Jordan vs Kuwait
A huge game for Group A hosts Kuwait as they seek to keep their Asia Cup dreams alive.
The Blue Wave have been on the back foot right from the get-go given that they were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Indonesia last Wednesday.
Vítězslav Lavička’s side did at least get back on track at the weekend, hammering group minnows Nepal 4-1.
Fahad Hammoud Al-Rashidi, star man Yousef Nasser and Mobarak Al-Faneeni all on target.
Nevertheless, it Kuwait are to qualify for an 11th Asia Cup, this huge game is simply must win.
The only problem is they’re up against current group-leaders Jordan who’ve won both matches so far.
The Chivalrous swatted aside Nepal in their opener before a narrow 1-0 victory over Indonesia on Saturday; Yazan Al-Naimat scoring in the latter.
Jordan have qualified for four of the last five Asia Cups, reaching the quarter-finals in both 2004 and 2011.
Here, Adnan Hamad’s team need just a point to wrap up first place, thereby guaranteeing their place at the 2023 edition.
Will Kuwait pull-off the win they need at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium?
Indonesia vs Nepal
In the later game in Kuwait City, Indonesia are hoping to secure their Asia Cup return.
As mentioned, they beat hosts Kuwait on matchday one, Marc Klok and Rachmat Irianto scoring, before a narrow 1-0 defeat to Jordan on Saturday.
Nevertheless, if Shin Tae-yong’s team win this one, they’ll guarantee a top two finish and, almost certainly, secure qualification.
This would be a massive achievement for the Red-Whites, who haven’t appeared at the tournament since 2007 when they were one of four co-hosts.
An Indonesian victory seems likely given that Nepal are the whipping boys of this section.
The Gorkhalis have lost both games so far, 2-0 against Jordan and 4-1 against Kuwait, with Darshan Gurung scoring in stoppage time on Saturday.
Abdullah Al Mutairi’s side only beat minnows Chinese Taipei in World Cup qualifying and have only ever won two of 30 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Thus, it should be a day of celebration for Indonesia.
Palestine vs Philippines
RBM2B6 January 11, 2019 : Stephan Schröck of Philippines during Philippines v China at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, UAE, AFC Asian Cup, Asian Football championship. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM.
Over in Group B, the top two meet in Ulaanbaatar, both looking to rubber stamp Asia Cup qualification.
Palestine currently lead the way in this section and are pretty much there in terms of qualifying for their third straight tournament.
Makram Daboub’s side have won both games in this group, narrowly edging past Mongolia 1-0 before demolishing Yemen 5-0.
Oday Dabbagh, Mohammed Rashid, Mohammed Yameen and Saleh Chihadeh all on target in the latter at the weekend.
So, given their formidable goal difference, even if the Lions of Canaan do slip-up, they’ll surely qualify as one of the five best-ranked runners-up.
The same cannot be said of the Philippines who need to win this one to be 100% sure they’re going to next summer’s tournament.
That’s because the Street Dogs could only draw 0-0 with Yemen in their first game, before leaving it extremely late to beat Mongolia on Saturday.
Gerrit Holtmann snatching the points, in the 93rd minute no less, to keep his nation’s hopes alive.
Philippines made their Asia Cup debut three years ago, and Thomas Dooley’s side need to pull off a shock victory to ensure they’ll defiantly be there again.
However, Palestine might be too strong at MFF Football Centre.
Yemen vs Mongolia
Later on, the two minnows of Group B meet, both knowing this is the end of the Asia Cup road.
Hosts Mongolia were always big underdogs to qualify and that’s how it’s panned out, even if both their defeats have only been by a 1-0 scoreline.
The Blue Wolves won two World Cup qualifiers last year, also losing 14-0 to Japan, and won’t be making their Asia Cup debut next summer.
Yemen meanwhile haven’t been mathematically eliminated just yet, but even if they end up second on four points, that almost certainly won’t be enough.
The Qahtanite Arabs battled to an impressive goalless draw with Philippines last midweek before being smashed 5-0 by Palestine on Saturday.
So, Adel Amrouche’s team, who made their Asia Cup debut in 2019, will surely fall just short in this cycle.
Will the home crowd in Ulaanbaatar have a rare Mongolian win to cheer?
Uzbekistan vs Thailand
The top two in Group C conclude the week’s action in Namangan, both looking to make sure of their place at the Asia Cup.
Uzbekistan currently lead the way in this section, having beaten Sri Lanka 3-0 and then Maldives 4-0.
AS Roma’s Eldor Shomurodov bagging his second international hat-trick of 2022 in the latter.
The White Wolves have qualified for all seven Asia Cups since gaining AFC members, finishing fourth in Qatar at the 2011 edition.
Given their imperious goal difference, and the fact five of the six group runners-up will qualify, even a defeat here shouldn’t derail them.
The same can be said of Thailand who’ve also won both matches in this group, beating Maldives 3-0 and then Sri Lanka 2-0 on Saturday.
Thitiphan Puangchan and Worachit Kanitsribampen the scorers at the weekend.
The War elephants made their Asia Cup return three years ago, having missed the previous two editions, and are on course to be there again.
As mentioned, both have, almost certainly, already done enough to qualify but, in this one, will Uzbekistan make home advantage count?
Maldives vs Sri Lanka
The early kick off at Markaziy Stadium sees two sides, already eliminated from qualifying, go head-to-head.
In Sri Lanka’s case, this isn’t surprising given that they’re the lowest-ranked side who’ve made it this far in qualifying.
In this group, the Golden Army have lost 3-0 to Uzbekistan and 2-0 to Thailand, having previously lost all six World Cup qualifiers.
So, despite also being pointless, Maldives will fancy their chances of a rare victory in this one.
The Red Snappers actually sit rock bottom of Group C following a 3-0 reverse against Thailand and a 4-0 drubbing by Uzbekistan.
Francesco Moriero’s side did beat Guam home and away in World Cup qualifying but, aside from that, haven’t won a competitive game since June 2017.
Who will enjoy a memorable, if not particularly significant, victory?
Hong Kong vs India
India’s national team pose for a picture ahead of their World Cup 2022 and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifying football match against Bangladesh at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on October 15, 2019. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP) (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
These two teams are both on the verge of Asia Cup qualification, so will either conclude a perfect campaign with victory?
India are hosting all of Group D’s matches and, last Wednesday, kicked off with a 2-0 victory over Cambodia; Sunil Chhetri scoring both.
Then, on Saturday, the 44,000+ in attendance at Salt Lake Stadium were treated to a thrilling finish.
Chhetri thought he’d won it, putting India 1-0 up with just four minutes to go, only for Afghanistan to go straight up the other end and equalise.
Nevertheless, in stoppage time, Sahal Abdul Samad restored India’s leading, seeing them snatch a crucial victory.
Roared on by another big crowd in Kolkata, will the Blue Tigers make it three wins out of three?
Hong Kong meanwhile will provide their toughest test of the group given that they also have maximum points on the board.
Jørn Andersen’s side also edged out Afghanistan 2-1 before swatting aside Cambodia 3-0 at the weekend.
Matt Orr, Sun Ming Him and Chàn Siu Kwān all on target in the latter.
The Strength haven’t qualified for an Asia Cup since 1968, but those two victories mean they’ve almost, ended this exile.
Both might have already done enough to qualify, but who will guarantee their spot with a victory?
A draw suits both teams just nicely.
Afghanistan vs Cambodia
The early game in Kolkata sees the pointless bottom two go head-to-head; neither can now qualify, but both are looking to restore some pride.
Farshad Noor and Zubayr Amiri have both scored for Afghanistan in this campaign but in vain as they’ve lost both games 2-1.
The Lions of Khorasan have never qualified for a major tournament, winning just two of 24 Asia Cup qualifiers, looking to improve that ratio here.
Cambodia meantime have been beaten 2-0 by India and 3-0 by Hong Kong, so their aim will be just to score a goal in this one.
Angkor Warriors finished fourth at their sole Asia Cup 50 years ago, but have won just five of 34 qualifiers subsequently.
Who will claim a rare victory?
Bahrain vs Turkmenistan
Will Bahrain make it three wins out of three in Asia Cup qualifying, thereby rubber stamping first place in Group E?
So far, Hélio Sousa’s side have won both matches in this group, ousting Bangladesh 2-0 before overcoming group hosts Malaysia 2-1.
Ali Haram opened the scoring before Abdulla Yusuf Helal’s late penalty secured the win on Saturday.
The Reds have qualified for the last five Asia Cup tournaments, and actually only need a point from this game to ensure they’re at next year’s edition.
Turkmenistan meanwhile need to win in Kuala Lumpur to stand any chance of being there too.
The Greens lost the first and most crucial game in this group 3-1 to Malaysia last midweek, before bouncing back against Bangladesh three days later.
Altymyrat Annadurdyýew and Arslanmyrat Amanow on target in the latter.
However, assuming Malaysia beat Bangladesh in the latter kick off, Said Seýidow’s side must win this game to have any chance of a top two finish.
This seems unlikely, with Bahrain confident of another vcitory.
Malaysia vs Bangladesh
AL KHOR, QATAR – DECEMBER 18: A view of Al Bayt Stadium field and stands during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar on December 18, 2021 in Al Khor, Qatar. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Roared on by another big crowd, will Malaysian supporters be celebrating an historic qualification?
Kim Pan-gon’s side began this campaign with a crucial victory over direct-rivals for second Turkmenistan, before Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Bahrain.
Nevertheless, having won that all-important opener, the Tigers know a victory in this one should see them qualify as a best-ranked runner-up.
If they do qualify, next summer would see Malaysia appear at an Asia Cup for the first time since 2007.
Given that they co-hosted that tournament, it would be the first time they’ve qualified on sporting merit for 43 years.
Only minnows Bangladesh stand in their way; they’ve lost both games in this group, 2-0 and 2-1, so have already been eliminated.
The Bengal Tigers are ranked 188 in the world and have only won five of 55 Asia Cup qualifiers, last making it to a finals in 1980.
Over 63,000 were in attendance at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Saturday, so will another big crowd be celebrating a Malaysian win?
Kyrgyz Republic vs Tajikistan
Will this be the day history is made for Tajikistan?
So far in this group, the Persian Lions have won both matches, hammering Myanmar 4-0 before a narrow 1-0 victory over Singapore.
Shervoni Mabatshoev scoring three times across those two outings.
So, even if they are beaten here, Petar Šegrt’s side might have already done enough to take Tajikistan to their first-ever Asia Cup.
A point in Bishkek would guarantee it.
Group F hosts Kyrgyz Republic though also have six points to their name, so are in the same position.
The White Falcons beat Singapore 2-1 and then Myanmar 2-0 with Viktor Maier netting three of their four goals.
Aleksandr Krestinin’s team made their Asia Cup debut three years ago, reaching the round of 16, and have almost qualified for the next edition.
Given that a point suits both parties at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, a draw is the most likely outcome.
Myanmar vs Singapore
Earlier on in Bishkek, Group F’s two already eliminated nations will conclude their campaigns.
Singapore have been beaten narrowly twice in this group, 2-1 and 1-0, but are out of contention to qualify for their first Asia Cup since 1984.
The Lions did beat both Palestine and Yemen in World Cup qualifying, but haven’t been able to carry that form into this campaign.
Myanmar meanwhile are rock bottom of this section having lost both games without scoring, 4-0 against Tajikistan and 2-0 against Kyrgyzstan.
The Chinthe finished rock bottom of their World Cup qualification group so have only won six of their last 2y qualification fixtures.
So, despite hardly being heavyweights themselves, Singapore are favorites to win this one.
