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Everything posted by Michael
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LMS League - 2023-24 - Round 4 (La Liga)
Michael replied to RandoEFC's topic in Forum Games/Competitions
Villarreal -
LMS League - 2023-24 - Round 4 (La Liga)
Michael replied to RandoEFC's topic in Forum Games/Competitions
Real Madrid -
LMS League - 2023-24 - Round 4 (La Liga)
Michael replied to RandoEFC's topic in Forum Games/Competitions
Atletico Madrid -
Well Qatar defeated Jordan 3-1 in the final in the end. Qatar got a penalty after Akram Afif was brought down in the area and it was Afif himself who got up and scored from the penalty. Jordan equalised in the 2nd half, after Al-Naimat with his first touch, controlled a cross to him with his right foot and then smashed the ball into the net with his second touch which was with his left foot. But Qatar were awarded their 2nd penalty after Ismael Mohammed was brought down in the penalty area and Akram Afif stepped up once again and struck the penalty home beautifully to score his and Qatar's 2nd goal of the match, which put them in the lead once again. Then in injury time, Afif was brought down in the penalty area by the Jordanian keeper and Qatar were awarded their 3rd penalty. Afif duly stepped up and scored his 3rd penalty goal of the match to complete his hattrick and seal the win for Qatar. So Qatar defended their title and are Asian Cup winners once again. Qatar 3-1 Jordan
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In the semi-finals, Jordan faced South Korea in the first match. Jordan deservedly took the lead at the start of the 2nd half as Al-Tamari superbly put Al-Naimat through on goal and Al-Naimat chipped the ball over the Japanese keeper to score for Jordan. Then Jordan's star player Al-Tamari scored himself with arguably the goal of the tournament. Al-Tamari took possession well in Jordan's own half, he then went on a mazy run past several Japanese players, he skipped past a tackle and then shot from outside the Japanese penalty box with an accurate finish that found the corner of the net. Al-Tamari's goal made it 2-0 to Jordan and that's how the match would finish. Jordan sealed their place in the final of the Asian Cup for the very first time in their history. Jordan 2-0 Japan Qatar took on Iran in the other match of this stage and Iran took an early lead as Azmoun scored with a clever overhead kick. Qatar would equalise soon after that goal though, as a Gaber shot from outside the area took a deflection and found the back of the net. Qatar would turn the match around just before half-time as Akram Afif scored with a lovely strike. Afif took possession of the ball just outside the Iranian penalty area, he cut inside and unleashed a rocket of a shot towards the far post that the Iranian keeper had no chance of saving. Afif's goal meant that Qatar went into half-time with a lead. However, Iran were awarded a penalty in the 2nd half and Jahanbaksh scored from the penalty to level the scores at 2-2. But Qatar would have the last say, as Almoez Ali collected the ball in the penalty area, spun and shot at goal with an accurate finish that found the bottom hand corner of the net. That goal gave Qatar a 3-2 lead and that's how the match finished. Qatar 3-2 Iran
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In the last of the quarter finals Qatar beat Uzbekistan on penalties after drawing 1-1. Al Haydos gave Qatar the lead in the 1st half, but an accurate finish from Hamrobekov in the 2nd half, levelled the scores for Uzbekistan in the 2nd half. The match eventually went to penalties after extra time and Qatar prevailed 3-2 in the shoot-out over Uzbekistan to advance to the semi-finals. Qatar 1-1(Qatar won 3-2 on penalties) Uzbekistan In the other quarter final, Iran took on Japan. Japan took the lead in the 1st half through a nice solo goal by Morita. But Iran would equalise in the 2nd half through an accurate finish from Mohebi. Deep into the 6th minute of injury time at the end of the match, Iran were awarded a penalty, which Jahanbaksh scored from to give Iran the late win. Iran 2-1 Japan
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General La Liga Discussion
Michael replied to Carnivore Chris's topic in Spanish Football Forum - La Liga
There is a big top of the table clash in La Liga today, as Real Madrid host Girona. Real Madrid are the favourites to win at home, especially as Girona have a few injury worries, but Girona have shown themselves to be a force to be reckoned with throughout this La Liga season. Girona have defeated most teams that have stood in their way in style and have always looked strong. Girona always create dangerous chances to score, so Real Madrid will have to be wary of that. 3 Ukrainian players are also set to start in this match, as Dovbyk and Tsyhankov will start for Girona, while Lunin is likely to start for Real Madrid. One thing is for sure, this top of the table encounter is likely to be very entertaining. -
The Australia v South Korea match was another really entertaining match. The two top Asian region sides battled it out in a tough encounter. Australia scored first when Craig Goodwin powerfully volleyed home a cross at the far post to give Australia the lead in the 1st half. South Korea would find the equaliser deep into injury time at the end of the match, as Son Heung-min was brought down in the penalty area and the referee awarded a penalty. Hwang stepped up and hammered the penalty into the net to equalise for the Koreans. The match went into extra time and a superb free-kick goal by Son Heung-min would secure the win for South Korea. South Korea move into the semi-finals having beaten two Asian powerhouses in Saudi Arabia and Australia to get. there. In both matches they were a goal down for most of the match, before finding an equaliser deep into injury time. Against Saudi Arabia the South Koreans would go on to win on penalties and against Australia, some Son magic from a free-kick would give them the winning goal. They have had a very tough route and they have shown a lot of character to come back in their matches when the odds looked against them. In Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan and Lee Kang-in they have some very talented players. South Korea are the team I want to win this competition now. It would also be nice to see Klinsmann and his backroom staff of Herzog and Kopke also win this trophy with South Korea. Australia 1-2 South Korea In the other quarter final, Jordan defeated Tajikistan 1-0. A header from Jordan's defender Nasib came off of the Tajikistan player and found itself into the back of the net to give Jordan the lead. Jordan had the better chances in the match and they deservedly earned the win. Al-Tamari, Naimat and Olwan were all as dangerous as ever up front and this Jordan side can be a real threat to any team in Asia. They have made history for themselves by advancing to the semi-finals. Tajikistan 0-1 Jordan
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What a fortunate cut under the eye.
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In the last 16 matches Australia thrashed Indonesia 4-0. An own goal by Baggot gave Australia the lead, but then goals from Martin Boyle, Craig Goodwin and Harry Souttar completed the rout for Australia. Australia 4-0 Indonesia The UAE and Tajikistan drew 1-1, as Khanonov gave Tajikistan the lead, only for Al-Hammadi to equalise for the UAE. The match then went to extra time and penalties. Tajikistan eventually won the penalty shoot-out 5-3 to advance to the next round. Tajikistan 1-1 UAE As mentioned before, Jordan defeated Iraq 3-2 in probably the most entertaining match of the last 16. Al-Naimat gave Jordan the lead, before Iraq fought back hard and scored 2 goals to make it 2-1 for Iraq. Natiq and Aymen Hussein were the scorers for Iraq, but Hussein was sent-off for over celebrating his goal. Jordan with the 1 man advantage then managed to equalise deep in injury time through Al-Arab and then Al-Rashdan fired in the winning goal from outside the area only 2 minutes later to send Jordan through to the quarter finals. Jordan 3-2 Iraq Qatar beat Palestine 2-1 in their match. Palestine took a surprising lead in the 1st half through Dabbagh. But Qatar's Al-Haydos equalised and then in the 49th minute, a penalty goal by Akram Afif gave Qatar the lead. Qatar would hold on and secure the vital win that sends them to the quarter finals. Qatar 2-1 Palestine Uzbekistan beat Thailand 2-1, as Uzbekistan's Turgunboev scored to give them the lead in the 1at half. However Thailand managed to equalise in the 2nd half through Sarachat. But Uzbekistan retook the lead just 7 minutes later as Fayzullaev scored with a shot on the turn. Uzbekistan would hold on to win and advance to the quarter finals. Uzbekistan 2-1 Thailand In the match between the 2 Asian powerhouses, Saudi Arabia and South Korea would draw 1-1. Although there were no goals in the 1st half, it was right at the start of the 2nd half that Saudi Arabia would take the lead. Saudi striker Radif was put through on goal by a lovely pass and Radif made no mistake as he slotted the ball past the keeper and into the far corner of the net to give Saudi Arabia the lead. However, South Korea found the equaliser through a Cho Gue-sung header in the 9th minute of injury time. That would be the last action before the extra-time period. The match eventually went to penalties and South Korea would win the shoot-out 2-4 and move into the quarter finals. Saudi Arabia 1-1(2-4 on penalties) South Korea Japan would beat Bahrain 3-1, as Ritsu Doan gave Japan the lead in the 31st minute. Kubo would add a 2nd goal, before an own goal by Ueda would pull a goal back for Bahrain. But Ueda would then go and score Japan's 3rd goal to seal an important win for Japan. Bahrain 1-3 Japan Iran drew 1-1 with Syria in their match. A Taremi penalty goal would give Iran the lead in the 34th minute, but Syria would equalise from a penalty of their own, as Khribin scored for them. Taremi got sent off right at the end of the match in injury time and the match would eventually go to penalties. It was Iran that prevailed in the penalty shoot-out as they won 5-3 on penalties. Iran 1-1(5-3 on penalties) Syria
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Yep, the Global South countries are mainly defined as regards to their socioeconomics and politics apparently.
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It's categorised as the Global South in political terms. That's what it's defined as, it's not just this guy saying it.
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Uzbekistan beat Thailand 2-1 today, Fayzullaev scored the winning goal from a shot on the turn outside the area. Fayzullaev has looked one of Uzbekistan's best players in this competition. Uzbekistan 2-1 Thailand
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Yeah, I watched the match and yeah, it is a kind of surprise since Iraq were the favourites. But Jordan are a very organised and tough side and their star player Al-Tamari was excellent. It wasn't just him though, some of Jordan's other offensive players like Olwan and Al-Naimat played very well also. But Iraq were the side controlling the possession for most of the match, despite the dangerous counter attacks from Jordan. Jordan took the lead after a poor pass gave away possession in a dangerous area that gave Al-Naimat the opportunity to run on in at goal and he finished well when one on one with the Iraqi keeper to give Jordan the lead. But Iraq showed character, creating several chances before they equalised with a header by Saad Natiq. Aymen Hussein then shot home the goal that gave Iraq the lead, but he was shockingly sent off for over celebrating. That sending off gave Jordan the initiative for the remaining quarter of an hour of the match left. Jordan duly managed to score 2 goals deep in injury time through Al-Arab and Al-Rashdan to claim the surprise win. Jordan have a very well organised side and in Al-Tamari they have one of the best players in the whole competition, perhaps the best so far. Olwan and Al-Naimat both play well with him when Jordan attack. But I think that Iraq had a bigger chance to win the Asian Cup had they gotten past Jordan. Lets see if the Jordan national team can prove me wrong.
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Saudi Arabia and Thailand ended up drawing in a goal-less match, with both sides playing their reserves. The Saudis controlled most of the match, but both sides will be fine with the draw, as they have both qualified for the next round. Saudi Arabia 0-0 Thailand Oman who lead Kyrgyzstan 1-0 at half-time, dominated their match against their central Asian rivals. The Oman side created a flurry of chances to score, but couldn't add to their 1st half goal. They would pay for this, as a mistake and mix-up in defence between the Omani keeper and defender, gave Kyrgyzstan a soft goal late in the match. Oman surprisingly get knocked out of the competition, which they will be distraught about, as they were touted as a dark horse for this competition. As a result, their manager Ivankovic was immediately sacked after this match. Oman 1-1 Kyrgyzstan
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Al Qaeda is not part of the coalition and there is no proof to suggest that Al Qaeda are fighting directly under the Saudi leadership. Saudi Arabia and Iraq have been fighting and arresting loads of suspected terrorist extremists linked to terrorist organisations like ISIS and Al Qaeda, so why on earth would they be funding them? Moreover, Saudi Arabia and the coalition have carried out operations against Al Qaeda in Yemen Al Qaeda have carried out attacks against Saudi Arabia in the past, they even want the overthrow of the Saudi regime, as Al Qaeda are an Islamist organisation. How would Saudi Arabia be supporting Al Qaeda, when they've attacked each other and with Al Qaeda holding a huge threat to the Saudi ruling regime? There is no proof for this at all. It's true that Saudi Arabia funded sunni rebel groups in Syria. Some of them being absorbed by ISIS which appeared later, was something that the Saudi government clearly could not have foreseen. It's true that Saudi Arabia fund the spread of Salafism, but then again from speaking to muslims, they tell me that most sunni muslims around the world consider themselves as Salafis. So that would actually be most muslims. Most muslims do not behave in an extremist way, it's only a small minority who have a warped way of thinking. I think the opinions of the Arabs I've spoken to vary, depending on the country they are from. Most Syrians I have met hate the Asad regime, but then again that's probably why they are here in the UK, the same applies to most Iraqis and Yemenis. It's mixed with Egyptians with some hating their country, while others praising it. But as for Jordanians, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Emiratis and Qataris they all seem to be happy with their country. Not completely happy of course, but happy enough. Not including Jordan, but the other Gulf states provide their citizens with a good lifestyle and a decent standard of living. It's true that no country in the whole of the Middle East likes it when their citizens criticize the governments too much, but then again, these countries aren't democracies, they are monarchies. Kuwait from my understanding is the most democratic in the region, where citizens can pretty much openly criticize most things to do with the government. Furthermore, there are regions much worse when it comes to freedom of expression, most of Africa and Asia are much harsher on citizens if they step up to complain against the ruling regimes. At least most of the citizens in the Gulf Arab states are in the main happy with their life and what their country provides for them. Regarding the Iranian fans who protested at the World Cup in Qatar, I have not read or heard about them being handed over to pro-Iranian regime supporters by the Qatari authorities. But what I do know, is that there were occasions where the protesting Iranian fans were attacked by other Iranian fans who were pro the Iranian regime. Alleged Iranian government supporters also harassed the protesting Iranian fans according to reports I read. But as far as the Qatari authorities are concerned, all I know is that they on some occasions seized t-shirts, flags and other things that expressed support for the protest movement. If you can provide any proof against all that I have said, I will be more than happy to reconsider my opinion.