Iran focussed on brushing aside a mis-firing China
January 24 – Having negotiated Oman in the last 16 round, Iran go into their quarter final with China as clear favourites.
World Tournaments
AFC ready to debut VAR at Japan vs Vietnam Asian Cup quarter final
By Paul Nicholson
January 24 – The 2019 Asian Cup has been a tournament of firsts and in Dubai today there will be another. The Japan vs Vietnam quarter final will be the first time VAR has been used at an AFC event.
Japan wary as Vietnam prepare for another giantkilling
January 24 – Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has praised his counterpart Park Hang-seo as Vietnam prepare to take on the four-time winners in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup. The underdogs feel confident they can a surprise.
AFC ¼ final stats: Japan vs Vietnam head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 24 – Japan will take on Vietnam in the first of the 2019 Asian Cup quarter finals today at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
AFC ¼ final stats: Iran vs China head-to-head
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 24 – Two times 2nd place, three times 3rd place and three times 4th place is the Asian Cup history, but for Marcello Lippi’s Chinese who meet Iran today at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final.
Hayu Omani: Fans create crisis for Sharjah restaurants
By Aqeel Saleh in Sharjah
January 23 – With the first set of knock-out rounds over, for many the long journey home begins – the end of their football adventure. Some of those leaving the Asian Cup in the UAE will be missed more than others, with few missed more than the Omani fans, especially in Sharjah.
Bassam fires 7th rocket for Qatar in Asian Cup
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 22 – Qatar’s defender Bassam Al-Rawi fired his second goal from a free kick in Qatar’s 1-0 narrow victory over Iraq in round 16 of the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar break Iraqi hearts in an all-or-nothing thriller
Qatar 1 Iraq 0
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
January 22 – ‘We & the Nation of Pride are Fine’ reads the side of the Qatari team bus in the UAE at the Asian Cup. After tonight’s 1-0 win over Iraq they are doing much better than that.
Battling Bahrain take South Korea to extra time
Bahrain 1 South Korea 2
January 22 – South Korea edged Bahrain 2-1 after a nervy 120 minutes to book a spot in the last eight of the Asian Cup. The Bahrainis resisted the Korean onslaught for long periods but in the end succumbed to Kim Jin-su’s first international goal, a far-post header, in the 115th minute.
Head-to-head: Qatar vs Iraq; South Korea vs Bahrain
January 22 – The final two knockout games of the round of 16 games at the Asian Cup take place tonight in Dubai and Sharjah. Qatar face a buoyant Iraq, which Bahrain aim to spring another surprise against South Korea.
UAE strike in extra time against Kyrgyzstan to secure quarter final slot
By Paul Nicholson in Abu Dhabi
UAE 3 Kyrgyz Republic 2 (AET)
June 21 – Hosts UAE made it through to the quarter finals of the Asian Cup but only after having thrown away a winning position to send the match into extra time against a tenacious Kyrgyz Republic. Sub Ahmed Khalil had been on the pitch just four minutes before stepping up to slot the winning penalty.
Aussies hit Uzbeks in the right spot to knock them out
Australia 0 (4) Uzbekistan 0 (2)
January 21 – Defending champions Australia laboured to a 4-2 spot-kick win over Uzbekistan after an underwhelming goalless draw to ensure a place in the last eight of the Asian Cup. Goalkeeper Matthew Ryan and substitute Mathew Leckie starred in the penalty shout out.
Head-to-head: Japan vs Saudi Arabia, UAE vs Kryzg Rep
January 2 – Japan return to action tonight against Saudi Arabia in a match that has a lot of pride at stake for both teams.
Head-to-head: Aussies growing confident as Uzbeks find form
January 21 – Australian coach Graham Arnold believes his team will step up in the knockout stages of the competition after a modest first round. The Socceroos will face Uzbekistan in the round of sixteen.
Unwanted record: Oman captain’s fastest-ever penalty miss in the Asian Cup
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 20 – Oman’s captain Ahmed Kanu missed a penalty after 2 minutes, 24 seconds from the starting whistle, in his country’s 2-0 defeat against Iran in the round 16 encounter in the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in ~Abu Dhabi. Iran passed through to the quarter final.