Australia missed the opportunity to reach the next stage of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifying as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat by Oman in Muscat.
Amad Al Nosni scored the only goal in the 17th minute, beating Mark Schwarzer with an angled effort after being played in by Ahmed Hadid.
The Socceroos are still in control of Group D in the Asian Zone preliminaries with two games remaining, and will get another chance to progress when they go to Thailand on Tuesday.
Bright starts Bahamas and for Virgin Islands
While most CONCACAF teams are preparing to kick off their qualifying campaign, the two sides have already taken the first steps towards the Brazil 2014. In fact Bahamas , and Virgin Islands were both in action over the weekend, logging first leg victories respectively on Turks and Caicos Islands and British Virgin Islands .
The action got underway in Charlotte Amalie, the capital of the Virgin Islands, where the hosts has had on nearby neighbors British Virgin Islands in the first leg of their tie. It was the home team which emerged victorious with a 2-0 victory, after a hard-fought match that had a derby real feel to it. The victory was more remarkable by the fact that the Virgin Islands had lost all five of their previous qualifiers, scoring one goal and conceding 35 in the process.
In other weekend Bahamas match, said their authority on Turks and Caicos Islands, returning from their trip away with a convincing 4-0 win under their belts. Star Nesley Bahamas Jean improved his reputation by scoring twice, with Cameron Hepple and Jackner Louis, bagging two goals.
Contenders CONCACAF entering the fray
After the enthusiasm of those who met opening, action resumed and promises to be every bit as absorbent. The first match of the round Eel box against Dominican Republic, who start as favourites to progress as they will be playing both legs at home. The two sides met in identical circumstances in the preliminaries before Germany 2006, with the Dominicans, winning the tie 6-0 on aggregate.
Only hours after Eel-theDominican Republic Aruba apparatus, Welcome Santa Lucia Oranjestad, for the first leg of their tie. The hosts hopes of winning their first match of qualifying from 2000, when they caused a major upset by beating Puerto Rico to advance to the second round of CONCACAF. St Lucia boast a superior qualification record to their opponents, having made it through to the second stage in both the last two qualifying campaigns.
Bahamas will look to finish the work they have started against the Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday, while Sunday sees the second leg Dominican Republic and among Eel, which will be played again at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristobal. Also on Sunday, British Virgin Islands will be out to overturn their two-goal lead that their neighbors U.S. built in the first leg.
The final action of the week is held in Castries, where to go head-to-head with Aruba in the second leg of their first round tie Santa Lucia . Both sides will be pushing for a victory that would seal their place in the next qualifying round.
Slowly but surely, the race for Brazil 2014 is hotting. Who will emerge victorious this week? Which star will fire their teams a step towards a place in the FIFA World Cup? All will be revealed soon.
These can be of the developing nations of the continent's football, but they are certainly not lacking in motivation that seek breakthrough on the international scene. Eight winners will advance to join aggregates 22 highest-ranked sides in the next phase.
And the next match-ups are full of intrigue, themselves. Pakistan Bangladesh will host in an all-South Asian, while Laos resume their rivalry with Cambodia. The enigmatic Timor-Leste enter only their second Asian zone qualifying campaign and in Western Asia Afghanistan , crossed swords with Palestine in their first meeting. FIFA.com stages.
The game
Sri Lanka-Philippines
The two sides will kick off with a record also head-to-head, having won one of their previous two matches apiece. Boosted by their recent qualification for the AFC Challenge Cup 2012, however Philippines , expect to go better this time around. Sri Lanka, for their part, will seek to capitalize on the advantage of home and earn a cushion to bring in the second leg.
Visitors arrive fully prepared in Colombo, after spending the last month in a training camp in Germany. In addition, the Azkals can count on their high-profile 12-man contingent based overseas, with Fulham's goalkeeper Neil Etheridge notable. "We are ready for the game," German coach Michael Weiss wrote on his Twitter account. "The team will play on Wednesday in good shape."
To counter the challenge, coach of hosts Jang Yang convened a series of Veterans to compliment the brave young emerging Reds '. Top of the list is Captain Ruwanthilake Rohana, who has sworn to give visitors a torrid time. "We are a team of talented," said the Defender Saunders SC. "Our main goal is to make the most of the first leg at home."
Other major attractions
Boosted by their successful milestone last December Championship AFF (ASEAN Football Federation), Malaysia are trying to translate their regional form against continental qualification when they welcome Chinese Taipei. The two sides are level stakes in head-to-head, having won four and drawn three each, but it was the visitors who emerged victorious in their last meeting, with a successful home 3-2 in qualifying for the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.
Not having never lost Pakistan against at home, Bangladesh hopes that they can build on the record with victory in Dahka. Their opponents, led by veteran goalkeeper Jaffar Khan and enhanced by an overseas-based Quartet, spare nothing to end their win-drought against neighbors. "It is important to win the first stage," said Pakistan the coach Tariq Lutfi. "Victory will be a morale-booster for us ahead of the return match."
Home support is, however, something that can be Afghanistan, counted who have to stage the first leg against Palestine on an insane pulverized in the town of Tursunzoda Tajikistan.
A triumph of openness should be taken of the Viet Nam when they entertain Macau to Ho Chi Minh City. However, taking center stage in the region, is the South-East Asia derby between Cambodia and Laos in Phnom Penh, with coach Lee Tae-Hoon not only a good result, but also a satisfactory performance in anticipation of hosts. "It is an important game but more important is how you play," he said.
Elsewhere, Timor-Leste must overcome not only in Nepal, but also the elevation of 1350 metres above sea level in Kathmandu. The same can be said of Burma, who should play at a height similar when they challenge the Mongolia.
Player to watch
Mohd Safee Mohd Sali hit five times to finish as Malaysia top scorer won the latest AFF. The 27-year-old forward now Chinese Taipei in his sights.
What they said
"I think the most important thing is that we have a new team and beat Macau by attacking relentlessly," Falko Goetz, coach of Viet Nam
Asian zone, first qualifying round, first leg fixtures:
29 June
Malaysia-Chinese Taipei
BangladeshPakistan-
Laos-Cambodia
Sri Lanka-Philippines
Afghanistan-Palestine
Viet Nam-Macau
Nepal-Timor-Leste
Mongolia Myanmar
