03/06/18
Panjab 1-1 United Koreans in Japan - CONIFA World Cup, Group D
Panjab played their final Group D game of the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup at Arbour Park this afternoon against the United Koreans in Japan in front of another partisan crowd.
The group was still wide open going into the final round of matches, with all four teams still in with a chance of qualification to the quarter-finals.
Coach Reuben Hazell made two changes to the Panjab side that lost 1-0 to Western Armenia on Saturday with Kamarjit Singh coming into the attack and Arjun Yung slotting into midfield - Omar Riaz and Camen Bhandal the unlucky men to miss out.
Panjab came out of the blocks looking determined to right Saturday’s wrong and they were presented with the perfect opportunity in the opening minute when Amarvir Sandhu won a penalty. Unfortunately, Gurjit Singh could not continue his great form and his spot-kick was saved by Yongki Shin.
Gurjit tried to make up for that miss minutes later, but his shot was once again saved by the goalkeeper. United Koreans grew in confidence and after an early onslaught; they got their foothold in the game.
First Tongjun Lee fired a free-kick over the crossbar and then on 32 minutes, he should have given them the lead when he was presented with a free header just six yards out which somehow, he contrived to put wide with the goal at his mercy.
United Koreans had the best player on the field in the opening 45 minutes in Suhyeon Lee, and as the two teams headed to the dressing rooms, qualification was still up for grabs.
Six minutes into the second-half and the United Koreans went close again - Yeong Jang Byun curling in a delightful cross that Panjab goalkeeper Yosuf Butt misjudged, but which was headed wide by Ken Taniyama.
As the rain started to come down and as news came in that Western Armenia were winning in the other group game against Kabylia, both teams’ future in the competition hung in the balance. Taniyama once again went close for the Koreans when his shot brushed the crossbar.
On 68 minutes, Yeong Jang Byun danced around the tiring Panjab defence but his cross failed to find a team-mate. They would live to regret that moment because just seven minutes later, another sortie from Jhai Dhillon into the penalty area, saw him brought down for the games second penalty.
With regular taker Gurjit Singh having just been substituted, the responsibility fell to striker Amar Purewal, who settled his side’s nerves by converting the spot-kick. That was to be his last kick of the game, as Hazell brought on more midfield reinforcements.
United Koreans now needed two goals to qualify for the last-eight, but the game looked to be petering out. In the 94th minute however, the brilliant Su Hyeon Min got his team’s first goal of the competition – an absolutely wonderful strike which will surely be a contender for goal of the tournament.
After the game a relieved Hazell explained that; “There were nerves out there today. I think you saw on the pitch that we weren’t at our best. It was just a matter of getting the job done.
“It was deemed the group of death and compliments to the lads that we got through it.”
Panjab now face Padania in the quarter-finals at Bracknell on Tuesday (kick-off 15:00). When I asked Hazell if he knew anything about them, he replied; “We played them in 2016 and knocked them out of the competition so they will be looking for revenge.
“We’ve already had them watched in this tournament and we will try to go out there and beat them again. I really believe in our boys.”
Panjab played their final Group D game of the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup at Arbour Park this afternoon against the United Koreans in Japan in front of another partisan crowd.
The group was still wide open going into the final round of matches, with all four teams still in with a chance of qualification to the quarter-finals.
Coach Reuben Hazell made two changes to the Panjab side that lost 1-0 to Western Armenia on Saturday with Kamarjit Singh coming into the attack and Arjun Yung slotting into midfield - Omar Riaz and Camen Bhandal the unlucky men to miss out.
Panjab came out of the blocks looking determined to right Saturday’s wrong and they were presented with the perfect opportunity in the opening minute when Amarvir Sandhu won a penalty. Unfortunately, Gurjit Singh could not continue his great form and his spot-kick was saved by Yongki Shin.
Gurjit tried to make up for that miss minutes later, but his shot was once again saved by the goalkeeper. United Koreans grew in confidence and after an early onslaught; they got their foothold in the game.
First Tongjun Lee fired a free-kick over the crossbar and then on 32 minutes, he should have given them the lead when he was presented with a free header just six yards out which somehow, he contrived to put wide with the goal at his mercy.
United Koreans had the best player on the field in the opening 45 minutes in Suhyeon Lee, and as the two teams headed to the dressing rooms, qualification was still up for grabs.
Six minutes into the second-half and the United Koreans went close again - Yeong Jang Byun curling in a delightful cross that Panjab goalkeeper Yosuf Butt misjudged, but which was headed wide by Ken Taniyama.
As the rain started to come down and as news came in that Western Armenia were winning in the other group game against Kabylia, both teams’ future in the competition hung in the balance. Taniyama once again went close for the Koreans when his shot brushed the crossbar.
On 68 minutes, Yeong Jang Byun danced around the tiring Panjab defence but his cross failed to find a team-mate. They would live to regret that moment because just seven minutes later, another sortie from Jhai Dhillon into the penalty area, saw him brought down for the games second penalty.
With regular taker Gurjit Singh having just been substituted, the responsibility fell to striker Amar Purewal, who settled his side’s nerves by converting the spot-kick. That was to be his last kick of the game, as Hazell brought on more midfield reinforcements.
United Koreans now needed two goals to qualify for the last-eight, but the game looked to be petering out. In the 94th minute however, the brilliant Su Hyeon Min got his team’s first goal of the competition – an absolutely wonderful strike which will surely be a contender for goal of the tournament.
After the game a relieved Hazell explained that; “There were nerves out there today. I think you saw on the pitch that we weren’t at our best. It was just a matter of getting the job done.
“It was deemed the group of death and compliments to the lads that we got through it.”
Panjab now face Padania in the quarter-finals at Bracknell on Tuesday (kick-off 15:00). When I asked Hazell if he knew anything about them, he replied; “We played them in 2016 and knocked them out of the competition so they will be looking for revenge.
“We’ve already had them watched in this tournament and we will try to go out there and beat them again. I really believe in our boys.”
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