Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: The AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 has etched itself into the record books by recording the highest number of consecutive games without a draw at a major tournament including FIFA World Cups, European Championships, Copa Americas and Africa Cup of Nations.
A remarkable 20 games have now produced a winner, an impressive figure which surpasses the previous record set at the 1930 FIFA World Cup when there were 18 consecutive matches that produced a decisive result.
Saturday’s thrilling conclusion to Group A, which saw Korea Republic defeat hosts Australia to top the table with a 100% record and Oman edge Kuwait to consign the 1980 Asian Cup winners to fourth place, took the tally of matches without a draw to 18 to equal the 1930 achievement in Uruguay.
With the 1930 World Cup mark finally equalled after 80 years, China’s 2-1 win over DPR Korea and Uzbekistan’s 3-1 defeat of Saudi Arabia on Sunday saw the number of consecutive wins extend to 20 and the record belong exclusively to the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 – a seminal moment that underlines the fact that the 16th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, which has still to witness a goalless game, has emerged as a showcase for attacking and entertaining football.
The latest landmark for Asia’s premier tournament comes hot on the heels of Ali Mabkhout’s 14-second opener in the UAE’s 2-1 win over Bahrain – the fastest ever in the tournament – Jaka Hbaisha’s historic first Asian Cup goal for Palestine and Yasuhito Endo’s 150th appearance for Japan.
Photo: WSG