2017 FIFA Club World Cup: Tournament News & Qualifiers [R]

Discussion in 'FIFA and Tournaments' started by Nico Limmat, Dec 22, 2016.

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  1. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    In the OFC, Groups C and D are currently being played. Auckland City struggled in their opening match. They beat Western United of Solomon Islands 2:1 thanks to a penalty in the 86th minute.

    The final qualifying round in CAF is also on ongoing. Nigeria's newcomers Rivers United convincingly beat Sudanese power Al Merrikh 3:0 at home. Elsewhere Al Ahli Tripoli beat FUS Rabat 2:0 and this scoreline ties into Morocco's under-performance as indicated earlier. TP Mazembe only achieved a 1:1 at home against Zimbabwe's Central African Pharmaceutical Society (CAPS) United. Yes, that is the name. :D

    I finally caught my first AFC CL game of 2017 tonight. Al Ahli Dubai against Saudi's Al Taawoun. Security was very relaxed this time. Unfortunately the game fell short. A disappointing 0:0 draw for Al Ahli.
     
  2. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    [​IMG]

    As for the 2017 host team it looks like it's going to be Abu Dhabi's Al Jazira. With only five rounds left in the Arabian Gulf League they are six points ahead of Al Ahli and have a fairly easy schedule remaining:

    @ Dibba (11)
    Al Shabab (8)
    @ Hatta (9)
    Al Nasr (6)
    Al Dhafra (7)

    Maybe Al Shabab and Al Nasr can take some points from them but I doubt it will be enough. Depending on the final stadium choice in Abu Dhabi they could be playing in their actual home ground.

    [​IMG]

    Of course should Al Ain, Al Ahli or Al Wahda win this year's ACL then they would take the host spot.
     
  3. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #78 Nico Limmat, Mar 14, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2017
  4. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Tigres UANL - Vancouver Whitecaps 2:0


    Tigres with one foot in the final. Vargas with a well-taken goal. Dallas-Pachuca is tonight.

    In UEFA Leicester City continued their fairy-tale run to the quarterfinals. Sevilla just can't get their groove on in a competition not named Europa League.

     
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  5. dinamo_zagreb

    dinamo_zagreb Member+

    Jun 27, 2010
    San Jose, CA / Zagreb, Croatia
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Croatia
    Auckland City qualified to semifinals in Oceania. One team to qualify left - Tefana (group host team) of Tahiti or Marist Fire of Solomon Islands. Tefana has 6 pts, Marist has 3 pts. They play each other. If Erakor win their match, Marist has to win by at least two goals, else they need just to win.

    I hope draw sets Auckland - Wellington semifinal, it would be boring to see another final between them (it would be third time in a row).
     
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  6. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    MLS said Tigres had 79 percent of the possession. Tigres had 2 clearances and Vancouver had 35. Vancouver did not have a shot on target. If Vancouver hadn't scored an own goal or could have kept it 1:0 rather than allowing a goal in the 87th minute, they would have had a chance. I don't see them winning by 3 or winning in extra time with the score 2:0 after regulation.
     
  7. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Indeed. I wouldn't put money on Vancouver advancing. Let's see how Dallas fares tonight.

    Vancouver's Carl Robinson confirms 'gap' between MLS and Liga MX
    The UEFA Champions League R16 concludes tonight with Monaco-ManCity and Leverkusen-Atletico Madrid.

    PS: Australia (WSW) finally got their first 2017 ACL win today. Over shockingly bad K-League champions FC Seoul.
     
  8. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    And Ligue 1 stays alive thanks to Monaco. What a series! We had some very entertaining UEFA R16 ties.

    The final eight clubs in Europe are:

    Leicester City (England)
    AS Monaco (France)
    Bayern Munich (Germany)
    Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
    Juventus FC (Italy)
    Atletico Madrid (Spain)
    FC Barcelona (Spain)
    Real Madrid (Spain)

    Draw is on Friday...

    So much for Abu Dhabi owned Manchester City doing a victory lap in Abu Dhabi in December.
     
  9. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland


    Dallas takes a slim 2:1 lead to Mexico. Should be an interesting second leg.
     
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  10. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Technically, they would take the ACL winner's spot in the quarterfinals, and the best non-UAE finisher in the ACL would take the host spot.
     
  11. EvanJ

    EvanJ Member+

    Manchester United
    United States
    Mar 30, 2004
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pachuca had better statistics including 58 percent of the possession.
    In the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 CCLs, there were six Knockout Round two leg series between MLS (including Montreal) and Liga MX. MLS clubs had 0 wins, 5 draws, and 1 loss in their home games. Therefore a win at home is better than an MLS club does hosting a Liga MX club a lot of the time.
     
  12. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #87 Nico Limmat, Mar 16, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2017
    Yes, what I meant is a UAE Asian champion would take Al Jazira's place in the competition (although in a different spot). Seeing how Al Ain and Al Ahli both made the ACL final in the last two years Al Jazira may regret collapsing in the ACL group stage already (zero points in three matches).

    PS: Came across this interesting piece on a group of Shanghai Shenhua fans:
     
  13. dinamo_zagreb

    dinamo_zagreb Member+

    Jun 27, 2010
    San Jose, CA / Zagreb, Croatia
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Croatia
    #88 dinamo_zagreb, Mar 18, 2017
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2017
    Oceanian final four teams are now known:
    Magenta (New Caledonia)
    Team Wellington, Auckland City (New Zealand)
    Tefana (Tahiti)

    Draw is in few days. Semis and final are played on home-away basis.

    Auckland City today trashed Malampa Revivors of Vanuatu 11-0 and set new biggest win in CL era.
     
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  14. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    UEFA Draw:

    Atletico Madrid - Leicester City
    Borussia Dortmund - Monaco
    Bayern Munich - Real Madrid
    Juventus - FC Barcelona

    Good draw. Two real crackers in there and two relative "underdogs" will make the semis to keep things interesting.

    In South America - Chapecoense, struck by tragedy last year - achieved a historic victory over Venezuela's Zulia:

     
  15. dinamo_zagreb

    dinamo_zagreb Member+

    Jun 27, 2010
    San Jose, CA / Zagreb, Croatia
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Croatia
    And then they lost to Lanus at home after taking the lead at the start of the second half.


    Barcelona - PSG happened in Africa today. In historic season, where group stage field was (finaly!) expanded to 16 teams, Al-Merreikh of Sudan overcome Nigerian side Rivers after losing 3-0 in leg 1. They won 4-0 today (3-0 HT). Beside them, Sundowns, reigning champion, scored in 80th minute to go past KCCA of Uganda, Coton Sport, Wydad (after penalties, Gabonese side scored in 90+2 to force penalties but failed to defeat Moroccan giant) and USM Alger also qualified. Al-Ahly Tripoli and Zanaco (Zambia) secured their group stage debuts.

    Remaining nine matches are scheduled for Sunday. TP Mazembe goes to Zimbabwe after 1-1 at home, Wits of South Africa hosts Al-Ahly who won 1-0 last week, Ethiopian champion Saint George looks to secure first ever qualification (of any Ethiopian side) at home and they have 1-0 advantage.

    All losers will play in Confederation Cup playoff for group stage.
     
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  16. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Stunningly TP Mazembe went out against Zimbabwe's CAPS United. Al Ahly got the job done against South Africa's Bidvest Wits. Where will Al Ahli Tripoli play their home matches? Tunisia again?

    CAF Group Stage
     
  17. dinamo_zagreb

    dinamo_zagreb Member+

    Jun 27, 2010
    San Jose, CA / Zagreb, Croatia
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Croatia
    I suppose so, I think they played most, if not all, of their matches, since Civil war, in Tunisia.




    [​IMG]


    OFC semifinal
    1 Tefana - Auckland City
    2 Magenta - Team Wellington

    Teams listed first host legs #1. Semifinal 1 winner will host final leg #1.

    It all leads to third straight ACFC-TW final, but I hope one of Francophone teams spoils the party.
     
  18. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    We finally have full clarity on the two host venues:

    1. Zayed Sports City Stadium (Abu Dhabi / 43,000)

    [​IMG]

    2. Hazza Bin Zayed Stadiums (Al Ain / 23,000)

    [​IMG]

    Zayed Sports City also hosted the 2009 and 2010 final. Initially the word was that ZSC wasn't going to host due to renovations for the 2019 Asian Nations Cup. Not sure what has changed but there you have it. That means Al Jazira won't play in their home ground if they win the league.

    Big week coming up with CONCACAF determining its two finalists...
     
  19. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    Who you got for 2night Swiss
     
  20. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    Just saw this now but my pick before the match was Pachuca 2:0.

    That was of course almost the final score but a very exciting final seven minutes or so made it 3:1 Pachuca just when Dallas thought they had forced extra time. Very entertaining match, glad I got up this morning and hunted down a stream.
     
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  21. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    #96 Nico Limmat, Apr 5, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2017


    The second semifinal concludes tonight when Vancouver host Tigres. Anything but an all-Mexican final would be a surprise at this point although the Whitecaps will try everything - including leaving the roof open at BC Place.



    @jared9999 - Looking forward to the CCL final? Your first continental final?
     
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  22. jared9999

    jared9999 Member+

    Jan 3, 2005
    Naucalpan Estado de Mex
    Club:
    Club América
    Nat'l Team:
    Mexico
    My team has 7 :thumbsup:
     
  23. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    I mean in attendance?
     
  24. Paul Calixte

    Paul Calixte Moderator
    Staff Member

    Orlando City SC
    Apr 30, 2009
    Miami, FL
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    IIRC he went to América-Tigres last year.
     
  25. Nico Limmat

    Nico Limmat Member+

    Oct 24, 1999
    Dubai, UAE
    Club:
    Grasshopper Club Zürich
    Nat'l Team:
    Switzerland
    And the CONCACAF final is...

    Tigres UANL (Mexico) - CF Pachuca (Mexico)

     
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