Kuala Lumpur, Jul 17 (AP/UNB) — North Korea and South Korea have been drawn together in an Asian qualifying group for soccer's 2022 World Cup.

The Korean neighbors will play each other home and away in the five-nation Group H that includes Lebanon, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen were also paired in Wednesday's draw that involved 40 national teams and some political sensitivities.

The Saudis, which played at the 2018 World Cup, are top-seeded in Group D that also has Uzbekistan, Palestine and Singapore.

Top-ranked Iran was drawn with neighboring Iraq, plus Bahrain, Hong Kong and Cambodia, in Group C.

United Arab Emirates is top-seeded in a Group G loaded with Southeast Asian derbies, involving Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Australia, which plays in the Asian soccer confederation, will play Jordan, Taiwan, Kuwait and Nepal in Group B.

World Cup host Qatar also plays as this group stage doubles up as qualifiers for the 2023 Asian Cup being played in China. Qatar will play Oman, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh in Group E.

China is in Group A with Syria, Philippines, Maldives and Guam. Japan is in Group F with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Mongolia.

The eight groups play from September through June.

Group winners and the four best runners-up advance to another group stage, played from September 2020 to October 2021. Those 12 teams also qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup.

Four Asian teams will qualify directly for the World Cup. A fifth nation can advance to Qatar in an intercontinental playoff round in March 2022.

Dhaka, July 16 (UNB)- Mohammedan Sporting Club upset their arch-rivals and holders Dhaka Abahani Limited by 4-0 goals in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football after four years at the floodlit Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Tuesday.

Mohammedan defeated Dhaka Abahani for the last time in 2015.

Forward Taklis Ahmed scored two goals for Mohammedan SC while Malian forward Souleymane Diabate and captain Zahid Hasan Amilie scored one goal each.

With day's well-merited victory, Mohammedan advanced to the 9th slot from 10th securing 20 points from 20 matches while Dhaka Abahani Ltd. remained at the 2nd slot with previous credit of 51 points from 22 matches, seven points behind the league leaders Bashundhara Kings. 

Mohammedan dominated the first half by 2-0 goals as forward Taklis Ahmed scored twice in the match.

In the 16th minute, Taklis netted his first goal utilizing a pass from Souleymane Diabate (1-0).

Then, Taklis doubled the margin for Mohammedan in the stoppage time, from a pass by captain Zahid Hasan Amilie (2-0).

Dhaka Abahani got another blow while Malian forward Souleymane Diabate extended the lead 3-0 in the 50th minute.

Abahani created some good chances with their attacking football, but managed to convert any goal due to lack of dependable finishers. 

In the 66th minute, forward-cum-captain Zahid Hasan Amilie fired the net from a pass by Diabate and registered the fourth goal for the traditional black and white Mohammedan (4-0). 

In their first-leg match, the popular sky-blue Dhanmondi based outfit defeated Mohammedan by 3-0 goals at the same venue on February 28. 
 

Dhaka, July 16 9UNB)- Rahmatganj MFS beat Team Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (Team BJMC) by 3-2 goals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at Bangabandhu National Stadium here on Tuesday.

Congolese striker Siyo Zunapio Jeancy scored two goals and forward Rakibul Islam scored one for Rahmatganj while defender Mohammed Al Amin and Uzbek striker Mukhamedov Otabek scored one goal each for the Team BJMC.

With the day’s feat, Rahmatgonj MFS advanced to the 9th slot from 12th securing 19 points from 20 matches while bottom-placed Team BJMC remained at their 13th slot with previous collection of 8 points from 21 matches.

In day’s another match, a hat-trick from Nigerian striker Raphael Odovin Onwrebe helped Sheikh Russel KC to defeat NoFel Sporting Club by 4-0 goals at the Shaheed Bhulu Stadium in Noakhali.

Sheikh Russel KC advanced to the 3rd slot with 42 points from 20 league matches while NoFel SC slipped to the 11th slot from 10th with previous collection of 16 points from 20 encounters.

Dhaka, July 16 (UNB)- League leaders Bashundhara Kings on Tuesday beat Brothers Union FC by 5-0 goals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football at Sheikh Kamal Stadium in Nilphamari.

Defender Mohammad Ibrahim opened the account for Bashundhara in the 31st minute and striker Mohammed Motin Mia made his hat-trick scoring three goals in the 39th, 48th, 67th minutes respectively while midfielder Sheikh Alamgir Kabir Rana netted the fifth and final goal.

Bashundhara Kings maintained their top slot in the ongoing BPL league collecting 58 point from their 20 matches while Brother Union slipped to the 12th slot from 11th with their previous collection of 16 points from 20 matches.

In day’s another match, Muktijoddha Sangsad KC played a 1-1 draw with Arambagh Krira Sangha at the Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj.

After the barren first half, Cameroonian striker Paul Emile Biyaga scored the first goal for Arambagh KS in the 66th minute while Guinean defender Yamoussa Camara leveled the margin for hosts Muktijoddha SKC in the 84th minute (1-1).

Arambagh KS earned 27 points from 21 matches while Muktijoddha SKC gained 22 points from 20 encounters.

Commerce City, Jul 16 (AP/UNB) — James Olayinka had a goal and an assist to lead Arsenal past the Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids 3-0 in a friendly on Monday night.

Olayinka's sizzling right-footed strike in the 29th minute came from just outside the box as he scored into the upper-right corner of the net  to give the English Premier League team a 2-0 lead.

Olayinka assisted on Arsenal's opening score. He pushed the ball into the box where Bukayo Saka found it and lifted it into the net in the 13th minute. The third score came just after halftime from Gabriel Martinelli in the 61st minute. It was Martinelli's debut after joining Arsenal from Ituano earlier in the month.

"I'm really pleased with our effort," Colorado Rapids interim coach Conor Casey said. "We had chances but they're a great team at the end of the day it was just about the atmosphere."

In front of a near sellout — many of them cheering the visitors — Arsenal controlled the match.

"The first match was good to use different young players," Arsenal manager Unai Emery said. "To give them chances to show their quality, commitment and the idea to help the team. The atmosphere here was perfect, a lot of Arsenal supporters and we had a good day here."

This was the first preseason match for Arsenal ahead of the 2019-20 season as they embark on a three-game exhibition tour. Monday's match was the only one against an MLS club.

Olayinka's score was huge sign for the club. The 18-year-old developed through Arsenal's academy and signed with the first team in January. He has yet to play in the Premier League. He represents a big hope as Arsenal finished fifth in the EPL last season.

TIM TALKS

Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard was kept out of the game as the club limits his minutes in his final season. Howard spent the second half doing color commentary on local radio. Recently, Howard has done commentary for TNT during its Champions League coverage.

"It's important, this relationship is massive for our club and fan base," Howard said on the broadcast about the game. "The fact that we can attract this is massive."

While the third-year Rapids goalie is new to broadcasting, he said of his younger teammates playing, "The experience of playing against such a talented side is eye opening."

STAR POWER

Arsenal stars Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Özil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang entered the game in the 78th minute. Each got rousing ovations and drew reactions from the crowd in the final 10 minutes when generating opportunities.

The Rapids only played six regulars the entire 90 minutes as they played an MLS match on Saturday.

COLORADO PRIDE

Rapids' 17-year-old midfielder Cole Bassett grew up an Arsenal fan. The Littleton native played the first 45 minutes and had one scoring chance. His time was limited because of how much recent time he has had in league play.

"It was a nice experience," he said. "I just tried to show my stuff and maybe one day I'll get to that level."

CHAMPIONS

United States Women's National Team players Lindsey Horan and Mallory Pugh were in attendance. The two soccer stars and world champions are Colorado natives. They were honored at halftime in front of the crowd as Colorado's governor Jared Polis declared July 15th U.S. Women's National Team Day in the state.

"You could feel it in the air walking in," Casey said. "The energy of a full house. So many important people who are a part of pushing this sport and this club forward. Just a great night to take part of this and come together as a group."

UP NEXT:

Arsenal heads to Los Angeles to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday in an International Champions Cup match.

"The idea was to play with youngsters today. Wednesday we'll use some different players," Emery said. "Our preparation here is very important. The club is working very well, our idea is to continue creating."

The Rapids continue MLS play on Saturday at home against NYCFC.