November 2011 Preview: Asia-Group 4

Standings



World Ranking/Change from Previous Rank

Australia-20th (Up 2), 2nd Asia (Even)
Oman-103rd (Even), 13th Asia (Even)
Saudi Arabia-98th (Down 11), 11th Asia (Down 4)
Thailand-114th (Up 6), 16th Asia (Up 1)

Schedule

September 2, 2011

• Thailand 1-2 Australia
• Saudi Arabia 0-0 Oman

September 6, 2011

• Oman 0-3 Thailand
• Australia 3-1 Saudi Arabia

October 11, 2011

• Oman 0-3 Australia
• Saudi Arabia 0-0 Thailand

November 11, 2011

• Thailand at Saudi Arabia
• Australia at Oman

November 15, 2011

• Oman at Saudi Arabia
• Australia at Thailand

February 29, 2012

• Saudi Arabia at Australia
• Thailand at Oman

November Games:

Game 7
Australia at Oman
November 11, 2011
Time: 9:00 am EST
Location: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman

Game 8
Thailand at Saudi Arabia
November 11, 2011
Time: 11:30 am EST
Location: King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Game 9
Australia at Thailand
November 15, 2011
Time: 6:00 am EST
Location: Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand

Game 10
Oman at Saudi Arabia
November 15, 2011
Time: 11:30 am EST
Location: King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Hopefully this month will solve the log jam at the bottom of the group. Australia visits Oman in Game 7 and can clinch advancement with a win. Australia has yet to drop a point this campaign and will be looking to continue that streak in Game 9 when they visit Thailand.

Key to the group will lie in the two Saudi Arabia games against Oman and Thailand. Everyone in those 2 games needs points, particularly Saudi Arabia who will have no margin for error in their last game of qualifying against Australia.

Post-November Standing Predictions:

a-Australia: 15 pts
Saudi Arabia: 6 pts
Thailand: 5 pts
x-Oman: 1 pts

I like Australia to continue their winning ways and clinch the group. Saudi Arabia wakes up from their slumber and is able to manage a win and draw in this stretch to move in to second place temporarily. Unless Saudi Arabia wins both games, they will not be able to clinch advancement in any scenario which is dangerous since they have Australia in their last game and Thailand gets a winnable against Oman. If Saudi Arabia wins twice this month, they should advance. If they don't, I like Thailand to grab second place in the group.