Asian Football: Asian Champions League & 2007 AFC Asian Cup

Iraq international signs for Al Ain The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "ABU DHABI – United Arab Emirates President’s Cup holders Al Ain have signed Iraq international midfielder Hawar Mulla Mohamed to boost their squad for this year’s AFC Champions League."  Posted by Stephen @ 8:04 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Frontale take aim at ACL knockout stage The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "KAWASAKI – Kawasaki Frontale manager Takashi Sekizuka is keen for his team to become the first J. League club to reach the knockout stage in the Asian Champions League when they make their debut in the continental competition this year."  Posted by Stephen @ 8:04 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Schedule confirmed for 2007 finals The AFC Asian Cup 2007 Official Website: "KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia and Vietnam have been confirmed as the venues for the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 as the Asian Football Confederation finalised the kick-off times for July’s finals.

Bangkok will host the opening game of the tournament between co-hosts Thailand and Iraq, which kicks off at 19.35 local time at the Rajamangala Stadium."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:04 PM   0 comments links to this post   

Inileyev named Uzbek boss The AFC Asian Cup 2007 Official Website: "TASHKENT – Rauf Inileyev has been named as the new coach of Uzbekistan, taking over from Russia’s Valeri Nepomniatchi.

The 55-year-old, who led the country’s under-23 side to the quarter-finals of December’s Asian Games, will be assisted by former national team captain Mirdjalal Kasimov and his first game in charge will be against Azerbaijan on February 7."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:04 PM   0 comments links to this post   

EMPEROR'S CUP: Double delight for Reds The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "TOKYO – Urawa Reds gave departing manager Guido Buchwald the perfect send-off by defeating Gamba Osaka 1-0 in the final of the Emperor’s Cup to add success in the knockout competition to the J.League title secured last month.

Yuichi Nagai scored the only goal of the game two minutes from time as Reds successfully defended the Emperor’s Cup title won last season while the Saitama-based club became the first team to complete the league-and-cup double since Kashima Antlers in 2000."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:01 PM   0 comments links to this post   

Shandong's Zheng heads to Charlton The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "LONDON - English Premier League side Charlton Athletic have signed China captain Zheng Zhi on loan from Shandong Luneng with a view to a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old, who can play either in defence or midfield, had a brief trial at The Valley under former head coach Les Reed last month before leaving to play for China's under-23s as an overage player in the Asian Games in Qatar."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:01 PM   0 comments links to this post   

Q-LEAGUE: Gharafa snap Sadd streak The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "DOHA – The ten-match winning streak of reigning Qatar champions Al Sadd was broken on Thursday after the 2007 AFC Champions League Group C hopefuls were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Gharafa.

Al Sadd, whose winning run stretched back three months when they were beaten 2-1 by Umm Salal, fell behind to Al Gharafa in the first minute when Iraq international Younis Mahmoud put the 2006 AFC Champions League qualifiers into an early lead."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:00 PM   0 comments links to this post   

SAUDI LEAGUE: Hilal held again The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "RIYADH – AFC Champions League qualifiers Al Hilal endured their second successive domestic draw as the Riyadh giants followed their 0-0 away tie with Al Khaleej with another goalless stalemate against Al Wahda in their 13th match of the campaign.

Despite the draw Al Hilal, who have been grouped with Kuwait champions Al Kuwait, Iran League winners Esteghlal and Uzbekistan giants Pakhtakor in next year’s continental clash, continue to set the pace in the Saudi league sitting six points clear of two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad."  Posted by Stephen @ 4:00 PM   0 comments   

Luck of the draw with Australia - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au Luck of the draw with Australia - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au: "SOCCEROO coach Graham Arnold was doing what all coaches do — talking up the opposition. But even he could not deny that Australia has been handed a relatively straightforward task in its opening foray in Asia.

The Socceroos are in a first-stage group that should enable them to easily reach the Asia Cup quarter-finals and set themselves up for another blockbuster against World Cup rival Japan in the semi-finals."  Posted by Stephen @ 8:32 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Heat will be on Socceroos at top of food chain - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au Heat will be on Socceroos at top of food chain - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au: "AUSTRALIA'S long-cherished wish of securing a place in Asian soccer has been granted, and the Socceroos have been handed the perfect chance to establish themselves as the powerhouse team in the region.

The Asian Cup draw gives them a relatively easy path to the quarter-finals and, barring a Japanese slip-up, a tie with either the United Arab Emirates or Qatar, which should ease their way into the semi-finals."  Posted by Stephen @ 8:31 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Arnold taunts Japan over World Cup loss - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au Arnold taunts Japan over World Cup loss - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au: "Socceroos coach Graham Arnold today fired the first shot ahead of the 2007 Asian Cup finals, saying debutant Australia holds a psychological advantage over defending champion Japan.

Australia has been quickly installed as favourite following last night's draw in Kuala Lumpur, which put the top-ranked Socceroos in Group A against minnows Oman, Iraq and co-host Thailand."  Posted by Stephen @ 8:31 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Draw thrills Socceroos - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au Draw thrills Socceroos - Soccer - Sport - theage.com.au: "Socceroos coach Graham Arnold is thrilled with Australia's draw for the 2007 Asian Cup, saying he is glad to avoid World Cup 2006 qualifier Saudi Arabia.

Debutant Australia was today drawn in Group A alongside co-host Thailand, Iraq and Oman for Asia's showpiece soccer event which is jointly being hosted by Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia from July 7-29."  Posted by Stephen @ 8:30 AM   0 comments   

UAE LEAGUE: Al Ain slump continues The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "ABU DHABI – Al Ain’s poor start to the United Arab Emirates league season continued on Sunday as the nine-time league winners were held to a goalless draw at home by Emirates.

Winners of the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2003 and runners-up last year, Al Ain were unable to find a way past the Emirates defence and now find themselves second from last in the 12-team UAE league."  Posted by Stephen @ 12:16 PM   0 comments links to this post   

AUSTRALIA LEAGUE: Melbourne win premiership title The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "MELBOURNE - Melbourne Victory have captured the Hyundai A-League Premiership title after they eased to a 4-0 victory over bottom-club New Zealand Knights.

Former Hull City striker Danny Allsopp bagged a brace while Adrian Caceres and Archie Thompson added one each in a 13 minute first-half spell at Olympic Park.

Victory has given Melbourne a 13 point gap at the top of the table with just four games to go ensuring top-spot for Ernie Merrick's side.

The title also means Melbourne will get a chance at continental football with a place in the AFC Asian Champions League in 2008 and Merrick was delighted with the victory."  Posted by Stephen @ 12:15 PM   0 comments links to this post   

Choi looks to strengthen champions The Official Site of Asia's Premier Club Competition: "TOKYO – Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors coach Choi Kang-hee has set his sights on strengthening his squad ahead of next year’s defence of their AFC Champions League title.

Jeonbuk ended their season with a fifth-place finish in the FIFA Club World Cup with a 3-0 win over Auckland City on Friday evening, capping a year that saw them win their first-ever continental title."  Posted by Stephen @ 12:14 PM   0 comments links to this post   

Australia in spotlight at Asian Cup finals draw - Football - Sport - smh.com.au Australia in spotlight at Asian Cup finals draw - Football - Sport - smh.com.au: "All eyes will be on debutants Australia when the draw for next year's Asian Cup finals is held amid much glitz and fanfare at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre tomorrow.

The seedings for the 16-team finals, jointly hosted from July 7-29 by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, will be finalised in the morning, just hours before the draw is made."  Posted by Stephen @ 12:13 PM   0 comments   

Bahrain and Uzbekistan join Socceroos in cup - Football - Sport - smh.com.au Bahrain and Uzbekistan join Socceroos in cup - Football - Sport - smh.com.au: "SINGAPORE: Bahrain and Uzbekistan have snatched the last two places in the 2007 Asian Cup.

Bahrain beat Kuwait 2-1 in Manama on Wednesday and Uzbekistan defeated Qatar 2-0 in Tashkent to complete the list of 16 nations for Asia's biggest football tournament."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:12 AM   0 comments   

Battling Bahrain book finals berth The AFC Asian Cup 2007 Official Website: "MANAMA – Bahrain edged Kuwait for the remaining Group D ticket to the 2007 AFC Asian Cup after defeating their Gulf rivals 2-1 in a hard-fought encounter in Manama on Wednesday."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:24 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Omar double spares UAE blushes The AFC Asian Cup 2007 Official Website: "ABU DHABI – Two second half goals from Al Jazira striker Mohammed Omar saw the UAE come from behind to defeat a resilient Pakistan 3-2 in their final 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:24 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Late show earns Jordan revenge The AFC Asian Cup 2007 Official Website: "AMMAN – Three goals in the final 10 minutes gave Jordan a winning finale in their unsuccessful bid to qualify for a second straight AFC Asian Cup finals with a 3-0 victory over Oman."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:23 AM   0 comments links to this post   

Uzbeks seal Asian Cup spot The AFC Asian Cup 2007 Official Website: "TASHKENT – Uzbekistan finally gave their AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign a respectable sheen with a 2-0 win over previously unbeaten Qatar to guarantee their place in next year’s finals."  Posted by Stephen @ 9:23 AM   0 comments   

Fringe trio make the cut - Football - Sport - smh.com.au Fringe trio make the cut - Football - Sport - smh.com.au: "AS HE warned that Tim Cahill could be out of action until Christmas, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold yesterday drafted three new players into his injury-hit squad for the friendly against Ghana on Tuesday (Wednesday morning, Sydney time).

Michael Thwaite, Kasey Wehrman and Michael Beauchamp will be brought into the squad at short notice to make up for injuries to Cahill, Lucas Neill and Craig Moore. Cahill is still waiting on MRI scans to confirm the extent of the knee injury he sustained during Everton's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa at the weekend, while Neill and Moore have hamstring and groin concerns respectively."  Posted by Stephen @ 1:45 PM   0 comments links to this post   

Injury-hit Socceroos face test of their depth against Ghana - Soccer - Sport Injury-hit Socceroos face test of their depth against Ghana - Soccer - Sport: "A HANDFUL of World Cup starters will do duty for Australia against Ghana in a friendly in London tomorrow morning (Melbourne time) in a game that is shaping as a test of the Socceroos' depth.

Graham Arnold's squad has been wrecked by injury and late withdrawals, the most serious being the knee injury to dynamic Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, which will keep the nominee for European player of the year grounded until at least Christmas."  Posted by Stephen @ 1:45 PM   0 comments