Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Trio celebrate as Iran stumble (FIFA)
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 14 November 2012
© Getty Images
Japan took a giant step towards sealing early passage from Asia to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, a 2-1 win in Oman cementing their dominance in the continent’s Group B.
Over in Group A, Qatar edged out visiting Lebanon 1-0 to claw themselves back into contention. Iraqalso revived their fortunes by scraping past Jordan with the same scoreline.
Elsewhere, there was a surprise as Uzbekistan overcame all the odds in Tehran to record their first-ever win against hosts Iran. Join FIFA.com as we detail an enthralling matchday in Asia.
Final qualifying round, matchday 5 results:
14 November
Group A: Iran 0-1 Uzbekistan, Qatar 1-0 Lebanon
Group B: Oman 1-2 Japan, Iraq 1-0 Jordan
14 November
Group A: Iran 0-1 Uzbekistan, Qatar 1-0 Lebanon
Group B: Oman 1-2 Japan, Iraq 1-0 Jordan
A pair of new faces shone as Japan maintained their dominance with a hard-fought victory over Oman. Nurnberg midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake, on for injured Shinji Kagawa, put Alberto Zaccheroni's visitors ahead on 20 minutes with his first international goal. Ahmed Mubarak may have drawn the hosts level on 77 minutes, but second-half substitute Gotoku Sakai provided the decisive cross which led to Shinji Okazaki's match-winning goal a minute from time.
The hosts carved out more clear chances as they sought their first win against the Japanese. Coach Paul Le Guen's Red Warriors nearly broke the deadlock on ten minutes, too, with Fawzi Bashir agonisingly pulling his shot over with only the goalkeeper to beat. The Omanis were soon punished for the near-miss when Kiyotake latched onto Yuto Nagatomo's pull-back from the right to put his side ahead.
The home team would miss another glorious chance when Ismail Al Ajmi's glancing header rattled the upright. Cheered on by the home crowd, the hosts continued to press forward after restart, with Mubarak equalising from a free-kick to put the game on a knife’s edge. However, Sakai surged down the left to flick a venomous cross into the area, which was tapped home by Okazaki to settle the affair.
While few teams have left Tehran unscathed, Uzbekistan returned home in celebratory mood by inflicting their first-ever defeat on their hosts. Ulugbek Bakaev struck the match-winning goal as the visitors ended the Iranian jinx. The result moves coach Mirdjalal Kasimov's charges to the top of the section, a point clear of the Iranians, Qatar and Korea Republic, all of whom are level on seven points.
In a scrappy match at the intimidating Azadi Stadium, Carlos Queiroz's home side enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but they had few clear-cut opportunities. Mohammad Nori had a goal ruled out early on, before Karim Ansarifard saw his effort fly just over after the restart. With the hosts looking too anxious in front of goal, the visitors took a surprise lead when an unmarked Bakaev turned Server Djeparov's dipping free-kick home to silence the 100,000-strong home crowd and seal a famous triumph.
The other attractions
Striker Sebastian Soria eased a nation's worries by scoring the only goal as hosts Qatar scraped pastLebanon in Group A. The result not only extends the Qataris' unblemished head-to-head record to five wins, but also leaves them sharing second spot, level with Korea Republic on seven points.
Striker Sebastian Soria eased a nation's worries by scoring the only goal as hosts Qatar scraped pastLebanon in Group A. The result not only extends the Qataris' unblemished head-to-head record to five wins, but also leaves them sharing second spot, level with Korea Republic on seven points.
With Theo Bucker's visitors content to defend, coach Paulo Autuori's home side were limited to three shots in the opening half despite pressing forward with gusto. The breakthrough finally came on 75 minutes, when an onrushing Soria caught keeper Abbas Hassanout, coolly firing into the top of net from 25 yards out.
Elsewhere, Captain Noor Sabri put in a series of brave saves before teenage striker Hammadi Ahmedscored the only goal against Jordan four minutes from time as Iraq recorded their first win of the campaign.
The triumph leaves Zico’s side level with Australia and Oman on five points, with the Jordanians trailing by a point. With Japan boasting a massive eight-point cushion at the top, Group B looks likely to turn into a three-way battle for the second automatic qualifying spot.
The player
Having netted the match-winning goal in their first-leg 3-0 home win against Oman, Shinji Okazakicontinued his prolific form against the West Asians by sealing the second victory.
Having netted the match-winning goal in their first-leg 3-0 home win against Oman, Shinji Okazakicontinued his prolific form against the West Asians by sealing the second victory.
The stat
3 - Three players - Okazaki, Younis Mahmoud and Hassan Abdel Fattah - are tangled for tournament top-scorer honours with seven goals apiece.
3 - Three players - Okazaki, Younis Mahmoud and Hassan Abdel Fattah - are tangled for tournament top-scorer honours with seven goals apiece.
What they said
"I know this young squad doesn't have enough experience, but I always believe what they are capable on the pitch. Before the match I told them to focus on their play and to my pleasure, they performed well as an organised team," Iraq coach Zico.
"I know this young squad doesn't have enough experience, but I always believe what they are capable on the pitch. Before the match I told them to focus on their play and to my pleasure, they performed well as an organised team," Iraq coach Zico.
Hexagonal fixtures confirmed in CONCACAF (FIFA)
(FIFA.com) Thursday 8 November 2012
© AFP
The fixtures for the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ are now set, following the Official Draw in Miami, USA on Wednesday 7 November. The final six-team group, also known as the Hexagonal, will be played over ten matchdays between February and October 2013.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA begin their campaign with a tricky road test in Honduras on 6 January at San Pedro Sula’s Estadio Olimpico, the very same ground where the Catrachos dismantled Canada 8-1 in their last qualifying game.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA begin their campaign with a tricky road test in Honduras on 6 January at San Pedro Sula’s Estadio Olimpico, the very same ground where the Catrachos dismantled Canada 8-1 in their last qualifying game.
After a very exciting third round in the CONCACAF qualifiers we are very much looking forward to the last stage to begin.
FIFA's Gordon Savic
The good news for the Americans is that they avoid a midsummer trip to Mexico’s steamy Estadio Azteca. Instead, they will travel to their arch-rivals from south of the border in their third game on 26 March.
“We’ve got to go to places like Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras with the mentality that you are spot-on once you get on the field,” said Klinsmann. “I think that if the players are aware of that like they were the last two, three games, when they got the job done, then we will also qualify for Brazil in 2014.”
Reigning CONCACAF and Olympic champions Mexico, who finished the semi-final round of Brazil 2014 qualifying with a perfect record in their six games, open their Hexagonal account against Jamaica inMexico City.
Central American giants Costa Rica meet neighbours Panama in Panama City in their first game.
“After a very exciting third round in the CONCACAF qualifiers we are very much looking forward to the last stage to begin,” said FIFA Head of World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Gordon Savic, who was on hand for the event in the US state of Florida.
The top three finishers from the final round will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher will play off home and away against a team from the Oceania zone.
Hexagonal Schedule:
Wednesday 6 February
Mexico-Jamaica
Honduras-USA
Panama-Costa Rica
“We’ve got to go to places like Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras with the mentality that you are spot-on once you get on the field,” said Klinsmann. “I think that if the players are aware of that like they were the last two, three games, when they got the job done, then we will also qualify for Brazil in 2014.”
Reigning CONCACAF and Olympic champions Mexico, who finished the semi-final round of Brazil 2014 qualifying with a perfect record in their six games, open their Hexagonal account against Jamaica inMexico City.
Central American giants Costa Rica meet neighbours Panama in Panama City in their first game.
“After a very exciting third round in the CONCACAF qualifiers we are very much looking forward to the last stage to begin,” said FIFA Head of World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Gordon Savic, who was on hand for the event in the US state of Florida.
The top three finishers from the final round will qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, while the fourth-place finisher will play off home and away against a team from the Oceania zone.
Hexagonal Schedule:
Wednesday 6 February
Mexico-Jamaica
Honduras-USA
Panama-Costa Rica
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Pele recovers after hip op (FIFA)
(PA) Tuesday 13 November 2012
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Three-time FIFA World Cup™ winner Pele is recovering in a Brazilian hospital after undergoing hip surgery.
The 72-year-old is expected to be discharged tomorrow following the minor procedure at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.
Pele's advisor, Jose Ovens, told Brazilian broadcaster Globoesport: "Everything went very well. It was a simple surgery. He probably will be discharged tomorrow."
It was reported that Pele had initially gone to the hospital to renew his medical insurance, but after complaining of long-term pain in his hip and then undergoing tests, opted to undergo the operation.
The 72-year-old is expected to be discharged tomorrow following the minor procedure at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.
Pele's advisor, Jose Ovens, told Brazilian broadcaster Globoesport: "Everything went very well. It was a simple surgery. He probably will be discharged tomorrow."
It was reported that Pele had initially gone to the hospital to renew his medical insurance, but after complaining of long-term pain in his hip and then undergoing tests, opted to undergo the operation.
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