Doha: AFC The quarter-finals of the Asian Cup Football will begin tomorrow. Tajikistan will face Jordan and Australia will face South Korea in the first quarter.
South Korea defeated Saudi Arabia in the penalty shootout to enter the quarterfinals. Japan advanced by beating Bahrain 3-1 in the pre-quarter held yesterday. They scored all the four goals in the match which was completely dominated by the four-time winners Japan.
Ritsu Doyan, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda scored against Bahrain in the match at the Ala Tumama Stadium. Bahrain was relieved by the self goal of the Japanese goalkeeper Shion Suzuki. It was the second time that Bahrain’s coach, Yuan Antonio Pisci, had to face defeat against Japan.
In the 2019 championship, PC lost to Japan in the pre-quarter while he was the Saudi Arabian coach. Yesterday Hajime Moriasu’s disciples left Bahrain unmoved. Japan took the lead in the 31st minute. Seya Maikuma’s lightning shot bounced off the bar. The rebound was enough for Ritsu Doyanu who was waiting at close range.
Japan took the lead early in the second half. Kubo, who was unmarked, netted the ball that reached the Bahrain box. The goal was allowed after the offside was checked with the help of Warr. Japanese goalkeeper Sion Suzuki’s attempt to block Syed Bakhwar’s header resulted in an own goal. The ball slipped out of Sion’s hand and into his own net. Defender Ayase Udeya tried to head the ball but could not. In the 72nd minute, Ayase Udeya scored the goal that secured the lead. The match between Saudi Arabia and South Korea was tied 1-1 at full time and extra time, and a penalty shootout was called for. Saudi took the lead in the 46th minute with Abdullah Hadi Radif’s goal. In second-half injury time, Guye Sung Cho equalized for Korea. Abdulrahman Ghareeb and Sami Al Najel of Saudi made a mistake in the shootout. South Korea is coached by famous coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Yasser Al Misehal, criticized the actions of the Saudi coach Roberto Mancini, who returned to the dugout before the shootout was over. With two wasted kicks, Saudi was certain to lose. Mancini left the field before Korea’s Hwang Hee Chan took the decisive kick. Mieshal said the coach’s action was unacceptable. Mancini later apologized. Mancini said he returned under the impression he had been kicked. Mancini, who made Italy the 2021 Euro Cup winner, became the Saudi coach in August last year. The contract period is till 2027.
Uzbekistan also entered the quarter-finals after overcoming Thailand. Uzbekistan won 2-1. Azizbek Turgubayev and Abozbek Faysulaev scored for Uzbekistan. Supachok Sarachart scored a goal for Thailand. Tajikistan defeated UAE in the penalty shootout (5-3) and reached the quarter. With the score remaining at 1-1 at full time and extra time, a shootout was called for. UAE’s Kayo misses the kick in the shootout.
2024-01-31 20:02:00
#Passed #Korea #Japan
