March 2014 ( II ) - Preview

Apart from the friendly match between Philippines and Azerbaijan, 5 national teams from SEA will play at the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match tomorrow ( 5/3/14 ). Only Malaysia stand a chance to qualify to the main event next year in Australia as best third place team if they can beat Yemen at Al Ain, United Arab Emirates and hope other potential teams ( Iraq, Syria and Lebanon ) do not win their respective match. The remaining 4 teams stand no chance at all to qualify, and matches involving them is only to wrap up the fixtures.


First up is Oman v Singapore  from Group A. Even a win for Singapore will not bring them to Australia. They need to win on a big margin ( at least 8 goals ) and hope Syria lost to Jordan. But if they win, they will collect 750 points to get a rating of 375 after 2 matches.

Singapore v Oman head-to-head records

Number of times meet: 8
Oman wins: 7 ( 87.5 % )
Draw:0
Singapore win:1 ( 12.5 % )
Number of goals Oman scored: 22 ( 2.75 goals per match )
Number of goals Singapore scored: 5 ( 0.63 goals per match )

First meet: Oman 1-3 Singapore ( 9/12/1988, Shah Alam, Malaysia. Merdeka Tournament { Friendly Tournament } )
Last meet: Oman 2-0 Singapore ( 14/8/2013, Jalan Besar, Singapore. Asian Cup Qualifier )

Trivia: Yusman Yusoff, D.Tokijan and Yahya Madon scored one goal each to registered the only win for Singapore against Oman in the past 8 meetings. Oman later out of the Merdeka Tournament with no points after 3 group stage matches.




From Group B, Thailand will host Lebanon at Bangkok. Another fixture just to wrap things up with nothing to play for except pride. However, A win for Thailand not only will earn them 750 points with a rating of 750 after 1 match, but they can also help Malaysia which the tigers hope a Thailand win will also enable Malaysia qualify for the final round of the Asian Cup.


Thailand v Lebanon head-to-head records

Number of times meet: 7
Lebanon win: 1 ( 14.28 % )
Draws: 2 ( 28.57 % )
Thailand wins: 4 57.14 % )
Number of goals Lebanon scored: 10 ( 1.42 goals per match )
Number of goals Thailand scored: 10 ( 1.42 goals per match )

First meet: Thailand 1-0 Lebanon ( 10/12/1998, Bangkok, Thailand. Asian Games )
Last meet: Thailand 2-5 Lebanon ( 22/3/2013, Beirut, Lebanon. Asian Cup Qualifier )

Trivia: This is the worst record Thailand have ever faced in the Asian Cup Qualifier since the current format adopted for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Lebanon win against Thailand just last year finally break the duck after 7 meetings.




In Group C, Indonesia will travel to Damnam, Saudi Arabia to wrap up their disappointing qualifier campaign against the falcons. A win for them will also earn them 750 points, just like Singapore and Thailand, with a rating of 750 after 1 match.

Indonesia v Saudi Arabia head-to-head records

Number of times meet: 12
Saudi Arabia wins: 11( 91.7 % )
Draw: 1 ( 8.3 % )
Indonesia win:0
Number of goals Saudi Arabia scored: 34 ( 2.83 goals per match )
Number of goals Indonesia scored: 5 ( 0.42 goals per match )

First meet: Indonesia 0-2 Saudi Arabia ( 12/10/1980, Izmir, Turkey. Unknown Status)
Last meet:  Indonesia 1-2 Saudi Arabia ( 23/3/2013, Jakarta, Indonesia. Asian Cup Qualifier )

Trivia: The only match that Saudi Arabia failed to win is a friendly match in Shah Alam, Malaysia ( 7/10/2011 ). The match ended 0-0



Malaysia ( Group D ) is the only team from SEA able to qualify for the Asian Cup next year as the best third place team. Against Yemen at a neutral venue in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, a win for Malaysia will earn them 750 points, with a rating of 390 after 2 matches. However, a win for them is not enough, they need some help if their dream of make it to the final round of the Asian Cup on merit since 1982 is a dream come true.

Malaysia v Yemen head-to-head records

Number of times meet: 4
Yemen win: 1 ( 25 % )
Draw:0
Malaysia wins: 3 ( 75 % )
Number of goals Yemen scored: 2 ( 0.5 goals per match )
Number of goals Malaysia scored: 7 ( 1.75 goals per match )

First meet: Malaysia 4-1 Yemen ( 18/10/1984, Kolkata, India. Asian Cup Qualifier )
Last meet: Malaysia 2-1 Yemen ( 22/3/2013, Shah Alam, Malaysia. Asian Cup Qualifier )

Trivia: Yemen only win is a 1-0 win in Shah Alam on 8/9/1990. The match is a Friendly.



And finally, Vietnam from Group E will face Hong Kong at Hanoi. Although it is meaningless for a ticket to the final round, pride is all to play for as Vietnam so far yet to collect any points after 5 matches. A win for Vietnam will earn themselves 250 points with a rating of 250 after 1 match.

Vietnam v Hong Kong head-to-head records\

Number of times meet: 4
Hong Kong wins: 2 ( 50 % )
Draw: 1 ( 25 % )
Vietnam win: 1 ( 25 % )
Number of goals Hong Kong scored: 4 ( 1 goal per match )
Number of goals Vietnam scored: 3 ( 0.75 goals per match )

First meet: Vietnam 0-1 Hong Kong ( 24/5/1973, Seoul, Korea Republic. World Cup Qualifier )
Last meet: Vietnam 0-1 Hong Kong ( 22/3/2013, Hong Kong. Asian Cup Qualifier )

Trivia: After 4 meetings, none of them can score more than 2 goals.Apart from a draw, it always ended up with a 1 goal margin win.