Latest news with #ShandongTaishan
Observer
25-03-2025
- Sport
- Observer
Australia beat China to tighten hold on WC qualifying
Hangzhou, China: Australia took another stride towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday with Tony Popovic's side handing China a 2-0 defeat in Hangzhou as Group C rivals Saudi Arabia were held to a 0-0 draw by already-qualified Japan at Saitama Stadium. South Korea's struggles on home soil continued, meanwhile, as Hong Myung-bo's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Jordan in Suwon in Group B. The top two finishers in each of Asia's three preliminary groups advance directly to the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with the teams in third and fourth progressing to another round of qualifiers. Australia made it six points out of six in the current window with victory over China as first-half goals from Jackson Irvine and Nishan Velupillay earned another Socceroos success following Thursday's 5-1 win against Indonesia. Irvine put his side in front after 16 minutes when he stepped inside onto his left foot to fire into the bottom corner beyond Wang Dalei. The Shandong Taishan goalkeeper was to blame for the visitors' second 13 minutes later, fumbling Velupillay's bobbling shot from the edge of the penalty area over his own line. The win moves Australia to 13 points from eight matches, consolidating their hold on second place in the group behind Japan and taking them three points ahead of third-placed Saudi Arabia. "We came with a top mentality into this camp and we knew what was at stake, two massive games for us," said Irvine. "It's been a massive team effort to get these two results." Hajime Moriyasu's Japan side dropped points for only the second time in the preliminaries as the Samurai Blue were unable to find a way through a disciplined Saudi Arabia defence. Daizen Maeda went closest when he hit the post in the ninth minute after Daichi Kamada's perfectly-weighted through ball released the Celtic man behind the visitors' backline. There was more frustration for the Koreans, who drew at home for the third time in the current phase of qualifying but continue to lead Group B. Lee Jae-sung put the hosts in front after five minutes when he rushed into the six-yard box to push Son Heung-min's corner over the line but Jordan were level by the half-hour mark. Mousa al Tamari saw his initial shot saved by Jo Hyeon-woo but the rebound looped up towards Mahmoud Al-Mardi and his strike was deflected past the keeper off the back of Korean defender Kwon Kyung-won. The result moves South Korea to 16 points, three ahead of Jordan with third-placed Iraq a further point behind ahead of their meeting with Palestine later on Tuesday. Kuwait will face Oman in the same group. Iran could secure their place at the World Cup with Amir Ghalenoei's side needing a draw against Uzbekistan when the teams meet in Tehran later on Tuesday in Group A as North Korea play the United Arab Emirates and Kyrgyzstan host Qatar. — Reuters
Reuters
20-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Shanghai Port to face Yokohama F Marinos in Asian Champions League's last 16
Feb 20 (Reuters) - Shanghai Port will face Yokohama F Marinos in the round of 16 of the Asian Champions League Elite next month as the Chinese Super League side's qualification for the knockout rounds was confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation on Thursday. Port lost 2-0 in their final league phase match to the Japanese club on Wednesday in Shanghai but have progressed as a result of the withdrawal of compatriots Shandong Taishan. Shanghai's place in the next round was ratified by the AFC's publication of the official fixture list for the last 16. Marinos, who topped the 12-team east Asian league standings, will travel to face Port in the first leg on March 4. Thailand's Buriram United will host Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia on the same day with the return fixtures played a week later. Shanghai Shenhua will entertain Japan's Kawasaki Frontale and reigning J-League champions Vissel Kobe will host South Korea's Gwangju FC in their first leg fixtures on March 5, with the second legs on March 12. The winners of the four ties will advance to the quarter-finals, where they will join the four qualifiers from the west of the confederation in a centralised finals in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 3. On that side of the draw, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr will take on Esteghlal from Iran while Al-Sadd from Qatar meet Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates on March 3 and 10. Four-times champions Al-Hilal face Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor while their fellow Saudis Al-Ahli play Qatar's Al-Rayyan on March 4 and 11. Shandong pulled out of Wednesday's meeting with South Korea's Ulsan HD citing health issues and the withdrawal saw their results expunged from the tournament records. Under the tournament's regulations, Shandong face a minimum $50,000 fine, a suspension of at least one season from AFC competitions plus the return of all subsidies received. The club could also be made to pay compensation to cover losses incurred by rival clubs and commercial entities with a decision due to be made by the AFC's disciplinary and ethics committee.
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Chinese team pulls out of Asian Champions League hours before game, cites ‘physical discomfort'
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Shandong Taishan withdrew from the Asian Champions League hours before the four-time Chinese Super League winner was due to play its final group-stage game Wednesday against Ulsan HD of South Korea. The Asian Football Confederation said Shandong was 'considered to have withdrawn after the club confirmed that it did not intend to report for their league stage match.' Shandong needed just a draw at Ulsan to advance to the round of 16. The AFC did not give a reason for Shandong's withdrawal, but the team cited illness. 'Due to the serious physical discomfort of team members, the medical team evaluated that the players were unable to play the final AFC Champions League game against Ulsan HD,' the club said in a statement. 'We deeply regret this and apologize to the AFC, Ulsan HD and the fans.' The withdrawal guaranteed Shanghai Shenhua a place in the next round to join three Japanese teams in Yokohama F. Marinos, Kawasaki Frontale and Vissel Kobe. They join South Korea's Gwangju FC and Pohang Steelers, Thailand's Buriram United, and Malaysia's Johor Darul Tazim. Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr finished in the top three of the western zone. ___
Reuters
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Yokohama F Marinos cruise to victory amid Asian Champions League uncertainty
Feb 19 (Reuters) - Shanghai Port slipped to a 2-0 loss against Yokohama F Marinos on Wednesday but the Chinese Super League side could still qualify for the last 16 of the Asian Champions League Elite following Shandong Taishan's withdrawal earlier in the day. Goals from Asahi Uenaka and Jun Amano in four second-half minutes earned Steve Holland's side victory in Pudong Stadium but the line-up for next month's knockout rounds remains uncertain after Shandong pulled out of the competition. The withdrawal, which Shandong claimed was due to health issues within their squad, was announced by the Asian Football Confederation hours before the Chinese side were due to face South Korea's Ulsan HD in their final match. Shandong's decision to pull out means all of the club's results in this season's tournament have been annulled as per the competition's regulations. That has cast an air of uncertainty over the final league phase table for east Asia and, with it, the pairings for the next round of the competition. Under the Swiss league system, which was introduced this season as part of a major overhaul, the team finishing top of the standings will take on the eighth placed side, second place will play seventh and so on. But with Shandong's results expunged, three clubs -- Buriram United, Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai Port -- have earned points across eight matches compared to seven for the remaining teams in the competition. The AFC has said the matter will be referred to the relevant committees "as appropriate for their decisions". No timeline has been given regarding when a decision will be made, with the first leg matches in the last 16 due to be played on March 4 and 5. The returns are a week later. The uncertainty had no bearing on Yokohama's performance, however, as last season's runners-up dominated in Shanghai. Home goalkeeper Yan Junling made a string of saves to deny the Japanese club until Uenaka thumped a rising shot beyond the goalkeeper in the 64th minute. Amano doubled the lead four minutes later when he chested in Kanta Inoue's cross from the right to earn Marinos a deserved victory. Despite the loss, Shanghai Port finished inside the top eight, just below compatriots Shanghai Shenhua, but the final outcome remains to be confirmed.
