Courtesy: The AFC.com


Group C: Lebanon 0-6 China PR

Saturday, May 5, 2018

China PR qualified for the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship knockout stage, defeating final eight hopefuls Lebanon 6-0 in a match they rarely looked like losing.

Li Jingjing’s first half double set the East Asians on their way, before four Chinese second half goals put the destination of the three competition points beyond doubt.

Hu Jie’s side will have their ticket to Wednesday’s quarter-finals stamped as early as tonight if Bahrain fails to defeat Jordan in Group B’s late kick-off, while Lebanon’s defeat confirms that they will not progress beyond the group stage.

Lebanon entered the game at Bangkok Arena full of optimism after their encouraging showing against 2015 finalists Japan, but their hopes suffered an early blow when Li Jinging gave China the lead with a clever back-heel in the third minute.

Maroun El Khoury’s side responded, forcing Zhang Meini into saves from Rayane Rachid, Nancy Tchaylian and Natahlie Matar in quick succession, before China created a number of chances of their own.

Captain Wang Ting was denied twice by Nathaline Gilinguirian’s fingertips, but the Lebanese shot-stopper was beaten in the final minute of the half as China took command of the contest with a 2-0 lead.

Gilinguirian reached, but couldn’t hold Li Yingqing’s well-struck cross from just inside the corner spot, allowing Li Jinging to help the loose ball over the line from two metres for her second of the match and third of the tournament.

The second half began with a flourish as Lebanon’s Lea Dahrouge and China’s Tian Jiao traded efforts at goal to bring out the best in their opposing goalkeepers, but it was the East Asians who always looked more likely to add to the scoring.

Li Jingjing nearly completed her hat-trick in the 28th minute, with Gilinguirian again coming Lebanon’s rescure with a fine save, and the dam-breaking goal eventually came when Shen Nan played an excellent one-two with Tian Jiao before guiding the ball in to make it 3-0.

A deflected Zhan Huimin effort gave China their fourth goal with seven minutes remaining, forcing Rachid to don the goalkeeping shirt - and make a superb point blank save in the 38th minute – as Lebanon searched desperately for a way back.

But Shen Nan took full advantage when her long range lob found Lebanon’s vacant net a minute later, and Tian Jiao forced in a sixth shortly thereafter as China celebrated a significant win.


Maroun El Khoury:Lebanon Head Coach

“First of all, the result of the game does not reflect how the game was during all 40 minutes. We had injuries to two important players - Jo-Anne Beaumier and Nancy Thcaylian – because they made a big, big effort against Japan. We tried to do a lot of rotation, but not all the players are used to playing at this level, but I’m satisfied, because I only look on the positive part of the story. Yes, we failed to move to the quarter-finals but now women’s futsal will not be like before, and we’ll work hard and try to develop.”


Hu Jie: China PR Head Coach

“We have won two games so far and this was our original target. Now we can look forward to the quarter-finals. In this match we showed our performance is quite strong and we played with a lot of confidence. We are taking this tournament one game at a time and looking only to the next game.”



Courtesy: The AFC.com


Group D: Uzbekistan 3-1 Turkmenistan

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Bangkok: Uzbekistan booked their spot in the AFC Women's Futsal Championship 2018 quarter-finals after beating Turkmenistan 3-1 on Saturday.

Avaz Maksumov's charges knew that a win would surely secure a place in the final eight, but Turkmenistan were out to avenge their opening day 14-0 loss to Islamic Republic of Iran, and were notably more spirited in the opening minutes.

Turkmenistan played defensively, slowly prodding for a counter-attack move, while Uzbekistan had the lion's share of possession in the first half and made numerous attempts with their quick through passes into the box but it all lacked a fine finish.

Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Laylo Tilovova was replaced by Maftuna Jonimqulova in the 11th minute after her miscalculated clearance tackled Turkmenistan's forward.

However, their constant attacks finally paid dividends in the 17th minute when Zumratjon Nazarova intercepted a pass and slid the ball forward to Feruza Turdiboeva on the right flank, before passing it back to Nazarova for a close range effort to take the lead.

Rushaniya Safina and Lyudmila Karachik formed quite a formidable duo for Uzbekistan, and just one minute later, the two surged down the middle with their quick passes and Safina, with her finishing touch made no mistake to double their lead going into the half-time break.

Turkmenistan did well in limiting the gaps in their defence but Uzbekistan moved around the pitch swiftly, coupled with their experience paved way for Malika Burkhonova to etch her name on the scoresheet in the 23rd minute with a simple tap in to further their advantage.

With a comfortable lead and win most assuredly within their grasp, Uzbekistan kept looking for another goal, perfecting their moves with every run but Turkmenistan showed their resilience and denied them of any chances.

It all seemed to be done and settled but in the final 10 seconds, Turkmenistan's Halida Eshnyyazova was brought down after a harsh clearance from custodian Jonimqulova outside the box, who was later shown a red card.

Eshnyyazova then let loose a superb free kick to score a consolation goal in the final second of the game.

Uzbekistan's next challenge will be to go up against title holders Iran for the top spot in Group D.


Kamil Migazov: Turkmenistan Head Coach

“The team played well and I’m very thankful for my players. There was only one chance to stay alive and we tried to do it but couldn’t quite get the result. Based on what happened in the game, I think we’ve helped out Iran a little bit with the two red cards. It means a lot to us to get that goal. It’s our first goal and our last goal, but it means a lot to us. We take away experience. The girls didn’t have it and now they do, so we’re going to work on our game and develop our young team.”


Avaz Maksumov: Uzbekistan Head Coach

“We won, so the result is good for us, but the way we played was not correct. Many players made too many mistakes, not only goalkeepers. We don’t have specialist futsal players in Uzbekistan and we only had a one-week preparation. We’ll take it step by step."



Courtesy: The AFC.com


Group C: Bahrain 0-13 Japan

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Bangkok: Japan eased into the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 quarter-finals, beating now eliminated Bahrain 13-0 at the Bangkok Arena to reach the Knockout Stage with a game to spare.

Kenichiro Kogure’s side were rarely troubled as they piled on five first half goals, before adding eight more in the second 20 minutes, to join China PR in advancing to Wednesday’s quarter-finals.

Eri Wakabayshi and Anna Amishiro scored hat-tricks as the 2015 finalists’ precise passing and off-the-ball movement left their inexperienced opponents chasing shadows.

Bahrain were under pressure from the get-go, taking up deep positions as their opponents probed for a way through their defence and eventually took the lead when Wakabayashi was teed up for a back post tap-in by Junko Yokoyama.

Japan added a beauty of a second when Amishiro tricked her way past Deena before rifling the ball home in the 10th minute, and Bahrain could do nothing but watch seven minutes later when Wakabayashi finishing off a wonderful passing move involving Mika Eguchi and Misato Komura.

Ryo Egawa was the beneficiary of a somewhat fortuitous deflection in the build up to score in the 18th minute, before turning provider for Riho Katsumata two minutes later to give Japan a deserved 5-0 half-time lead.

Committed defending from Elrashid Bukhari Ahmed’s side, and several saves from Nouf Al Khalifa, maintained that scoreline for eight minutes after the beak, before Amishiro swept in her second for the match to make it six.

Captain Mio Fujita scored a lovely seventh when she dribbled past two defenders before picking out the bottom left corner a minute later, and Wakabayashi completed an international hat-trick when she finally slammed the ball home in the 34th minute.

Eguchi hammered home a penalty in the following minute, and Egawa took the scoreline into double figures with four minutes remaining when a tired Bahrain failed to spot her outside run.

Japan had scored four in four minutes when Amishiro made it 11-0 by completing her hat-trick, before Hianko Chida faced little resistance in scoring two goals within 30 seconds of each other to round out a bruising night for Bahrain.

Japan’s next objective will be to beat top Group C, and avoid a quarter-final clash with expected Group D winners Islamic Republic of Iran, by beating China PR on Monday, while Bahrain will play for pride against Lebanon.


Kenichiro Kogure: Japan Head Coach

“First of all our aim tonight was to complete our qualification for the next round. I’m happy with how we played and I’m especially happy that we didn’t concede any goal. We’ll look to keep improving game by game.”


Elrashed Bukhari Ahmed: Bahrain Head Coach

“As we’ve mentioned before, Japan are one of the top teams in Asia and our squad really benefitted from the experience of playing against such a quality team. Just the opportunity for the girls has been extremely beneficial and something that they won’t forget.”



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