2015 AFC Cup

Draw:

 

East Riffa (BHR) replaced by Al Hidd....AFC didn't include them in the draw when BFA entered them...funny how the AFC run by a Bahraini didn't get the Bahraini entrant correct!!

http://bfa.bh/detail/1891

 

So many teams from East Zone got the direct slots... I think it is reasonable and interesting to move the Bangladesh and Nepal champions to Play-off(East) when India and Maldives are in the East Zone.

 

Either the head honchos at AFC are terrible at geography, or they're up to their old tricks again. Maldivian and Indian sides have sporadically made it to the knockout stages when placed in the East and done absolutely terribly when up against sides from the West. AFC probably believes that the Bangladeshi and Nepali sides won't offer much and simply placed them in the West so that they can get "weeded out" as soon as possible. It's this mentality that is responsible for creating the gap between elite and developing nations within the federation.

 

Manang Marshyangdi (NEP) have withdrawn citing financial problems.

Hilal Al-Quds (PLE) now receive a bye to the final qualifying round where they will face Al-Jaish (SYR) in Bahrain (as Syria are banned from hosting matches) on February 17 for the final spot in Group D.

 

@Fureeku

Do you know of any live streaming links to watch the Ceres vs Maziya AFC Cup match tomorrow?

 

Try hahasport.com. Worked for me everytime.

 

Thanks. Will post in our filipinoforums if it works.

Update: Just checked. Still no listing for that game in hahasports. Only AFC Champion's League games.

 

Previews of the game on Tuesday:

http://www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2015/afc-cup-play-offs-east-and-west-previews

 

The game will be broadcast live on Television Maldives, which has so far always meant that hahasports would find a way to stream it.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the match. These are two decent teams and, even though most Maldivians consider them to be an "insignificant" club, I've really liked the look of Maziya in pre-season.

 

http://www.maldivesoccer.com/s/I-dont-have-any-pressure-says-Suzain-5699

Here are interviews with the coaches on a maldive website. I don't really know how this will turn out as this will be the first time for a Philippine club at the AFC Cup, so you can say we are pretty inexperienced at this level. Ceres FC will also be the away team in this one off playoff match, so they would be a disadvantage. Adjusting to the weather shouldn't be a problem though as they are used to tropical climates(thank god Mongolia is not participating in this tournament as their February winter weathers can be brutal). Both teams have national team players in their lineup though, so it should be a good one.

 

Incidentally, Maziya's striker Asadhulla Abdulla won the Maldivian Player of the Year and the 2014 Golden Boot last night. You might remember him scoring against Philippines during the Challenge Cup.

They are a very well-run neighbourhood club with a minuscule but hardcore fan base. Since gaining promotion in 2006, they have steadily worked their way to become a force to be reckoned with in Maldives. Unfortunately, the manager resigned last season and they've replaced him with an absolute tool...

 

Game starting at this link right now.

http://www.mbc.mv/news/stream

 

Ceres FC did fare well against the teams from North Korea(draw) and eventual tournament champion Turkmenistan(narrow 2-1 loss) in the 2014 AFC President's Cup group stage last year, so they should be competitive. Both those teams ended up in the finals of that tournament.

 

It looks like nobody in Maldives is interested in this game. The stands are practically empty.

 

in my ranking, MAzyia is 141st in Asia with 167 pts, and Ceres is 543rd with 45 pts ... So, I don't see chances for Ceres in tis match Global is better tan Ceres,but , probably will be last in their group

http://footballsize.com/afc-cup-2015-groups-preview/

 

Considering the small sample size(for Philippine clubs in international play) and the Philippines debut in the AFC Cup, hard to say if those rankings reflect reality. Several of the Philippine national team players have experience playing in Europe and one of them Martin Steuble(albeit only for a few games played for MLS club Sporting Kansas last year and Swiss clubs like Grasshoppers Zurich in the past).

 

yah, you right, no one know how will play Philippines clubs in AFC Cup because is first year here but like in ACL play off, I think is a difference between clubs. Look at Seoul v Ha Noi (4-0 HT) ... probably the score will be not same, but i think Maziya will win home advantage is huge

 

Philippine clubs have also held their own against Singaporean clubs, some of whom participated in the
AFC Cup, during Singapore Cup play.

 

Like I said, Maziya are a neighborhood recreation club founded by a group of friends in 1996. Their brand is more renowned for automobile repair, internal design and electrical wiring than their football club... Aside from the big 3 (New Radiant, Club Valencia and Victory SC), support for other clubs in Maldives are minimal. Maziya's "fans", who only seem to attend cup finals, consist of friends and families of the players.

What they do very well, though, is introducing young players to the footballing scene, which is something they do out of necessity as they operate on a really tight budget.

Speaking of the match, both teams are very well-matched in terms of quality. We saw a few sporadic chances on both ends, mostly long-range efforts. Hope to see a more open second half.

 

Maziya -vs- Ceres 0-0 (half time) until now, you have right It's a big opportunity for both nations to have 2 clubs in AFC Cup and collect poiints for coefficients. But, I think even Maziya or Ceres will be last in group against Bengaluru, Persipura and Warriors It's just my opinion, is possible to be wrong

I want Ceres in AFC Cup groups, I dont like MAziya name ) :

 

totally agree with you. either team(or at least Ceres FC) will be the underdog in their group.

 

Maziya should have scored that sitter.