The fourth round of AFC matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification consisted of a single match that determined the AFC representative in the intercontinental play-offs against the CONMEBOL representative.[2] This round was originally scheduled as a two-legged tie for 11 and 16 November 2021,[3][4] but the dates and format were changed in November 2020 in response to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.[5]
| Event | AFC Asian Qualifiers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Date | 7 June 2022 | ||||||
| Venue | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | ||||||
| Referee | Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)[1] | ||||||
| Attendance | 6,500 | ||||||
The match featured the United Arab Emirates and Australia. It was played at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, on 7 June 2022.[6]
Background edit
Since the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, the last round of the Asian qualifiers (in this case, the fourth round) had consisted of a matchup between two teams coming from a previous round, and the winning team would represent AFC in the intercontinental play-offs (except the 1998 campaign, in which the play-off winners qualified directly for the FIFA World Cup, while the losers advanced to the intercontinental play-offs).
The United Arab Emirates had previously played once at this stage; they faced Iran in the 2002 play-off and lost 0–4 on aggregate. Australia had also previously played at this stage once; it was the previous 2018 edition, where they defeated Syria 3–2 on aggregate.[7]
This was the third match between the United Arab Emirates and Australia in AFC World Cup qualifying, with the previous two meetings being Australian victories (both in the 2018 qualifiers).[8]
Format edit
In the fourth round, the two third-placed teams from the third round competed in a single-match play-off. Since the fourth round format was changed from two-legged tie to a single-match at a neutral venue, the game was played under the single-leg play-off rules from the preliminary competition, with extra time of two periods of 15 minutes would be played if the match was tied after the regular time of 90 minutes, followed by a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner if the match still tied after extra time (Regulations Article 20.11).[9]
The winner advanced to the intercontinental play-offs six days later, also in Qatar.[10]
Qualified teams edit
| Group (Third round) |
Third place |
|---|---|
| A |  United Arab Emirates
|
| B |  Australia
|
The United Arab Emirates qualified for the fourth round after finishing third of Group A in the third round. Previously, they had won their group in the second round, winning six and losing two of their eight matches, leaving Vietnam (by only 1 point), Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia behind. In the third round, the UAE were part of Group A, alongside Iran, South Korea, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. They finished third with 12 points and a record of 3 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses, behind Iran and South Korea who qualified directly for the final tournament.[11]
Australia also qualified by finishing third in the third round (Group B). Previously, they had won their group in the second round, winning all eight of their matches and taking a 10-point lead over Kuwait and Jordan in second and third place respectively, with Nepal and Chinese Taipei far behind. In the third round, Australia were part of Group B, alongside Saudi Arabia, Japan, Oman, China PR and Vietnam. They finished third with 15 points and a record of 4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, behind Saudi Arabia and Japan who qualified directly for the final tournament.[11]
The United Arab Emirates started the qualification process with Dutchman Bert van Marwijk. However, he was sacked on 12 February 2022 after the team ran out of direct qualification options as Iran and South Korea had secured the first two places of Group A in the third round.[12][13] Argentine Rodolfo Arruabarrena was announced as the UAE's new coach one day later,[14] while Australia kept Graham Arnold as their coach throughout the process.[11]
Match edit
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates
|
1–2 | Australia
|
          United Arab Emirates
|
     Australia
|
|
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|
Assistant referees:[1]
|
Match rules:[9]
|
Goalscorers edit
There were 3 goals scored in 1 match, for an average of 3 goals per match.
1 goal
Notes edit
- ^ Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.
References edit
- ^ a b "طاقم أوزبكي يُدير مواجهة الأبيض وأستراليا ضمن الملحق الآسيوي" [An Uzbek team to officiate the match between the Al Abyad and Australia in the Asian play-off] (in Arabic). United Arab Emirates Football Association. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "AFC Executive Committee unveils dynamic enhancements to the AFC Club Competitions". The AFC. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "AFC Competitions Calendar 2022" (PDF). The AFC. 20 October 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "INTERNATIONAL MATCH CALENDAR 2020-2024" (PDF). FIFA. August 2021.
- ^ Loughton, Max (19 November 2021). "Socceroos in reported World Cup qualifying change that would've meant no famous '05 shootout". Fox Sports Australia. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022.
- ^ "Last two FIFA World Cup 2022 berths to be decided at Qatar's Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium". FIFA. 5 May 2022.
- ^ "Asian Playoffs: 4 Classic Encounters". Asian Football Confederation. 2 June 2022.
- ^ "Preview - Asian Playoff: United Arab Emirates v Australia". Asian Football Confederation. 6 June 2022.
- ^ a b "REGULATIONS FIFA World Cup 2022 Preliminary Competition Including COVID-19 Regulations" (PDF). FIFA. 29 September 2020.
- ^ Allen, William (26 November 2021). "2022 World Cup inter-confederation play-off draw: fixtures and format". as.com. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "AFC Asian qualifiers Road to Qatar Playoff - UAE v Australia: How They Got There". Asian Football Confederation. 5 June 2022.
- ^ United Arab Emirates Football Association [@uaefa_ae] (February 12, 2022). "اتحاد الكرة يُقيل الجهاز الفني للمنتخب الوطني..." [The Football Association dismisses the technical staff of the national team...] (Tweet) (in Arabic) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Van Marwijk fired as UAE coach for second time". Gulf Today. 13 February 2022.
- ^ "رودولفو أروابارينا مدرباً لمنتخبنا الوطني الأول" [Rodolfo Arruabarrena, coach of our first national team] (in Arabic). United Arab Emirates Football Association. 13 February 2022.
External links edit
- Official FIFA World Cup website
- Qualifiers – Asia Matches: Round 4, FIFA.com
- FIFA World Cup, the-AFC.com
- FIFA World Cup 2022, stats.the-AFC.com