Tajikistan advance to Q-finals

Manama : Tajikistan last night completed the line-up for the quarter-finals in the AFC U-19 Championship. The central Asian nation held favourites Australia to a goalless draw in the deciding Group ‘D’ clash at the National Stadium to join neighbours Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals.

The result saw Tajikistan edge out Australia despite both having four points each, but the former finished second with a better goal difference and claiming a quarter final place.

Uzbekistan also qualified following a 0-0 draw with China at Khalifa Sports City Stadium, to top the team group with seven points from three matches.

The tournament takes a 24-hour break as the competition continues tomorrow with the first two quarter-final matches when Group ‘B’ winners Iraq take on Group ‘A’ runners-up Saudi Arabia at 4.15pm.

This will be followed by Group ‘A’ winners Bahrain and Vietnam, who came second in Group ‘B’, at 7.30pm.

Both match will take place at the National Stadium.

In the other quarter-final ties, scheduled for Monday, Group ‘C’ winners Japan face Tajikistan, while Group ‘C’ second-placers Iran challenge Uzbekistan.

The winners of these knock-out matches will then face off in the semi finals, which is due to take place on Wednesday, while the title clash has been scheduled for October 30.