January 15 – Syrians will be sick of the sight of Australians after history repeated itself in Al Ain when a rocket from Tom Rogic sent the Syrians home for the second time in a year from a major tournament.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 15 – It was nowhere in the script. Yet in a matter of days, Stephen Constantine, the only English coach at the Asian Cup, went from hero to zero, resigning as India’s head coach after they were knocked out following a 1-0 defeat by Bahrain.
January 15 – The Asian Football Confederation the AFC has fined Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic for comments about the referees after his team’s 2-0 defeat by Qatar in their opening game last week. The Montenegrin will have to pay $7,500 for his remarks.
January 14 – Defending champions Australia, Palestine and Syria will battle on Tuesday for the remaining knockout spots in Group B. Jordan, the surprise package of the tournament so far, have already qualified as group winners.
January 15 – UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni was satisfied with his team’s 1-1 draw against Thailand, but says he expects his team to improve as the knockout stages loom. The hosts will now meet China or South Korea in the round of 16.
January 14 – In the pre-match talk they were barely mentioned. Despite drawing their opening game against their more fancied UAE hosts, Bahrain had been written off from progressing against an India that was being trumpeted as having dramatically awoken from its football slumber.
UAE 1 Thailand 1
January 14 – The United Arab Emirates finished top of Group A on five points after a low-key 1-1 draw with Thailand, a result that sees the War Elephants progress to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup for the first time since 1972.
January 13 – United Arab Emirates coach Alberto Zaccheroni (pictured) is focused on claiming top spot in Group A as the Asian Cup hosts aim to secure their place in the last 16 when they face Thailand in their final group game on Monday.
January 13 – Qatar ran rampant over North Korea in Group E winning 6-0 to book a spot in the next round of the Asian Cup. Spanish coach Felix Sanchez had nothing but praise for his star duo Almoez Ali and Akram Afif who engineered the mammoth victory.
Japan 1 Oman 0
January 13 – A penalty scored by Genki Haraguchi was enough to secure Japan passage to the last 16 of the Asian Cup. They could have been three goals up within 15 minutes but for missed chances and a brilliant performance by Omani keeper Faiyz Al Rashidi.
Qatar 6 DPR Korea 0
January 13 – Star duo Almoez Ali and Akram Afif led Qatar with four goals and as many assists to an emphatic 6-0 thrashing of North Korea and a place in the knockout stages.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 13 – Qatar’s wonder kid Akram Afif has become the first player to make four assists in a single match in the history of AFC Asian Cup.
January 12 – Qatar coach Felix Sanchez has emphasised his team’s style will not be altered when they play DPR Korea in their Group E clash. The Qatari will seek three points and qualification after Saudi Arabia gained top spot with a 2-0 win over Lebanon on Saturday.
Iraq 3 Yemen 0
January 12 – The Yemen story continued tonight. The newcomers from the war torn country who have become every neutral’s favourite team played Iraq, the old boys who wrote the script when it comes to manufacturing football teams out of war zones. The Iraqis won 2-0, the Yemenis won more friends, respect and global attention.
January 12 – Sardar Azmoun (pictured) sealed Iran’s qualification for the knockout stags with two goals either side of the half in a 2-0 victory that saw them out-muscle Vietnam to and Sardar become the tournament’s top scorer.