the match facts and reports:
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World Cup 2002
- Asian qualifiers
Group
B
China, Qatar, U.A.E., Uzbekistan, Oman
10 weeks of qualifiers played
on 10 consecutive weekends
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week1
Qatar - Oman 0:0
UAE - Uzbekistan 4:1
week2
China - UAE 3:0
Lifted by a 3rd minute goal China displayed a sophisticated
performance and were 3:0 up after little more than half an hour. Key to
success was a very good usage of wing play and crosses and quite good stats
in one-to-one challenges. Confidence boosted by the early score played
a good role as the Chinese switched sides patiently several times to alternate
attacking wings.
Despite the scoreline the UAE left a better impression
than Iran and Saudi Arabia yesterday. A quite organised defence conceded
two goals in the air and one after a low cross from the left. Attacks of
the guests were often suffocated by the Chinese midfield and defenece which
acted very confident, assured by the early lead.
No scores in the second half.
Uzbekistan - Qatar 2:1
Usbekistan with a rather European style of their game
took the lead after 36 minutes when a deflected corner found unmarked #11
who scored from about 8 meters by a low shot.
Qatar showed again their weakness in front of the goal
where they failed to convert their midfield play into dangerous shooting.
Early in the second half a brilliant free kick seemed
to have decided the match. Three minutes to the end Qatar eventually scored
but Uzbekistan survived the remaining time.
week3
Oman - China 0:2
Oman with a more elegant midfield game, but little threat
to the Chinese goal. China concentrated and with more dangerous attacks.
Oman had a big chance in the first half when the Chinese goalkeeper deflected
a penalty to the goal post. In the second half China began to dominate
and eventually scored through another fine goal by #19 Qi Hong. A penalty
completed the score
UAE - Qatar 0:2
A surprise result which produces Qatar instead of the
Emirates as the most likely main challenger to the Chinese. Qatar who had
missed a lot of chances in their first match to drop two points in a 0:0
draw with Oman, this time scored twice.
week4
Qatar - China 1:1
China secured a point by an injury time goal. After Qatar
had taken the lead in the first half by a long range shot both teams hit
the crossbar and had more chances.
Uzbekistan - Oman 5:0 (halftime 2:0)
For Oman this stage of qualifiers seems a level too high
as the visiting team was torn apart by Uzbekistan this Saturday afternoon.
Uzbekistan might become a challenger to China but will have to improve
their away performance. They have to start quickly - their next match will
be right on the groups big favorites home turf.
week5
Oman - UAE 1:1
China - Uzbekistan 2:0
A header by #14 (Li Weifeng?) after a corner and a freekick
by Fan Zhiyi secured a second half success of the favorites against one
of their possibly strongest opponents in the qualifying group
week6
Oman - Qatar 0:3
Qatar made an important step and ambitious Oman learned
once more that this level yet is still a little high for the ambitious
association which has had already remarkable success on youth level in
recent years.
A valuable success for Qatar: Though China might be out
of reach (you never know), the second place is still up for grabs.
Uzbekistan - U.A.E. 0 :1
The Emirates team successfully defended a 7th minute
lead throughout the match against the hectically attacking host team.
|
M |
G |
P |
| China PR |
4 |
8-1 |
10 |
| Qatar |
5 |
7-3 |
8 |
| U.A.E. |
5 |
6-7 |
7 |
| Uzbekistan |
5 |
8-8 |
6 |
| Oman |
5 |
1-11 |
2 |
group winner qualifies for World Cup 2002
second place qualifies for further play-offs
week7
Qatar - Uzbekistan 2:2
Reports: Qatar took the lead through Al Enazi (9th).
Uzbekistan hit the framework twice before equalizing through Kasimov right
before halftime and taking the lead through Shirashoe two minutes after
the intermission. A few minutes before the end Qatar scored their second
by a fabulous freekick from Khalifa and had several more opportunites in
injury time.
U.A.E. - China 0 :1
It was Qi Hong who provided for the Chinese goal short
before halftime. The Emirates had several scoring opportunities in the
second half but China defended their lead successfully and are now close
to a first participation at the World Cup finals.
After the draw between Qatar and Uzbekistan, China are
three points away from qualification, with three matches at hand.
|
M |
G |
P |
| China PR |
5 |
9-1 |
13 |
| Qatar |
6 |
9-5 |
9 |
| Uzbekistan |
6 |
10-10 |
7 |
| U.A.E. |
6 |
6-8 |
7 |
| Oman |
5 |
1-11 |
2 |
group winner qualifies for World Cup 2002
second for additional play-offs
week8
Qatar - U.A.E. 1:2
U.A.E. exploited two weak situations in the Qatar defence
including the keeper to score late in both halfs. Qatar had equalised a
minute after halftime but failed to copnvert possession into goals.
China - Oman 1:0
China are qualified for the World Cup
|
M |
G |
P |
| China PR* |
6 |
10-1 |
16 |
| U.A.E. |
7 |
8-9 |
10 |
| Qatar |
7 |
10-7 |
9 |
| Uzbekistan |
6 |
10-10 |
7 |
| Oman |
6 |
1-12 |
2 |
*group winner qualifies for World Cup 2002
second for additional play-offs
week9
Oman - Uzbekistan 4:2
Oman won their first match in this second round and provided
a big blow against the Uzbekistans hope to reach the second place and additional
play-offs.
China PR - Qatar 3:0
A typical mistake allowed China to open the score from
a corner early in the first half. From then on it was a downhill game for
the already qualified Chinese who added two more the goals and eliminate
Qatar mathematically from the qualifying picture.
|
M |
G |
P |
| China PR* |
7 |
13-1 |
19 |
| U.A.E. |
7 |
8-9 |
10 |
| Qatar |
8 |
10-10 |
9 |
| Uzbekistan |
7 |
12-14 |
7 |
| Oman |
7 |
5-14 |
5 |
China qualified for World Cup 2002
second for additional play-offs
week10
Uzbekistan - China PR 1:0
A 90th minute goal meant the first but meaningless defeat
for China. Uzbekistan in the end came one point short of a playoff place
U.A.E. - Oman 2:2
The Emirates came from two goals behind to secure the
vital point and rescue their World Cup campaign against the same Oman which
had surprisingly opened the door for them last week beating Uzbekistan.
|
M |
G |
P |
| China PR |
8 |
13-2 |
19 |
| U.A.E. |
8 |
10-11 |
11 |
| Uzbekistan |
8 |
13-14 |
10 |
| Qatar |
8 |
10-10 |
9 |
| Oman |
8 |
7-16 |
6 |
group winner qualifies for
World Cup 2002
second for additional
play-offs
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