Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Philippines midfielder Stephan Shröck was full of pride after his side pushed highly-fancied Korea Republic all the way, before ultimately falling to a 1-0 defeat in their first ever AFC Asian Cup Finals match.
The Azkals defied pre-match predictions of an easy Korea Republic victory, frustrating the 2015 runners-up before Gamba Osaka front man Hwang Ui-jo finally settled the tie in the 67th minute.
Following the match at Al Maktoum Stadium, Shrock told the-AFC.com he was satisfied with his side's performance.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/stephan_shröck-philippines-action.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Hwang Ui-jo's 67th minute strike secured Korea Republic a 1-0 win over debutants Philippines in an AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Group C tie at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on Monday.
Korea Republic quickly seized control of the Group C tie but found the Philippines difficult to break down in the opening minutes.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side, who started without the Younghusband brothers, defended resolutely and played mostly on the counter-attack with Patrick Reichelt and Javier Patino leading their attacks.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: China escaped with all three points from their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 opener on Monday as Marcello Lippi’s side staged a second half rally to hand debutants Kyrgyz Republic a 2-1 defeat at Al Ain’s Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium.
Akhlidin Israilov had given Alexander Krestinin’s team the lead three minutes before the break but an unfortunate own goal by Kyrgyz keeper Pavel Matiash and a fine finish from substitute Yu Dabao earned China the win in the nations’ Group C opener.
China went into the game without suspended captain Zheng Zhi, the former AFC Player of the Year, but were still heavily fancied against a team making their debut at the AFC Asian Cup.
But Kyrgyz Republic made it clear from the outset they would not be overawed, either by the opposition or the occasion, and started the game putting the Chinese defence on the back foot.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: A scintillating display from start to finish saw the Islamic Republic of Iran beat Yemen 5-0 on Monday to begin their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 campaign in fine style.
Mehdi Taremi scored twice as the three-time AFC Asian Cup champions, who reached the quarter-finals last time out in Australia, excelled throughout and underlined their title credentials in what is their 14th consecutive appearance at Asia’s premier competition.
Iran’s success sees them go top of the Group D standings ahead of Tuesday’s encounter between fellow group hopefuls Iraq and Vietnam.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Saudi Arabia may be three-time Asian champions, but their rich history will count for nothing in their opening AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 clash against DPR Korea, according to head coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.
As a Copa America winner with Chile in 2016, the 50-year-old knows his way around a major tournament, and called on his players to get off to a strong start in their tenth successive appearance at the Finals.
"All tournaments are different from each other. and we can't evaluate the Saudi team in other editions of the Asian Cup thinking it might be repeated," he said.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Islamic Republic of Iran won't make the mistake of underestimating Yemen while the tournament debutants won't be overawed when facing one of the Continent's biggest teams in their AFC Asian Cup Group D opener at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.
Iran are chasing a fourth AFC Asian Cup title, but their first since 1976, while Yemen are determined to make their qualification for the tournament for the first time since unification one to remember.
Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz showed a glimpse of what Iran's approach will be in the tournament when he said that for the moment, the only match that matters is against Yemen.
It is a sensible approach as the largest and best ever AFC Asian Cup has already seen its first major upset with Jordan stunning defending champions Australia 1-0 in their Group B opener on Sunday.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Sunil Chhetri has been quick to play down the significant statistics surrounding India’s impressive 4-1 win over Thailand at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Sunday, insisting instead that his sole focus is on what lies ahead for the South Asians.
On what proved to be a momentous night for head coach Stephen Constantine’s charges, Chhetri netted either side of the break as – along with goals from Anirudh Thapa and Jeje Lalpekhlua – India recorded their first win at the Finals of an AFC Asian Cup since beating Hong Kong at the 1964 tournament.
His brace also took the JSW Bengaluru star’s tally for India to 67 – two ahead of Lionel Messi on 65 and 18 behind Cristiano Ronaldo in the list of the top three international goalscorers still currently representing their countries.