Courtesy: The Peninsula


Al Rayyan begin AFC Club Futsal campaign today

Sunday, 26 June 2011

Doha: Hosts Al Rayyan start their campaign in the second edition of the AFC Futsal Club Championship with a match against play-off winner Al Karkh of Iraq at Al Rayyan Stadium main hall today at 7.00 pm.

Eight teams are taking part in the tournament which kicks off with a match between Nagoya Oceans Japan and Zhejiang Dragon FC of China at 11.30 am.

In two other matches today, holders Shahid Mansouri FC of Iran take on Ardus of Uzbekistan at 2.00pm while GH Bank RBAC Thailand meet AL Sadaka Lebanon at 4.30 pm.

Iran’s Foolad Mahan Sepahan won the inaugural edition of the championship by beating Qatar’s Al Sadd 5-2 in the final.

Shahid Mansouri FC will have to negotiate a tough path in their bid to bring the second successive AFC Futsal Club Championship crown to Iran.

The Iran champions are drawn in Group B with TGH Bank RBAC, Ardus and Al Sadaka.

Hosts Qatar’s Al Rayyan are placed in Group A alongside Nagoya Oceans, Zhejiang Dragon Futsal Club and Al Karkh Sport Club of Iraq.

Al Karkh of Iraq defeated Indonesia’s Harimau Rawa 6-1 in the playoff match here on Wednesday.

On target for the Iraqis in their successful quest for a spot in the finals were, Hussein Al Zubaidi (two goals), Abdulkareem Al Sharshahi (three goals) and Mustafa Mahdi.

Stefanus Home was on target in Rawa’s consolatory effort.

Top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals to be played on June 30 while the third-place match and the final will be played on July 1.

Al Rayyan squad: Badi Jowhar, Hussain Al Sharshani, Fahad Al Thani, Saeed Bilal, Mounir Mohammad, Mohammad Saeed, Hamad Wadi, Ahmad Raja, Khalifa Al Qahtani, Abdulrahman Aref, Mohammad Al Khawar, Mohammad Taheri, Ali Hassan Zada and Marcenho.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com