Semi-finals primed to be sizzlers

Sun, 04 Feb, 2024

Semi-finals primed to be sizzlers

Doha: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ semi-finals are set to be blockbusters after Qatar and Islamic Republic of Iran completed the cast on Saturday. 

Jordan will meet Korea Republic in the first semi-final on Tuesday while Iran will play defending champions Qatar on Wednesday.

Qatar edge Uzbekistan in dramatic shoot-out to keep dream alive

Sun, 04 Feb, 2024

Qatar edge Uzbekistan in dramatic shoot-out to keep dream alive

Al Khor: Defending champions Qatar will face the Islamic Republic of Iran in Wednesday’s semi-final of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ after Marquez Lopes’ side handed Uzbekistan a 3-2 penalty shoot-out defeat at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday following a 1-1 draw.

Goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham saved spot-kicks from Rustamjon Ashurmatov, Zafarmurod Abdirakhmatov and Jaloliddin Masharipov to set Pedro Correia up to score the winning penalty and take the hosts into the last four.
 
The shoot-out win came after the Qataris had taken the lead in the 27th minute when captain Hassan Al Haydos shot from a tight angle and Utkir Yusupov slapped the ball over his own goal line but Odiljon Hamrobekov levelled in the 58th minute with a low strike.

Jahanbakhsh strikes late penalty to take IR Iran past Japan

Sun, 04 Feb, 2024

Jahanbakhsh strikes late penalty to take IR Iran past Japan

Al Rayyan: A late Alireza Jahanbakhsh penalty was the difference as Islamic Republic of Iran came from behind to defeat Japan 2-1 and book their place in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ semi-finals on Saturday.

The two teams had met in the semi-finals of the previous edition, with Japan emerging 3-0 winners and they looked on course to repeat the win when they took the lead before the half-hour mark, but two second-half goals from Mohammad Mohebi and Jahanbakhsh turned things around for the Iranians at Education City Stadium.

Fightback keeps Team Melli on course

Sun, 04 Feb, 2024

Fightback keeps Team Melli on course

Al Rayyan: Islamic Republic of Iran upped their game in the second half to defeat Japan 2-1 in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ quarter-final on Saturday.

The win took Iran closer to a fourth title, having last emerged champions in 1976.
 
The-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts from the absorbing match, which ended Japan's dream of a record-extending fifth title.

Son: My focus was only on helping Korea Republic win, not avenge 2015 defeat

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

Son: My focus was only on helping Korea Republic win, not avenge 2015 defeat

Al Wakrah: Son Heung-min insisted his determination to defeat Australia was motivated by the desire to keep Korea Republic’s hopes of lifting the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ alive and not to avenge the Taeguk Warriors’ heart-breaking loss to the Socceroos in the 2015 final.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward was instrumental in Jurgen Klinsmann’s side advancing to a last four meeting with Jordan, winning the penalty that allowed Hwang Hee-chan to score an injury time equaliser before hitting a sweetly-struck free-kick in extra-time that sealed the 2-1 victory.
 
The win came almost nine years to the day since Korea Republic lost to the Australians in the 2015 final in Sydney, when Son scored in injury time to take that game into an additional 30 minutes only for James Troisi to hit the winner as Ange Postecoglou’s side were crowned champions.

Al Arab credits head coach for Jordan’s outstanding run

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

Al Arab credits head coach for Jordan’s outstanding run

Doha: Yazan Al Arab credited head coach Hussein Ammouta for inspiring Jordan to their 1-0 victory over debutants Tajikistan in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ quarter-final on Friday.

Jordan surprised many with their exciting 3-2 win over Iraq in the Round of 16 and Ammouta’s charges did it again on Friday, seeing off the spirited challenge of their Central Asian opponents at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.

Both teams toiled for 65 minutes until Jordan turned on the pressure, forcing Tajikistan into conceding an own goal - Vahdat Hanonov deflecting Ehsan Haddad’s header into his own net - to send the West Asian side into the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Klinsmann amazed yet puzzled by Korea Republic

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

Klinsmann amazed yet puzzled by Korea Republic

Al Wakrah: Jurgen Klinsmann hailed Korea Republic’s never-say-die attitude after the Taeguk Warriors booked their place in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ semi-finals, but questioned the need for his team to win the hard way after going into extra-time for the second game in a row.

The Koreans edged Australia 2-1 at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday with Son Heung-min’s free-kick taking Klinsmann’s side into a last four meeting with Jordan on Tuesday after Hwang Hee-chan’s injury time penalty had cancelled out Craig Goodwin’s first half volley.
 
Victory came 72 hours after a similar success against Saudi Arabia in the last 16, when the Koreans emerged as winners in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at the end of extra-time, and the nature of his team’s progress has left Klinsmann captivated.

We were punished for our misses, admits Australia’s Arnold

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

We were punished for our misses, admits Australia’s Arnold

Al Wakrah: Graham Arnold rued his side missed chances after Australia went out of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ following an extra time 2-1 defeat to Korea Republic at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday.

Despite Korea’s dominance on the ball, it was Australia who created more chances but it wasn’t to be as Mitch Duke, Martin Boyle and Riley McGree all missed good opportunities to increase their lead before Korea’s late rally.

Ammouta urges Jordan players to channel semi-final joy into confidence

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

Ammouta urges Jordan players to channel semi-final joy into confidence

Al Rayyan: Head coach Hussein Ammouta wants his Jordan players to channel their joy of qualifying to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ semi-finals into confidence when they take on Korea Republic in their next challenge.

Jordan defeated Tajikistan 1-0 at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday, thanks to a Vahdat Hanonov own goal, to book their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in their history, having been eliminated at the quarter-finals on two previous occasions.

Tajikistan exit with heads held high, says Segrt

Sat, 03 Feb, 2024

Tajikistan exit with heads held high, says Segrt

Doha: A disappointed Petar Segrt was effusive in his praise of his players despite Tajikistan making a heartbreaking exit from the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ following their 1-0 defeat to Jordan in their quarter-final tie at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday.

Well liked for his flamboyance at the tournament, Segrt expressed his dismay at exiting the tournament but expressed admiration for his players, saying they had performed beyond expectations.