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Asia Pacific Championships Diary

Day 1 (13th May)

We arrived on Friday morning at 11:55am at Busan Airport and we were taken to Changwon International Football Centre where we will be residing for the duration of the tournament.

The facilities here are absolutely first class.

I have yet to see anything like this or compare this place to anything like this in Australia.

I believe the facilities we had in our stay at Orange were fantastic, but where we are staying is over the top.

Day 2 (14th May)

The official Draw was done today and Australia have a realistic chance. Two countries withdrew at the last minute citing VISA issues (Pakistan and China).

Group A - Korea, Japan, Iraq, Uzbekistan

Group B - Iran, Thailand, Australia, India

Most of the Asian Pacific countries are supported by their Federal Government. Korea, India, Iran, Iraq, Thailand, and Japan have been in camp for more than a month. Before the tournament has started whilst Uzbelistan have been in camp 3 weeks and Australia 3 days with NO government funding or support from our own FFA.

On Sunday 15th May Australia plays Thailand (Seeded 3rd Asia) in our first match.

On Tuesday 17th May Australia plays Iran (Asian Champions).

On Thursday 19th May Australia plays India who is unknown to the football nations.

After the 3 matches are played in each group, the top 2 teams of each group will automatically qualify with the 2 third place teams playing off for the 5th and final spot remaining to qualify for the World Cup in Turkey 2012.

Day 3 (15th May)

Australia vs Thailand

The Australian Deaf Football team opened their World Cup Qualifiers today at 10.00am (AEST) with a 2 – 0 loss to Asia Pacific’s 3rd ranked team Thailand.

The match was played in good spirits with Thailand dominating much of the 1st half with a quick short sharp passing game.

In the 4th minute of the game Australia came very close to scoring from a Ryan Sutor through ball to Mark Davis, whose shot was just wide of the posts.

Thailand’s short sharp passing game really did not penetrate the Australia defence.

In the 2nd half Australia had 3 clear cut chances to score and failed. Then in the 59th minute Thongolez Somasak was deemed to be held back by the shirt by Australia Joshua Doe inside the 18 yard box. The referee awarded the penalty which was converted.

Coach Abbas Saad was very proud of the way the Australian team played and is still positive that qualification is still possible after this loss.

Australia’s next match is against Iran who are the Asian champions. The other match played in Australia’s group was Iran vs India (14-0).

Day 4 (16th May)

Our Assistant coach arrived today and the team went straight into a 2 hour training session on shape and structure.

The boys had some down time and went out shopping and looking around.

Abbas, Robert and Brian found a great coffee shop near the university. The boys are getting tired of eating fish, rice and salads. Abbas and Brian have asked to have the menu changed, so we will see what transpires.

Day 5 (17th May)

Australia vs Iran

Australia’s 2nd qualifier was against the Asian Pacific Champions Iran who are coming off a 14-0 win against India.

After losing 2-0 in our first match against Thailand the Australians rebounded superbly in the first half against Iran having the scores locked at 1-1 at half time.

Iran opened the scoring in the 15th minute where Iran’s striker Javad Soleimani capitalised on some lazy defence and was able to tap in a soft goal.

Australia pressured the Iranians and were awarded a penalty when Australia’s Mark Rust run beat three players and ran into the box only to be brought down from behind in a very late challenge. Australia’s captain Jamie Flanagan converted from the spot.

Australia went into the half time break having dominated most of the first half and having the Asian Champions rattled.

Australia resumed the 2nd half with aggression and Pece Cincev picked up his first yellow card with a late challenge in the 46th minute.

In the 54th minute Basin Alitreza managed to get a cross in from the goal line, and Javad Soleimani managed to get a foot in and tapped in what seemed a soft goal through some soft marking.

For the next five minutes the Australians dropped their heads and went further down in the 58th minute where Javad Soleimani dribbled past two defenders and unleashed a shot on goal which beat the Australian keeper.

Australia made some changes and missed two opportunities to try and peg back the difference, in the end the Iranians were two strong and physical for Australia. In the 71st minute Basin Alitreza scored a header from a corner.

To the Australian teams credit, they never gave up and kept taking it to Iran but it was not going to be their day.

Australia must beat India on Thursday to keep their chances alive. In the other match played today Thailand beat India 7 - 1.

Day 6 (18th May)

Today was another rest day, the boys went into town and did some shopping. Four of the players went and got foot massages as the pitch we have been playing on has been rock hard.

In the afternoon the team had a 2 hour training session which consisted of them going through set plays and tactically practicing how to break down the Indian defence for tomorrows important match.

Day 7 (19th May)

Australia vs India

Australia’s third qualifying match was against India and it was a must win for Australia. Pece Cincev who had done an exceptional job in the midfield for Australia in the last two matches was to miss India’s match through a back injury.

Australia played really well and ended up winners 4-0. Australia came out of the blocks and started pressing India right from the start.

The first 20 minutes of play Australia dominated possession with India playing a very tight compact game against Australia.

In the 22nd minute Mark Davis had a long range shot that was saved by the outstretched Indian keeper.

In the 25th minute a long range throw in found Mark Davis on his own at the back post which resulted in Australia’s first goal.

In the 38th minute, Australia’s captain Jamie Flanagan made a run from inside his own half and from 45 yards out saw the keeper off his line and unleashed a venomous shot in the top right hand corner to take Australia to a 2-0 lead.

Australia went into the half time break with a 2-0 lead.

The second half Australia came out playing attacking football, but India’s defence was well organized, in the 60th minute, Nicholas Fonti was cautioned for a late challenge which then had coach Abbas Saad substitute him to avoid any further controversy with the referee. In the 70th minute a further two changes were made and fresh legs produced two further goals for Australia in the 82nd minute by Mark Davis and Joshua Doe in the 90th minute.

Overall it was a very solid performance by Australia and look forward to the quarter final match up with Uzbekistan this Sunday 4pm AEST

Day 8 (20th May)

Team spent most of the day in the city shopping and looking around. At 2:00pm there was a training session for two hours and player injury assessment.

Day 9 (21st May)

Training was at 10am where Abbas had a game plan for Uzbekistan. Players went through a number of scenarios and strategies in learning how to breakdown the Uzbekistan defence and where they would be vulnerable in attack. Tomorrow Australia take on Uzbekistan and the winner goes through to the World Cup in Turkey 2012. Australia has been lucky in that it has had some results from other matches work in their favour.

Day 10 (22nd May)

All players were up and having breakfast at 7am then from 8am – 8:45am they went for a brisk walk, stretched and tried to relax for their all important game at 3:00pm this afternoon against Uzbekistan.

Players went back to their rooms and were all in bed asleep from 9am – 11:45am, they awoke for lunch and started to prepare mentally for the game this afternoon. After the match the players showered changed and went out as a team for Pizza’s in the city to escape their disappointment in not qualifying.

Australia vs Uzbekistan

This match will decide who will take the 5th Asian spot at the World Cup in Turkey 2012. Australia has played Uzbekistan on one occasion three years ago and the match finished up a 1-1 draw.

Uzbekistan is a very physical team and has been installed favorites to win this match by three to four goals by the other Asian countries.

The Australian starting line up was unchanged to that of the team that beat India.

From the opening whistle Australia’s game plan was to win key individual battles in defence and then open up and play down the channels.

Australia again dominated the first half with more than a dozen missed opportunities.

In the 25th minute of the game Uzbekistan’s Kardash received a free kick for a late challenge about 40 yards out from the Australian goal line. The free kick came into the box where there was a scramble to kick the ball out, Australia failed to clear the ball on the 18 yard box and Uzbekistan’s Kardash blasted the ball towards Australia’s goal where it took a deflection and went into goal. Australia restarted the game and dominated the rest of the first half but failed to score where they had 3 one on one opportunities.

Australia came out in the second half believing that they could score and still win the match. Australia’s Nicholas Fonti and Mark Theodossiou were winning there individual battles in the middle of the park and a 51st minute strike by Pece Cincev from 25 yards out had the Uzbekistan keeper at full stretch to make the save.

In the 55th, 58th and 72nd minute Australia was denied calls for a penalty which resulted in late challenges being committed by Uzbekistan players.

With Australia unable to score and with so many chances Uzbekistan scored there 2nd Goal when Australia pushed everyone forward in the last 2 minutes of play to try and find the equalizer. Against the run of play Australia was caught at the back with no defence and Uzbekistan score in the last 30 seconds of the match.

For the Australian side, it means we have missed qualifying for the World Cup in Turkey in 2012 but will return to Seoul in May 2012 and try and qualify for the Deaflympics which will be hosted in Athens, Greece 2013.

Coach Abbas Saad and Robert Stanton are very proud of their troops and the performances of all matches but especially in this game where the team is gutted not winning this match where they dominated the game for more than 85% of the match and missed plenty of opportunities.

Clearly the team has come along way in the last 3 years under Abbas Saad and Robert Stanton. They have had to rebuild the squad from scratch. Australia has a team that can compete with Asia’s best countries on the world stage with room for much more improvement from a very young team.

Australia will bid to host the 2014 Asia Pacific World Cup qualifiers and hopefully then Australia will qualify for the next World Cup in 2016.