Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Head coach Paulo Bento has praised the impact Son Heung-min had on his Korea Republic side following the livewire midfielder’s stellar performance during Wednesday's 2-0 defeat of China PR at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Son, who only arrived in the Emirates earlier this week after being released by club side Tottenham Hotspur, proved to be a key figure throughout the victory, earning a successfully converted first-half penalty and then seeing Kim Min-Jae head home from his corner on 51 minutes.
The win was the Taeguk Warriors’ third in as many games, a run of form which has seen them finish top of Group C and leave Bento admitting that the addition of Son brings a whole host of positives.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Son Heung-min made his first and much-awaited AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 appearance on Wednesday as Korea Republic beat China PR 2-0 to make it three wins from three and claim top spot in Group C.
With both teams already through to the competition’s knockout phase, Son, who arrived in the Emirates earlier this week after being released by Tottenham Hotspur, captained the two-time champions of Asia as goals from Hwang Ui-jo and Kim Min-Jae saw the Taeguk Warriors set up a Round of 16 meeting against one of the best third-placed finishers from either Group A, B or F in Dubai next Tuesday.
After succumbing to their first defeat of the tournament, Marcello Lippi’s Chinese side finished second in the group and will now face Thailand in Al Ain on Sunday.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: A superb hat-trick from Vitalij Lux gave Kyrgyz Republic their first ever AFC Asian Cup win, and a place in the tournament's knockout stage as the Central Asians defeated the Philippines 3-1 at Rashid Stadium on Wednesday.
Lux scored once in the first half, and twice in the second to seal a historic, and crucial three points for Alexander Krestinin's side, who finished third in Group C behind Korea Republic and China PR.
The result, combined with Vietnam's 2-0 win over Yemen in Al Ain three hours later, means Kyrgyz Republic cannot be dislodged from their position as one of the four highest ranked third-place teams.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Islamic Republic of Iran sealed top spot in Group D of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 after playing to a 0-0 draw with Iraq on Wednesday.
As group winners, Iran will play the third-placed team from either Group B, E or F in Abu Dhabi’s Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Sunday, while runners-up Iraq will face the winners of Group E - either Saudi Arabia or Qatar - in Al Nahyan Stadium on Tuesday.
Carlos Queiroz made four changes to Iran’s starting lineup, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh - who had missed the opening two fixtures - being given a chance to play before a packed Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Vietnam kept their hopes of progressing to the Round of 16 of the AFC Asian UAE 2019 alive on Wednesday as Park Hang-seo’s side handed Yemen a 2-0 defeat at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium that ensures a nervous 24-hour wait for the Southeast Asian side.
A trademark free-kick from Nguyen Quang Hai and a second half penalty from captain Que Ngoc Hai earned the Vietnamese all three points, but Park’s side fell short of the three-goal win that would have guaranteed them a place in the next phase of the competition.
Vietnam finished third in Group D and the three points they accumulated from the win over Yemen means they have surpassed the two amassed by Palestine in Group B in the quest for one of the four spots awarded to the best third-placed teams.
However, they now sit behind Kyrgyz Republic on goal difference, meaning the Central Asian side have advanced.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Knockout stage qualification may have been sealed but both Saudi Arabia and Qatar's game plan for their final AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Group E tie on Thursday will not hinge on who their possible Round of 16 opponents might be.
Both go into the match with a perfect record of two wins, with Qatar only needing a draw to win the group on goal difference.
The group winners will face the Group D runners-up, either Islamic Republic of Iran or Iraq, while the runners-up will go up against the top-placed team from Group F - either Japan or Uzbekistan.
Both coaches - Saudi Arabia's Juan Antonio Pizzi and Felix Sanchex of Qatar - were adamant that their teams would play to win.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Victory over Japan and not who his team will play in the Round of 16 is what Hector Cuper is focusing on as he prepares his Uzbekistan side to take on the four-time winners in their final group game at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 in Al Ain on Thursday evening.
The two teams have guaranteed their places in the next phase of the competition after both sides posted wins over Turkmenistan and Oman, with the Uzbeks holding the advantage of a better goal-difference.
With the winners of Group F due to face either Saudi Arabia or Qatar in the Round of 16 and the runners-up slated to meet Australia, attention has been drawn towards the potential opposition in the next phase of the competition.