Yemen first WAFF seminfinalists

PFDC – AMMAN, Yemen defeated Palestine 3-1 in WAFF Championship 2010’s Group C and are certainly at least the best second-placed team of the three groups, and therefore qualified for the semifinal stage.

While two Palestinians were sent off, Yemen’s Ali Al Nono scored his second and third goal of the tournament and overtook Iran’s Hadi Aghily in the goalscoring table.

With three points and a 3-2 goal difference Yemen cannot be overtaken by both Iraq and Palestine, who will face off on Wednesday. Should Palestine win by one or two goals margin, Yemen would even win the group.

However, either way Bahrain, with three points and a 2-3 goal difference, can’t become the best runners-up anymore and therefore are the second team after the bottom placed team of Group B, Syria, to be eliminated from the tournament.

In Group A, Oman will need to beat Iran and make up three goals in the process to eliminate Iran and qualify instead of Team Melli on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, hosts Jordan will need to defeat Kuwait to advance from Group B.

The winners of Group A and C will play the first semifinal on Friday, while the winner of Group B will face the best second-placed team.