AFC U23 Asian Cup
The-AFC.com takes a look at what’s in store on Matchday Two as the 44 teams resume their campaigns on Saturday.
Group A (Amman, Jordan)
Bhutan v Turkmenistan
Venue: Amman International Stadium
Kick-off: 17:00 (UTC+3)
Chinese Taipei v Jordan
Venue: Amman International Stadium
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+3)
Jordan will look to build on their blistering start when they face Chinese Taipei at Amman International Stadium. Having struck 11 goals past Bhutan, the hosts have already established themselves as the early favourites to top the group.
Turkmenistan, who also began with a comfortable 5-1 win over Chinese Taipei, will be eager to keep pace with high-flying Jordan when they face Bhutan.
Group B (Yangon, Myanmar)
Myanmar v Japan
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+6:30)
Afghanistan v Kuwait
Venue: Thuwunna Stadium
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+6:30)
Japan will turn their attention to Myanmar after cruising 3-0 past Afghanistan on the opening day. The hosts, who battled to a 0-0 stalemate with Kuwait, will need to be at their very best to trouble the reigning champions at Thuwunna Stadium.
Afghanistan and Kuwait will log heads in the other fixture with both teams aiming to register victory.
Group C (Viet Tri, Vietnam)
Bangladesh v Yemen
Venue: Viet Tri Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+7)
Singapore v Vietnam
Venue: Viet Tri Stadium
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+7)
Vietnam will be eager to maintain their form following their 2-0 win over Bangladesh against a Singapore side who showed glimpses of quality in their 2-1 defeat to Yemen.
Yemen will be seeking to make it two wins out of two but can expect a battle when they face Bangladesh.
Group D (Xi'an, China PR)
Timor-Leste v Australia
Venue: Xi'an Sports Training Center Pitch 1
Kick-off: 15:30 (UTC+8)
Northern Mariana Islands v China PR
Venue: Xi'an Sports Training Center Pitch 1
Kick-off: 19:35 (UTC+8)
After hitting a stunning 14 unanswered goals against Northern Mariana Islands, Australia will want nothing more than another statement win against Timor-Leste, who showed they can be a handful in their 2-1 defeat to China PR.
The hosts face Northern Mariana Islands, knowing that a second win could set-up a top-of-the- table clash with the high-scoring Olyroos.
Group E (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic)
Sri Lanka v Palestine
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+6)
Kyrgyz Republic v Uzbekistan
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+6)
Kyrgyz Republic face a stern test against Uzbekistan with both sides having collected opening day victories against Sri Lanka (4-0) and Palestine (2-1) respectively.
Palestine and Sri Lanka face off at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium with both sides desperate to get their campaigns back on track.
Group F (Pathum Thani, Thailand)
Mongolia v Malaysia
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+7)
Lebanon v Thailand
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium
Kick-off: 19:30 (UTC+7)
Thailand will be put to the test when they take on Lebanon with the Southeast Asian side hoping to emulate their six-goal display against Mongolia.
Malaysia, meanwhile, know they can't afford another slip, having lost 1-0 against Lebanon, when they take on Mongolia.
Group G (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
Oman v Iraq
Venue: National Sports Complex of Cambodia
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+7)
Pakistan v Cambodia
Venue: National Sports Complex of Cambodia
Kick-off: 19:00 (UTC+7)
Iraq’s eight-goal rally against Pakistan made them immediate favourites to top the group as they look to build on the momentum when they meet an Oman side, who were held to a 0-0 draw in the opener against Cambodia.
The home side, meanwhile, will want to get some points on the board when they take on Cambodia next.
Group H (Doha)
Brunei Darussalam v Bahrain
Venue: Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium
Kick-off: 18:15 (UTC+3)
India v Qatar
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 (UTC+3)
Having etched a 2-0 victory against Bahrain, India will face a sterner test in the form of Qatar next, who cruised to a 13-0 victory over Brunei Darussala.
Bahrain will have to fire on all cylinders when they take on Brunei Darussalam.
Group I (Abu Dhabi)
Guam v IR Iran
Venue: Al Nahyan Stadium
Kick-off: 18:30 (UTC+4)
Hong Kong, China v UAE
Venue: Al Nahyan Stadium
Kick-off: 21:30 (UTC+4)
Following comprehensive victories on opening day, Islamic Republic of Iran and the UAE will want to make it two wins out of two when they face Guam and Hong Kong, China respectively.
The match-up between Guam and Hong Kong, China will pit two teams who will be eager to shake off their opening day defeats.
Group J (Sidoarjo, Indonesia)
Laos v Korea Republic
Venue: Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30 (UTC+7)
Macau v Indonesia
Venue: Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium
Kick-off: 19:30 (UTC+7)
Having eased past Macau, Korea Republic will look to continue their fine form against Laos, who will expect to put up a tough fight against the 2020 champions.
Macau can expect a tough challenge when they face an Indonesia side who were left frustrated in a goalless stalemate by a battling Laos.
Group K (Dushanbe, Tajikistan)
Nepal v Syria
Venue: Republican Central Stadium
Kick-off: 18:00 (UTC+5)
Philippines v Tajikistan
Venue: Republican Central Stadium
Kick-off: 21:00 (UTC+5)
Tajikistan, buoyed by their 4-0 opening victory, will want to strengthen their standing in Group K when they take on the Philippines.
Syria will want a more convincing performance when they meet Nepal, having been pushed to the limits by the Philippines in their opener.
