Sunday, November 18, 2007

Thailand 1 - Yemen 0; Singapore advance; Syria, Turkmenistan roll

In the first match of the day, Singapore took its 2-0 aggregate lead to Tajikistan. Tajikistan got off to the best possible start with a goal in the first minute and were looking desperately to tie the aggregate. What they got instead was a tie game at the half. Neither team was able to hit the back of the net and Singapore came out with a 1-1 tie and a 3-1 aggregate victory. Singapore goes on to round three after pulling consecutive upsets.

Syria continued its dominance against Indonesia at home. As if a 4-1 road victory weren't vicious enough, the Syrians defeated the Indonesians with a seven-goal shutout. Surprisingly, given the final score, the Syrians were held by the Indonesians until the fortieth minute, and then the deluge began.

Thailand and Yemen were tied after one leg with one goal apiece. Thailand looked to draw upon its home crowd and qualify for Asia's third round. The Thais called upon Asia's top goalscorer Sarayoot Chaikamdee to do his thing, and he came through with his seventh goal of the tournament. The 1-0 score held up for Thailand, who now have advanced on a 2-1 aggregate victory. For Yemen, Al Wadi was sent off along with his team's hopes for South Africa in second half stoppage time.

The final match would determine which Asian team would be the twentieth and last nation to put its name into Asia's preliminary draw at Durban in one week's time. It pitted Hong Kong as visitors looking to steal a win in Turkmenistan with the aggregate tied at 0-0. A chippy first half-hour, featuring three yellow cards, ended without a goal. Turkmenistan, however, scored three unanswered goals to book its place in Asia's third round. They now eagerly await their fate at Durban.

Goal scorers:
Tajikistan: Ismailov 1

Singapore: Shah 27

Syria: Chaabo 41, 45, 86; Rafe 60, 90; Ali Dyab 74; Al Hussein 80 PK

Thailand: Chaikamdee 16

Turkmenistan: Nasyrov 40; Bayramov 55; Mirzoyev 80

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