Congratulations to Tai Po for their first point and first goal in the AFC Cup. Although Da Nang and Thai Port are no pushovers, now I think they might just make it to the next round if they keep up the good work.
Persiwa head coach said before the match that Persiwa don't have any target in AFC Cup this year. It seems that they will focus in the remaining Indonesia Super League. They fielded many second liners in yesterday match. However, both their Liberian Internationals, Eric Weeks and Eddy Foday were played. Persiwa actually are not a good team. They have no Indonesian international players. They just have two international players, both from Liberia. They never won any single match at away but won all matches at home. Their home base is located in Wamena, sooooo far on the highest land of Indonesia, that is why their nickname is highlander. Oxygen (air) is minimum there. Almost ISL teams just sent their reserve team to Wamena in order to keep the fitness of their main squad for next match. AFC does not allow Persiwa to use their home base this year. Therefore, they will play all remain home matches in Gajayana Stdium Malang, west java (homebase of Persema Malang).
I was in HK Stadium for South China vs Muang Thong United. Despite Muang Thong United having two players sent off by a Korean referee in the second half, South China could not find a way through and the game ended 0:0. The 5,725 attending fans were very disappointed. Muang Thong United clearly came for a draw and wasted time on numerous occasions. It was understandable but we expected a little more from the Thai champions. I read somewhere their national team even refused to play our national team because they thought we were too inferior. I hope they don't think the same now.
With the current political situation in Bangkok, many countries including Hong Kong have issued travel warnings. I am just wondering, if Persiwa is not able to travel to Bangkok for their AFC Cup away game to Muang Thong United next week, then what will happen?
This is an interesting on going situation. Something totally out of the hands of the organising teams, so the AFC must step in now and move the game back in my opinon, they certainly shouldn't waste any more time and wait for a last minute call. As for people not in the know, the local league has cancelled the opening week of the season, this is mainly because security personnel will be deployed elsewhere rather than the stadium. Of course, games could go ahead if teams played to empty stadiums, the airports are still open but of course any foreign team arriving wouldn't really wanto go to Thailand right now, especially with the recent history of airport closures and the very possible chance that they could arrive into a country that is in the middle of a coup!
I feel the AFC is not going to step in. Persiwa must risk travelling to Bangkok and play at a stadium with a big crowd but few police officers or security personnel... they will be so scared that they will lose by a big score...
In Thailand, they are expecting the protests to be over officially on the 15th. But as ever in Thailand, the protests will probably spill over a little longer. It must be said, that this protest is being staged in an attempt to overthrow the government. If it doesn't succed by Sunday evening, then expect it to continue. If it does succed, then it is likely because the country is insecure. Surely the AFC must see this and postpone the match now, rather than wait until its too late. The local league matches this weekend have been called off and were going to be played on Wednesday, but they saw common sense to postpone until July because no one can gurantee what is going to happen early next week.
Muangthong - Persiwa game is called off. http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-cup-2010/27659-afc-cup-muangthong-vs-persiwa-match-postponed
Glad to see AFC has come to its senses and put the game off. I hope the protests don't last too long. If the Thai League is indeed called off until July, then the Thai teams in AFC Cup will be lacking some real match practice in the AFC Cup. Hopefully that will help Tai Po FC and South China when they visit Thailand later on.
No sorry, only matchday one has been postponed until July, because they couldn't fit in the games any earlier. Legaue resumes next weekend. Games outside of Bangkok continue to be played in the lower levels, but the TPL is drawing some big crowds recently so games can't be played because no security would be provided, not that any violence is expected at TPL games, but just for general measures. Many Thai fans are unhappy, but the fact is that yo uwould be lucky to get t oa game anyway. For example, my sister in law can't even get off her street due to blockades, so games could have gone ahead but wouldn't have had any crowd
My concern is that since this game is called off but all other games are go, then on the "final" match day, will South China and VB Sports be playing their last group games, while Persiwa and Muang Thong United will still have their game in hand? I just hate to think that Persiwa and Muang Thong United could collaborate on their last game... similar to Spain 82 when Germany and Austria collaborated to knock Algeria out...
Churchill 2-2 Kuwait SC Extra time goal by Kuwaiti legend Bashar Abdullah denied churchill all 3 points
Sriwijaya FC 6 vs 1 Selangor, Jaka Baring Stadium, Palembang Goal : Selangor : S. Sali 16' Sriwijaya : Arif Suyono 38' Zahrahan Krangar 39' Arif Suyono 58' Rahmat Rivai 69' Keith Kayamba Gumbs 86' Keith Kayamba Gumbs 89'
I think this is not a shock. SouthChina is a mediocre team in AFC Cup similar with VB. They are in the same level of quality.
South China fans are hugely disappointed after the loss. Still, there are 4 more games to go. Tai Po 0-1 Thai Port. First ever official football game at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. It is a shame Tai Po lost... Hopefully they can still qualify for the next stage.
NEWS: Muangthong-Persiwa tie on March 27 [http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-cup-2010/27749-muangthong-persiwa-tie-on-march-27] I do afraid Persiwa will lost of their rhytm as their last match was on March 10 whereas they were hammered by PSPS 0-5. It means that they will have two international away matches within 4 days [23 March away to hongkong then 27 march away to thailand].
Well, a couple of years ago it wouldn't have been a shock, but remember South China made the semi's last year, so to get beat by a Maldive club is a shock, especially since Maldives clubs have always struggled. But VB are looking good this year, I hope they do qualify just to mix it up this year.