Pakistan to face Malaysia in Olympic qualifiers First Round

From: the-afc.com

Kuala Lumpur: The draw for the first round of the 2012 London Olympic men’s football tournament was conducted at AFC House on Wednesday.

The 22 lowest ranked teams, based on the qualifiers and final round of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, were drawn to play in a home-and-away format on February 23, 2011, and March 9, 2011, with the winners making it to Round 2.

Thirty-five teams have entered the fray to grab the three-and-a-half slots reserved for the continent.

The 11 winners from the first round will join the 13 highest ranked teams in the second round where they will again play in a home-and-away format on June 19, 2011, and June 23, 2011.

The 12 winners will then be divided into three groups of four teams each in the third round. Again, a home-and-away format from September 21, 2011, to March 14, 2012, will determine the winners who will represent the continent in the Olympics.

Three second-placed teams from the third round will play in a playoff at a centralised venue from March 25 to 29, 2012, and the winners of this group will meet the representatives of CAF for a berth in the Olympics.

THE DRAW

Thailand vs Palestine
Jordan vs Chinese Taipei
Yemen vs Singapore
Kuwait vs Bangladesh
Malaysia vs Pakistan
UAE vs Sri Lanka
India vs Myanmar
Oman vs Tajikistan
Indonesia vs Turkmenistan
Iran vs Kyrgyzstan
Hong Kong vs Maldives

THE SCHEDULE

First leg: February 23, 2011
Second leg: March 9, 2011