China opened up the second round of AFC qualifying at home to Laos in what on paper promised to be the most lopsided encounter of the fifteen scheduled for the day. However, what the crowd in Kunming witnessed could be described as a horror movie for the first half of play. In a shocking development, Laos scored in the fourth minute and again at the half hour more to send tremors of fear throughout China. However, no response has ever been more astonishing than that of the Chinese players.A goal in injury time by Yang Xu made the score 2-1. In the second half, China more than made up for its shock start by pushing six goals across the line, including two more by Xu, who completed his hat trick. China's seventh and final goal of the match came from the penalty spot after the sending off of Laos's Ketsada Souksavanh with but a minute to go due to his second yellow card. China should easily close Laos out in five days.
Thailand hosted Palestine in Buriram in the opener of their aggregate series. Thailand was missing four injured players coming into the match, and were hoping to somehow bring an advantage into the second leg to be played before an impassioned Palestine fan base. Thailand found their opening goal around the midway point of the first half.
The score at the half was 1-0. Neither team found a way to push for another goal, leaving Thailand with the thinnest of margins going into the second leg in Palestine in five days' time. Thailand must feel snakebitten after hitting the crossbar two times and having a second-half penalty kick saved. Suchao Nutnum had his spot kick batted away in the dying moments of the match. However, the brightest news for Thailand is that their clean sheet means that Palestine leave with no road goals, so a solitary Thai goal in the second leg will force Palestine to score three to advance.
Singapore hosted Malaysia in the opener of one of the most anticipated second round series. The two fierce regional rivals were wary of each other, but both sides went into attack mode during the match, and to great effect. The sellout crowd was certainly not lacking for goals to enjoy.
However, the crowd was immediately silenced by a first minute goal by visiting Malaysia. Nevertheless, the boots of the Singapore players kept making noise. Star striker Aleksandar Duric (pictured, #9) opened their account six minutes after Malaysia and knotted the affair at one goal apiece. Qiu Li scored off a magnificent free kick for 2-1. Singapore found two more goals before the half to send the frenzied crowd into a celebration. 4-1 Singapore read the scoreboard. Five minutes into to the new half, Safiq Rahim was given the boot for a straight red, leaving Malaysia shorthanded and facing a mauling. However, a second yellow to Ismail Bin Yunos five minutes later left both sides with ten players. Malaysia appeared to utilize the extra space better, and scored twice in two minutes in the seventieth and seventy-first minutes to reach 4-3. However, Duric wanted a bigger lead going into the second leg, and he found Singapore's fifth for the 5-3 final.
In five days, the crowd at Kuala Lumpur will hope Malaysia will advance to the third round. Down by two goals, the Malaysians do have three road goals in the bag, so a 2-0 , 3-1, or 4-2 victory would suffice for winning the series.
Goals:
China
Yang Xu 45+2, 54, 72
Chen Tao 52, 88
Hao Junmin 82,90+1 PK
Laos
Soukaphone Vongchiengkham 4
Visay Phaphouvanin 31
Thailand
Jakkraphan Kaewprom 19
Singapore
Aleksandar Duric (pictured, #9) 7, 82
Qiu Li 22
Mustafic Rahdurin 44
Jia Yi Shi 45+1
Malaysia
Mohd Sali 1, 71
Hadi Bin Yahaya 70
Match Reports:
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_4r01R5dXw (China v. Laos)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5k0umiqesI (Thailand v. Palestine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dMdaEyrSqI (Singapore v. Malaysia)
Full Match Video: (Thailand v. Palestine)
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