AFC U23 Asian Cup
Ahead of Indonesia meeting Vietnam and Japan squaring off against Iraq, the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures from the four pulsating quarter-final ties.
Can Indonesia spoil the party?
Indonesia are the only team in the semi-finals not to have won the title before and can the debutant Southeast Asian side go all the way to keep the AFC U23 Asian Cup waiting for its first two-time champions?
Indonesia are the only team in the semi-finals not to have won the title before and can the debutant Southeast Asian side go all the way to keep the AFC U23 Asian Cup waiting for its first two-time champions?
Nerves of steel
The Indonesians will certainly believe they can do so after their amazing quarter-final win against Korea Republic, with Shin Tae-yong's side triumphing 11-10 on penalties, by far the most dramatic of last eight ties ever witnessed in the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Their win also meant that Korea Republic will miss out on the Olympic Games for the first time since 1984.
The Indonesians will certainly believe they can do so after their amazing quarter-final win against Korea Republic, with Shin Tae-yong's side triumphing 11-10 on penalties, by far the most dramatic of last eight ties ever witnessed in the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Their win also meant that Korea Republic will miss out on the Olympic Games for the first time since 1984.
Uzbekistan in their element
Timur Kapadze's Uzbekistan will be seeking to qualify for a third final in four editions after an impressive 2-0 quarter-final win over defending champions Saudi Arabia. Having not qualified for the last four stage of the first two editions, Uzbekistan have now made the semi-finals for four consecutive tournaments.
Timur Kapadze's Uzbekistan will be seeking to qualify for a third final in four editions after an impressive 2-0 quarter-final win over defending champions Saudi Arabia. Having not qualified for the last four stage of the first two editions, Uzbekistan have now made the semi-finals for four consecutive tournaments.
Hotshots
The goals scored by Husain Norchaev and Umarali Rahmonaliyev against Saudi Arabia took Uzbekistan's tally to a tournament high 12, with the Central Asian side yet to concede after four matches.
The goals scored by Husain Norchaev and Umarali Rahmonaliyev against Saudi Arabia took Uzbekistan's tally to a tournament high 12, with the Central Asian side yet to concede after four matches.
Advantage Ali Jasim
Ali Jasim is the frontrunner for the Yili Top Goalscorer award after netting his third of the campaign in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Vietnam on Friday. The Iraqi, who has scored all three goals from the penalty spot, has Saudi Arabian duo Aiman Yahya and Abdullah Radif, as well as Korea Republic's Lee Young-jun, level with but those players are already out of the competition. Uzbekistan's Khusain Norchaev, however, is still very much in the race with two goals.
Ali Jasim is the frontrunner for the Yili Top Goalscorer award after netting his third of the campaign in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Vietnam on Friday. The Iraqi, who has scored all three goals from the penalty spot, has Saudi Arabian duo Aiman Yahya and Abdullah Radif, as well as Korea Republic's Lee Young-jun, level with but those players are already out of the competition. Uzbekistan's Khusain Norchaev, however, is still very much in the race with two goals.
Long awaited return
Iraq will certainly hope that Jasim, together with his teammates, remain focused as the West Asian side are in the semi-finals for the first time since finishing third in 2016, having emerged champions in the 2013.
Iraq will certainly hope that Jasim, together with his teammates, remain focused as the West Asian side are in the semi-finals for the first time since finishing third in 2016, having emerged champions in the 2013.
Doha lucky again for Japan?
Japan advanced to the semi-finals at Qatar's expense and the East Asian side will be hoping they can go all the way after having won the 2016 title in Doha with a 3-2 defeat of Korea Republic in the final played at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
Japan advanced to the semi-finals at Qatar's expense and the East Asian side will be hoping they can go all the way after having won the 2016 title in Doha with a 3-2 defeat of Korea Republic in the final played at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
Olympic bid
Qatar ran them hard in the quarter-finals but having survived the test, Japan will be determined to avoid Korea Republic's fate as they bid to qualify for an eighth consecutive Olympic Games. Victory over Iraq will confirm their Paris 2024 berth while defeat will mean the lottery of winning the third-place playoff. Should both ties go against them, Japan's hopes will then depend on beating Guinea in a playoff in Paris on May 9.
Qatar ran them hard in the quarter-finals but having survived the test, Japan will be determined to avoid Korea Republic's fate as they bid to qualify for an eighth consecutive Olympic Games. Victory over Iraq will confirm their Paris 2024 berth while defeat will mean the lottery of winning the third-place playoff. Should both ties go against them, Japan's hopes will then depend on beating Guinea in a playoff in Paris on May 9.
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