September 7 to November 22, 2020 (Asian Nations League)

September 7 to November 22, 2020 (Asian Nations League)

The Asian Nations League concluded this fortnight.

 

League D

Afghanistan managed to only lose 2-1 to Malaysian in Kuala Lumpur, before Malaysia rounded out their matches with a 2-0 win against Bhutan.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Afghanistan	4	3	0	1	8	4	9	2.25
2	Malaysia	4	3	0	1	7	3	9	2.25
3	Bhutan	4	0	0	4	2	10	0	0.00

 

In Group D2, Singapore and Yemen had both won against each other 3-2, so the finish of the group depended on these two last matches. Singapore salvaged a scoreless draw against Guam, meaning that Yemen needed to win 4-0, matching Singapore’s home game result against Guam earlier in the campaign. However, they only managed the one goal, and Singapore celebrated the rise to League C.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Singapore	4	2	1	1	9	5	7	1.75
2	Yemen	4	2	1	1	7	6	7	1.75
3	Guam	4	0	2	2	1	6	2	0.50
GOALS PER GAME: 2.83

 

In Group D3, the Philippines already had top spot sewn up before their final match. Before that, Indonesia scored twice in the second away to the Northern Mariana Islands, before the Marianas flew to the Philippines. The hosts slotted seven glorious goals to round out their campaign and reach the heights of League C.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Philippines	4	4	0	0	23	4	12	3.00
2	Indonesia	4	2	0	2	13	7	6	1.50
3	Northern Marianas	4	0	0	4	0	25	0	0.00
GOALS PER GAME: 6

 

Back in September, the Maldives and Turkmenistan were the only nations in Group D4, and Turkmenistan won both matches 3-1 and 4-2 respectively to be the first side to climb to League C.

 

League C

Brunei confirmed their place in League B after a 3-1 away win in Macau. Myanmar then ensured they stayed in League C with a 2-0 win against Macau. Macau, however, became the first nation to drop to League D.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Brunei	4	3	1	0	8	4	10	2.50
2	Myanmar	4	1	2	1	6	5	5	1.25
3	Macau	4	0	1	3	2	7	1	0.25
GOALS PER GAME: 2.66

 

In Group C2, Cambodia faltered in their last home game, after Syria thought they had botched their chance to advance to League B, drawing at home to the Kyrgyz Republic. Only two points off the lead, Cambodia only needed a win, but the thought of losing 4-0 to Syria earlier in the campaign came to rise as Syria again dominated, scoring two crucial goals to send them into League B, while simultaneously reducing Cambodia to League D status.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Syria	4	2	2	0	9	3	8	2.00
2	Kyrgyzstan	4	1	2	1	8	4	5	1.25
3	Cambodia	4	1	0	3	1	11	3	0.75
GOALS PER GAME: 3

 

In Group C3, Thailand needed to defeat Lebanon on Match Day Five to have any chance of advancing to League B. They managed to do so with a solitary goal in the 73rd minute. From there, Thailand then flew to Nepal; their final task to defeat them. However, neither side could score, and Thailand ended up in second place behind Lebanon due to the Lebanese winning against the Thai 4-1 back in September.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Lebanon	4	2	1	1	7	2	7	1.75
2	Thailand	4	2	1	1	5	5	7	1.75
3	Nepal	4	0	2	2	1	6	2	0.50
GOALS PER GAME: 2.16

 

Group C4 saw Palestine lord it over Chinese Taipei after having already qualified to League B with a perfect record. The 2-1 loss meant Bangladesh had a chance to lift off the bottom of the group, but they needed a 5-0 victory. Instead, the nation known more for cricketers only managed one goal, meaning they will spend 2022 in League D.

 

OVERALL GROUP TABLE
Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Pts / Game
1	Palestine	4	4	0	0	11	3	12	3.00
2	Chinese Taipei	4	1	0	3	6	8	3	0.75
3	Bangladesh	4	1	0	3	2	8	3	0.75
GOALS PER GAME: 3.16