Malaysia’s and Turkmenistan’s qualification into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal championship –which will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Only the top two teams from each group of the qualifiers get the chance to showcase their talent against the best Futsal teams in Asia from May 21st-27th, 2006.
“We are glad that we managed to draw Turkmenistan today who is considered as one of the stronger teams in this tournament. And to finish at the top of the group is really a bonus,” said Mohd Zaidi Zulkapri, who scored twice for Malaysia in the 10th and 32nd minute.
“And to make the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal championship this year showed that Malaysians have the ability to be competitive.
“So I hope that we can be just as good in Uzbekistan next month as we have been in Kuantan this week.”
The other scorers for Malaysia this evening were Mohd Saiful Mohd Noor 9th minute, Azari Ithnain (11th) and Mohd Fuad Yusof (39th).
While for Turkmenistan, they scored through Vasily Plyushenko in the eight minute, Artur Gevorkyan in the 38th minute and Abdullayen Taji’s hat-trick (in the 13th, 31st and 38th minute).
In the two earlier matches, Vietnam beat Maldives 5-0 while Australia thumped Macau 16-2.
RESULTS: Vietnam bt Maldives 5-0; Australia bt Macau 16-2; MALAYSIA drew with Turkmenistan 5-5.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comTurkmenistan, Malaysia and Australia book berths: AFC Futsal Championship qualifiers 22 April 2006 KUANTAN, Pahang: Turkmenistan, Malaysia and Australia qualified for the AFC Futsal Championship 2006 here on Friday while Korea Republic and Hong Kong will fight it out for the last available berth today.
Turkmenistan defeated Vietnam 2-0, Malaysian thrashed Cambodia 9-2 and Australia squeezed past the Korea Republic 5-4 to enter the tournament proper which will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 21-27.
For Malaysia, Addie Azwan Zainal was on song with goals in the third, 11th and 25th minutes while Saiful Mohd Nor scored the second hat-trick for Malaysia in the first, eighth, and 29th minutes. The other scorers for Malaysia were Mohd Feroz Ab Karnim (13th and 21st minutes) and Mohd Azari Ithnain (31st) while Peas Sothy and Teab Vaphanak scored for Cambodia in the sixth and 32nd minute respectively.
Australia took the lead against their Korean rivals in the 12th minute through Goran Josifovski and skipper Andrew Nolan doubled the lead in the 19th minute. But Korea Republic scored two quick goals just before half-time to level the score going into the break.
Korea grabbed the lead in the opening minute of the second half, but Lachlan Wright equalised a minute later with a solo effort.
Adrian Vizzari gave the Australians the lead again in the 34th minute and four minutes later Goran Josifovski scored his second. Hereafter, Korea rallied and slammed in another goal but the Australians held firm under pressure to book their qualification.
Today, a draw suffices for Hong Kong who have superior goal difference against Korea Republic.
The draw for the finals will be held in Tashkent on Sunday.
STANDINGS: Group A - Turkmenistan - 9 points (after 3 games), Malaysia - 9 (3), Cambodia - 4 (4), Vietnam - 1 (3), Maldives - 0 (3)
Group B - Australia - 6 (2), Hong Kong - 3 (2), Korea Rep - 3 (2), Macau - 0 (2)
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES: Vietnam vs Maldives, Macau vs Australia, Malaysia vs Turkmenistan, Korea Republic vs Hong Kong
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The AFC.comHong Kong qualify after 2-2 draw with Korea Republic: AFC Futsal Championship 2006 23 April 2006KUANTAN, Pahang: Hong Kong eased into the last available berth for the AFC Futsal Championship 2006 after a 2-2 draw with Korea Republic on Saturday, the last day of the qualifiers here at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium.
While Malaysia and Turkmenistan had completed the line-up from Group A a day earlier, there was one vacant slot up for grabs in Group B after Australia’s qualification and Hong Kong clinched it on superior goal difference ahead of Korea Republic following the tie.
In other games having no bearing on the standings, Vietnam thrashed Maldives 5-0 while Malaysia drew 5-5 with Turkmenistan to top Group A. Australia routed Macau 16-2 to finish atop Group B.
The draw for the tournament takes place today in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where the championship will be played from May 21-27.
FINAL STANDINGS: Group A – Malaysia – 10 points, Turkmenistan – 10, Cambodia – 4, Vietnam – 4, Maldives – 0.
Group B – Australia – 9, Hong Kong – 4, Korea Rep – 4, Macau – 0.
TEAMS FOR AFC FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP 2006:
Iran, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan (hosts), Thailand, Kuwait, Tajikistan, China, Lebanon, Iraq, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia and Turkmenistan.
Courtesy:
The AFC.comIran, Thailand drawn in same group: AFC Futsal Championship 200624 April 2006The AFC Futsal Championship draw in progress in Tashkent on Sunday.
TASHKENT: Seven-time Asian futsal champions Iran have been drawn in the group of death for the eighth edition of the AFC Futsal Championship 2006 alongside Thailand, Indonesia and Turkmenistan.
The draw took place at the Zarafshon Hall here on Sunday and 16 teams came out of the pots to be slotted into four groups of four each for the tournament proper which takes place from May 21-27.
The groupings assume vital significance this time as only the group toppers advance to the semifinals in the absence of a last eight round.
In the last edition, the credit of holding Iran to their first ever draw, a 3-3 affair, and ending their awesome seven-year-long no-draw streak (their long-running no-defeat run in the group stage was ended by Japan 3-1) went to ASEAN futsal champions Thailand. Hence, a guarded approach from Team Melli is to be expected when they come across the lively Thais who exposed their vulnerability last time round.
Group A has hosts Uzbekistan battling it out with China, Chinese Taipei and qualifiers Malaysia. Uzbekistan reached the semifinals last year and a repeat performance in front of home fans shouldn’t be too difficult.
Uzbekistan manager Valery Vidrih told www.the-afc.com after the draw: “We are very happy with the draw as strong teams like Thailand are in another group. If we manage to reach the knock-out stage we will meet neither Japan nor Iran in the semifinals."
Last edition’s runners-up Japan are in Group B with Central Asian powerhouse Tajikistan, Iraq and Hong Kong. Japan lost to Iran in the final last year in Vietnam but a face-off in the final this year is ruled out as the format pits the Group B winner against the Group D topper in the second semifinal.
Group C is the most open of the four groups with newcomers Australia and Kyrgyzstan, beaten semifinalists last year, vying for the honours with Kuwait and Lebanon. Australia reached the finals recently the hard way after clearing a tough qualification phase.
The group phase will be played from May 21-24, while the last four matches will be held on May 26. The final will be played on May 27.
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