Asian Football: AFC Asian Cup 2007
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No doubt they got trashed but they went down fighting for that they have my respectOriginally posted by crazy monkey:viet thrash by japan score already 4 : 1 -
Another painful casualty THAILAND!!! again as we discussed before size does matter.Jaeyoon please dont get me wrong as I have nothing against South Korean(North Korean maybe) In fact Ive lived/worked in Korea for 6 months before its just that for this Asian CupI will supprt my home team and any that play with their heart and soul.Looks to me that Australia is starting to turn up heat and I hope South Korea does the same tomorrow but a Country like Indonesia needs glory too as it is plaque with all sorts of problems in recent times and I know the players are playing for the people.It has been decided that Japan will play the Aussies and we look forward to avenging our defeat under them during the World Cup.Iran looks really good.....finalist maybe???
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Upcoming games you dont want and my predictions.
Indonesia Vs Korea.Korea to win by more than 3 goals that is if we are talking about the same Korea who were semi finalist in 2002.Iran is going to take it easy on Malaysia and so expect something like 2 or 3 goals.Saudi and Bahrain is 50/50 case and I woundnt mind putting my money on Bahraiin if offered 1 ball or 1/2 and 1 ball.Uzbekistan and China will be the game to watch.They are about even but I will be rooting for China because Its easier for us to play the Chinese than the Uzbeks.We were very lucky playing all these teams 4 years ago but with the present line up we are going to need even more luck this time. -
Friday, July 13, 2007 Match day 7
13/7/07
Match #11
17:20 (BKK Time)
Iraq 3-1 Australia
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #12
20:35 (Hanoi time)
UAE 1-3 Japan
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
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Saturday, July 14, 2007 Match day 8
14/7/07
Match #13
18:20 (KL Time)
Uzbekistan 5-0 Malaysia
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Match #14
19:35 (JKT Time)
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Indonesia
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Sunday, July 15, 2007 Match day 9
Match #15
15/7/07 18:20 (KL Time)
China 2 - 2 Iran
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Match #16
19:35 (JKT Time)
Bahrain 2 - 1 Korea Republic
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Yesterday, Monday , July 16, 2007 Match day 10
Match #17
16/7/07 17:20 (Hanoi Time)
Vietnam 1 - 4 Japan
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
Match #18
17:20 (Hanoi Time)
Qatar 1 - 2 FT UAE
Army Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Match #19
19:35 (BKK Time)
Thailand 0 - 4 Australia
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Match #20
19:35 (BKK Time)
Oman 0 - 0 Iraq
Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
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Today, Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - NO GAME
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Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 18, 2007, Match Day 11
Match #21
18/7/07 17:20 (JKT Time)
Indonesia v Korea Republic
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
Match #22
17:20 (JKT Time)
Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
Jaka Baring Stadium, Palembang, Indonesia
Match #23
20:35 (KL Time)
Malaysia v Iran
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Match #24
20:35 (KL Time)
Uzbekistan v China
Shah Alam Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Group A news
Socceroos come good to advance
Jul 16, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Mark Viduka scored twice in the final 10 minutes to seal a 4-0 win for Australia over Thailand and earn the Socceroos a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.
The result flattered Graham ArnoldÂ’s team after Thailand dominated the second half and had the chances to pull level after Michael Beauchamp had given the Australians the lead with a 21st minute header.
But it was AustraliaÂ’s aerial prowess that won them the game with Viduka holding off the Thai defence to score the goal that effectively won the game 10 minutes from time before sealing the result with a header three minutes later.
Harry Kewell then completed the win when he slotted past Kosin Hathairatanakul in injury time.
Graham Arnold made four changes from the team that lost 3-1 to Iraq, with Kewell axed along with Patrick Kisnorbo and Brett Holman while Lucas Neill missed the game due to suspension.
As a result, Beauchamp and John Aloisi started, as did Sydney FC duo Mark Milligan and David Carney, and the Australians looked the better for the changes.
With the rain falling incessantly throughout the first 45 minutes, the Socceroos started the game at a higher tempo than they have in their previous two games and they dominated the early stages of the game.
It took the Australians 21 minutes to put themselves on the scoreboard when Luke Wilkshire sent his free kick into the Thai penalty area and Beauchamp was left unmarked to head past Kosin.
Suchao Nutnum could have responded just two minutes later for the Thais only for his long-range shot to fly straight at Mark Schwarzer while moments later Suree Sukha sent in a searing low cross that Kiatisuk Senamuang only just failed to direct into the Australian goal.
Needing a draw to progress to the knockout phase, the Thais pushed for the equaliser and dominated the second period, although Wilkshire went close to adding a second just seconds after the restart.
Suree continued to cause problems down the right for Thailand while Tawan Sripan and Kiatisuk worked tirelessly in attack, and it was the former Hudderfield Town man who set up substitute Pipat Thonkanya with a back-heel into the area, only for Pipat to shoot straight at Schwarzer.
Kewell came off the bench and headed over the bar in the 68th minute before another long range effort from Suchao blistered the paint of SchwarzerÂ’s left post. Datsakorn Thonglao tried his luck from distance soon after, only for the Middlesbrough goalkeeper to hold onto the shot.
With 10 minutes remaining and with the Thais pushing hard for the equaliser, Viduka killed off the game.
His first came when Tim Cahill sent in his cross from the left and Viduka controlled the ball on his chest before holding off the Thai defence and firing past Kosin.
Three minutes later Cahill and Viduka linked up again, with the Everton man crossing from the left this time to allow the powerfully built striker to head home.
And Kewell completed the scoring right at the end when he ran in unopposed on Kosin before sliding the ball to the right of the keeper. -
Group A news
Ta-Ta Thailand
Australians end dream of place in quarter-finalsPublished on July 17, 2007
Australia squeezed into the second round of the Asian Cup tournament following a 4-0 drubbing of hosts Thailand in their Group A encounter at Rajamangala National Stadium yesterday.
It was a remarkable turnaround by pre-tournament favourites Australia given that an early elimination was staring in their faces before the game after they could only claim a point from their previous two matches.
With their backs against the wall, Graham Arnold's men, who had previously looked a shadow of the side that nearly dumped eventual champions Italy in last year's World Cup, managed to recapture their form in what was the most perfect time to seal the result they needed for qualification.
The hosts might curse their luck for having to face the Aussies in the last match when they were on the verge of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the continent's top competition for the first time since 1972. The scenario Thai fans most feared turned into reality as the beleaguered Aussies staged a timely and miraculous recovery from the brink.
The result left Australia level on points with Thailand but Arnold's side clinched the qualification thanks to their better head-to-head record.
The Australians join Iraq, who topped the group despite a draw with Oman in the group's other match, in the last eight.
Having witnessed his side flounder in their last hurdle to make history, coach Chanvit Pholchivin was left bemoaning their luck.
"Not disappointed much, this is a football game. The rain made it difficult for us. Our centre-half [Kiatprawut Saiwaeo], who is good in high balls, was injured so it was hard for us," said Chanvit.
"We messed up our scoring chances. Australia are lucky that there was rain and our good player was injured. The game was quite close but when we conceded a goal, everything became terrible. No matter what we tried, it didn't go right."
Chanvit's men approached the game in high spirits on the back of their impressive performances, which saw them register their first ever victory in regular time over Oman, a convincing 2-0 triumph, on Thursday.
After an eye-catching performance in the Oman match, in which he was the architect of both the goals, young star striker Teeratep "Leesaw" Winothai earned his place in the line-up.
Leesaw and Suchao Nutnum were a couple of alterations Chanvit made to the side that faced Oman. They came in place of veteran Terdsak Jaiman and Datsakorn Thonglao.
With Leesaw and Kiartisak "Zico" Senamuang up front, Sutee Suksomkit reverted to the role of left-side midfielder, the position the experienced forward had previously adopted.
The visitors brought in John Aloisi, who came in place of Liverpool star Harry Kewell, to join Mark Viduka.
The heavy rains, which fell hours before the kick off, barely dampened the spirits of the home fans as they turned up at the stadium in large numbers. The 40,000-strong crowd created an electric atmosphere, with sounds of drums and bugles reverberating around the venue, befitting the game, which was branded as one of the most important matches in Thai football.
Just two minutes into the match, the warning bell rung for the Thai team when Viduka found space inside the penalty box and fired an angled shot that forced a good save from Thai goalie Kosin Hathairattanakul, who parried it behind.
Chanvit's side, however, almost opened the scoring in bizarre fashion six minutes later when Sutee attempted to cross the ball but his effort nearly crept into the top far corner, with keeper Mark Schwarzer already out of position.
Midfielder Tawan Sripan warmed Schwarzer's hands soon after with a fierce 35-yard free-kick, which required two attempts from the Aussie custodian to gather the ball.
Just before the half way of the opening period, the partisan crowd was silenced when burly Australian defender Michael Beauchamp thumped a powerful header from a David Carney free-kick into the back of the net.
The setback failed to rattle the home team as they quickly regained their composure. Moments later, the Thai team threatened the visitors twice, with Suchao first testing with a long-distance attempt, and later Zico failing to connect Sutee Sukha's dangerous cross at the goal mouth.
The home team finished the half strongly and got another scoring chance on the stroke of half-time but Sutee sent his set piece harmlessly wide.
Thailand picked up where they left off in the first half and pushed the Aussies on the back foot after the restart, knowing a draw would be sufficient to see them through to the last eight.
In the 53rd minute, the hosts thought they should have awarded a penalty. Schwarzer spilled Leesaw's venomous drive from outside the box and Zico was brought down when he pounced on the rebound but the referee waved play on.
Ten minutes from time, the Australians scored again when Viduka produced a piece of brilliance. The former Middlesbrough striker chested the ball down, held off his marker before firing a rising drive which deflected into the roof of the net as Suree tried to block the shot.
Any hopes of an unlikely comeback were extinguished three minutes later when substitute Tim Cahill floated in a delightful cross to Viduka who leapt above the Thai defence to plant a downward header into the net, much to the joy of a large group of travelling fans.
Substitute Kewell wrapped up the scoring in stoppage time with a clinical finish when he latched onto Cahill's defence-splitting pass and raced into the area on the right side before firing the ball past helpless Kosin.
In Hanoi, defending champions Japan advanced to the Asian Cup quarter-finals in style with an easy 4-1 win over co-hosts Vietnam who also went through for the first time in nearly half a century.
JEF United forward Seiichiro Maki headed home twice, Shunsuke Nakamura found the net and Yasuhito Endo added another to give Japan their second straight win after a dismal 1-1 opening draw with Asian Games gold medallists Qatar.
Vietnam, playing in their first Asian Cup finals for 47 years, have stunned everyone with their performances here and with the United Arab Emirates beating Qatar 2-1 in the other group B match, they make the last eight. "We were nervous at the outset and our opponents were aggressive. Lucky or not, we were able to catch up early in the game and it made our life easier," Japan coach Ivica Osim said. Despite the defeat, Vietnamese coach Alfred Riedl was over the moon.
"It is a sensation for Vietnamese football," said the Austrian. "Only very few people had expected this."
Kitinan Sanguansak
The Nation -
Group A news
Iraq through after drab draw
Jul 16, 2007
PA Sport
BANGKOK – Iraq reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup for the fourth successive tournament after their goalless draw with Gulf rivals Oman at the Supachalasai Stadium on Monday coupled with Australia’s 4-0 win over hosts Thailand saw Jorvan Vieira’s side finish top of Group A.
It wasnÂ’t IraqÂ’s best performance in the competition but the point was enough to ensure that the Iraqis stay in Bangkok for and will face Vietnam, who finished second in Group B despite going down 4-1 to Japan earlier on Monday while Australia will take on the defending champions after their 4-0 win over hosts Thailand took them through to the last eight as Group A runners-up.
Oman, needing to win to have any chance of reaching the last eight, had the first chance of the match when Badar Mubarak played the ball through to Ismail Al Ajmi in space near the box but a combination of the slickness of the rain-soaked pitch and the alertness of Noor Sabri saw the Iraq keeper safely take possession.
Three minutes later Badar fired a low drive to the keeperÂ’s right but Sabri got down well to save the effort before the Oman forward again released Al Ajmi but again Sabri was equal to the task.
The Iran-based keeper did give the pocket of Iraqi fans a minor scare when his momentum caused him to spill the ball outside of the area, although he recovered in ample time to clear the danger.
It was all Oman in the opening 20 minutes and but for a couple of unproductive corners Iraq struggled to find the attacking verve that saw them outclass Australia 3-1 in their previous Group A fixture.
With five minutes left to play Mahdi KarimÂ’s acrobatic overhead set Iraq skipper Younis Mahmoud and Ali Al Habsi off on a race for the ball which the Bolton Wanderers keeper won with a timely header clear from outside his area.
Immediately after Fawzi Basheer should have opened the scoring after being set-up by Badar – easily the best player of a disappointing first half – but the midfield dynamo’s close-range angled shot was too tame to trouble Noor.
Oman pressed forward in the second half looking for the goal that would keep their Asian Cup dream alive but it was the Iraqis who had the first chance 15 minutes after the restart.
Mahdi KarimÂ’s trickery took him past Issam Fayel allowing the midfielder to whip in a cross for Younis but the Iraq skipper, under pressure from two Oman defenders, headed wide.
The second half was punctuated by numerous free-kicks and from one of these Ahmed Hadid almost gave Oman a 62nd minute lead, but his curling effort was tipped over the bar by Noor.
Three minutes later Younis almost set up an unmarked Karrar Jassim, who came on at the end of the first half for the injured Hawar Mulla Mohammed, but the 2006/07 Qatar LeagueÂ’s top scorer under hit his square pass and the danger was cleared.
With ten minutes left to play Younis again had the chance to break the deadlock but his low strike was comfortably saved by Al Habsi.
Younis Al Mushaifri almost ensured Oman went out on a winning note but the substituteÂ’s header three minutes from full-time flashed wide of NoorÂ’s post before Imad Ali, one of a number of Omani players that Iraq coach Vieira groomed when the Brazilian was at the helm of the Gulf sultanateÂ’s under 20s, saw a stoppage-time shot saved by Noor. -
Group B News
Emirates end Qatar's quarters dream
Jul 16, 2007
PA Sport
HO CHI MINH CITY – Saeed Alkas’ second half header and a stoppage time strike from Faisal Khalil robbed Qatar of a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup as the United Arab Emirates came from behind to earn a 2-1 win in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday.
Sebastian QuintanaÂ’s first half penalty, coupled with JapanÂ’s 4-1 demolition of Vietnam in Hanoi, looked to have handed Dzemaludin MusovicÂ’s Asian Games gold medallists the win they needed to advance.
But Al Sharjah frontman Alkas headed home just before the hour mark and Khalil tapped home from close range in added time after Ismail MatarÂ’s long range free-kick was only parried by Mohamed Saqr to hand the UAE their first points of the group stage.
The result means Qatar are eliminated and Vietnam qualify for the quarter-finals.
Qatar coach Musovic handed Hussain Yasser an instant recall after the Al Rayyan frontman missed the draw with Vietnam through suspension as the Bosnian made four changes to his side from the draw with the co-hosts.
UAE coach Bruno Metsu was without the services of goalkeeper Majed Nasser, Basheer Saeed and Haidar Alo Ali through suspension and also made five other changes from the 3-1 defeat by defending champions Japan, which ended their hopes of progressing.
Roared on my a vocal band of Vietnamese supporters inside the Army Stadium, the UAE dominated early possession while QatarÂ’s Majdi Siddiq saw his rising effort from the edge of the area turned over the crossbar from Waleed Salem
Qatar danger man Quintana had a goal ruled out for offside after finding himself in space behind a high defensive line on a rare foray into opposition territory.
MetsuÂ’s side continued to dominate as a surging Ahmed Mubarak sent a curling effort narrowly wide from just outside the area, while Alkas forced Qatar custodian Saqr into a full length diving save 12 minutes before the break after the veteran frontman had burst into the area and fired low towards the bottom corner.
Qatar grabbed what appeared to be the crucial goal three minutes before the break as Quintana beat the UAE offside trap on the right, twisted and turned inside the area to break clear of two defenders, but as the Uruguayan-striker cut in towards goal he was upended by Abdulrahman.
Quintana picked himself up and at the second attempt following encroachment from his team-mates, sent Salem the wrong way from the spot to grab his third goal of the tournament.
UAE captain Abdulraheem Juma saw his low shot across the face of goal turned away by Saqr 12 minutes into the second half as the UAE stepped up the pressure for an equaliser after the break.
Their efforts paid off a minute before the hour mark as Mubarak floated a ball into the Qatar area for Alkas to send a looping header over Saqr to send the largely Vietnamese crowd inside the Army Stadium into raptures.
A host of changes for both sides followed but Qatar failed to test Salem as the UAE defence stood firm, with YasserÂ’s blocked shot from the edge of the area with four minutes remaining the only real attacking threat from MusovicÂ’s men.
Matar had only moments earlier sent a long range free-kick wide before his second speculative attempt paid off as Saqr parried the well-struck effort into the path of the onrushing Khalil, who had the simplest of task to snatch all three points with a close range header. -
Group B News
Classy Japan hammer Vietnam
Jul 16, 2007
PA Sport
HANOI – Defending champions Japan remained on course for a third straight AFC Asian Cup title and fourth overall as they recovered from a early deficit to outclass Vietnam 4-1 at My Dinh National Stadium on Monday.
With the victory, Japan finished top of Group B with seven points but they will be joined in the last eight by Vietnam, who finished second in the group on four points after United Arab Emirates beat Gulf rivals Qatar 2-1 in a simultaneous match at Ho Chi Minh City.
The co-hosts took a shock lead when Keita Suzuki scored an early own goal but Seichiro Maki chested in the equaliser shortly afterwards before Yasuhito Endo fired Japan in front with a free-kick to put the Japanese 2-1 up at the break.
Shunsuke Nakamura extended JapanÂ’s advantage in the 53rd minute before Maki netted his second of the game six minutes later.
Japan coach Ivica Osim made no changes to the team that defeated United Arab Emiates 3-1 on Friday while Vietnam boss Alfred Riedl made only one alteration from last Thursday's 1-1 draw with Qatar with midfielder Nguyen Minh Chuyen replacing forward Phan Thanh Binh.
It meant a more defensive formation for the co-hosts but they stunned the defending champions in the eighth minute when Nguyen Vu Phong's low corner from the left deflected off Keita Suzuki and flew into the Japanese net at Yoshikatsu KawaguchiÂ’s near post.
But Japan responded quickly and they levelled the score in the 12th minute when Shunsuke Nakamura beat Nguyen Huy Hoang on the left flank before crossing for Maki to chest the ball into the net at the far post.
Backed by a noisy home crowd, Vietnam nearly retook the lead in the 19th minute when Nguyen Vu Phong fired a shot from 30 metres that fizzled narrowly wide of KawaguchiÂ’s right post.
Japan would take the lead though in the 32nd minute when they received a free kick on the edge of the Vietnam box for Huy Hoang needless sliding challenge on Naohiro Takahara.
Endo punished the home side by blasting the ball into the back of the net, giving goalkeeper Duong Hong Son no chance.
Vietnam nearly got back on level terms six minutes before the break when a diving Le Cong Vinh just failed to reach another driven corner by Minh Phuong.
But the Japanese would put the game away seven minutes into the second half when Endo laid of a pass to Shunsuke Nakamura, who struck an accurate right foot shot into the top left corner of the Vietnamese net from 20 metres.
Maki then added his second of the game in the 59th minute, heading home an Endo free-kick from the left after losing marker Vu Nhu Thanh.
Japan took off goalscoring heros Endo, Maki and Shunsuke Nakamura to rest them for the knockout stage but they continued to create the better chances with Takahara and Kengo Nakamura shooting wide before Nhu Thanh nearly turned Koki MizunoÂ’s cross into his own net.
The disappointed home fans would have reason to cheer though in the dying minutes when they learned that UAE had come from behind to Qatar to send Vietnam through to the last eight. -
Group B News
Riedl pleased by Vietnam progression
Jul 16, 2007
PA Sport
HANOI – Despite his team’s 4-1 loss to defending champions Japan on Monday night, Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl was naturally delighted to learn that the co-hosts had secured a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.
The Vietnamese were comprehensively outplayed by the three-time winners at My Dinh National Stadium but QatarÂ’s 2-1 loss to United Arab Emirates in Ho Chi MInh City meant that they still advanced to the last eight as Group B runners-up.
“This is very good for Vietnam football and a very good achievement for the national team. Only a few people could have expected this result,” said the Austrian, who is in his third spell as Vietnam coach.
“We are very happy about this, of course,” he added.
It was a good finish to the evening for the Vietnamese which had threatened to go sour after an excellent beginning to the match played before a capacity crowd in Hanoi.
The co-hosts took a lead in the seventh minute through an own goal by Keita Suzuki but a brace by Seichiro Maki and a goal apiece by Yasuhito Endo and Shunsuke Nakamura saw the Japanese record a comfortable win.
“I had a little hope, of course, but not to win the match, only to keep that lead as long as possible to maybe get a draw,” said Riedl.
“But I knew that the Japanese wouldn’t stop playing attacking football, and they scored their goal just a few minutes later.
“The third match is more difficult, and I was expecting that because I know the difference between the Japanese players and the Vietnamese players. Despite the heat and everything, they have more physique and better technique. They can play better under pressure.”
Riedl had been hoping for good news from the other match.
“Before the game, I thought the bigger chance to advance to the quarter-finals would be the result from the south. In the north, our match, our chance of getting a point was small. But in the south, anything was possible.”
His prayers would be answered when UAE turned around a half-time deficit to beat their Gulf rivals.
“I’m happy because they (UAE) did something,” he said. “They were behind 1-0 according to my information but they continued working to make it a draw and even to win the match.”
Vietnam will travel to Bangkok to meet Group A winners Iraq in the quarter-finals but Riedl is unconcerned about having to play the knockout stage tie away from home.
“It will depend not on the venue, but the performance and what you can do against a strong opponent.
“I don’t think we have a problem with our fitness in Thailand. Vietnam may surprise again. You never know.” -
Group D News
Koreans stunned by Abdullatif strike
Jul 15, 2007
PA Sport
JAKARTA – Bahrain striker Ismail Abdullatif blew a massive hole in Korea Republic’s AFC Asian Cup hopes on Sunday evening when he scored the winner five minutes from time to leave the two-time champions’ quarter-final hopes in serious doubt after suffering a 2-1 defeat.
Abdullatif capitalised on slack defending from the Koreans to slam home his shot from just inside the penalty area, beating World Cup goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae low and to his left to give Milan MacalaÂ’s side the three points.
The win gave the Bahrainis their first points of the tournament after they lost their opening game to co-hosts Indonesia, who Korea must now beat in their final game on Wednesday to have any hope of progressing.
Bahrain, meanwhile, will meet Group D leaders Saudi Arabia in their final game and will need a win against their Gulf rivals to be sure of reaching the last eight.
However, Pim VerbeekÂ’s side were fastest out of the blocks and within four minutes they had taken the lead thanks to the invention of Lee Chun-soo.
The former Numancia manÂ’s free kick from the edge of the penalty area was blocked, but when the ball landed back at his feet he scooped it over the defence and into the path of Kim Do-heon, whose fine left-foot volley gave Abdulrahman Ahmed no chance in the Bahrain goal.
KimÂ’s goal took the early sting out of the game as the Koreans sought to control the tempo, and it was a tactic that largely paid off.
But with two minutes left in the half Bahrain were level as Abdulla Marzooqi pumped a free kick deep into the Korean penalty area and Salman Isa lashed a low, left foot shot to beat Lee Woon-jae at his near post.
Clearly affected by the equaliser, the Koreans came out at the start of the second half looking to regain the lead, going agonisingly close on several occasions.
Lee Dong-gookÂ’s shot from outside the area flew just wide two minutes after the restart and seven minutes later he dragged another effort across the face of the goal.
But KoreaÂ’s best chances came in the 55th minute when Dong-gook saw his shot beat Ahmed only for defender Sayed Adnan Mohamed to block the goal-bound effort. The ball fell at the feet of Do-heon but his attempt was hacked away by Rashed Al Dosari.
With 15 minutes on the clock, Chun-soo was well placed to reclaim the lead for the Koreans when substitute Cho Jae-jin headed the ball into his path, but the Ulsan Hyundai manÂ’s miss-kick caused Ahmed no problem.
However, as Korea pushed forward looking for the winner, the gaps started to appear in their defence and eventually Bahrain took advantage when substitute Talal Yusuf forced the ball through to Abdullatif and he made no mistake with a fine right-foot finish. -
Group D News
Verbeek pins hopes on victory
Jul 15, 2007
PA Sport
JAKARTA – Korea Republic coach Pim Verbeek has been left hoping his side can overcome Indonesia in their final Group D game on Wednesday after slipping to a late defeat at the hands of Bahrain.
The two-time champions were stunned by Ismail AbdullatifÂ’s 85th minute winner after taking the lead just four minutes into the game through Kim Do-heon.
However, Salman Isa levelled for the Bahrainis two minutes before the interval and, despite seeing the Koreans dominate most of the second half, Abdullatif slammed home five minutes from time to leave the Koreans in serious danger of exiting the tournament.
Korea must defeat the co-hosts by two clear goals and hope group leaders Saudi Arabia defeat Bahrain to have any chance of maintaining the Asian Cup challenge while the Indonesians also need to win to progress.
“We have to win 2-0, or at least we have to score two goals more than Indonesia, so it will be a very interesting game,” said the Dutchman. “They have to win also.
“We can’t wait on anything because we have only one point. There will be 85,000 people, both teams have to score to win the game so I think it will be very interesting.”
VerbeekÂ’s team looked to be on course to at least add a second draw to the one earned against Saudi Arabia in their opening game after dominating much of the game only for the Bahrainis to take all three points, their first of the competition.
The manner of the defeat had taken its toll on the Korean players, said their coach.
“It’s not a surprise that the players are completely finished if you have a start like this, scoring the early goal,” he said. “In the last 20 minutes of the first half we played well but we lost concentration and they got the goal just before half time.
“But in the second half I thought we were much better and I was waiting for us to score, and I never expected Bahrain to score and if we hadn’t given this goal away they would never have scored so I’m disappointed.”
Despite the defeat, Verbeek praised the performance of his players and he is hoping his team can stay in the competition.
“The coach is always responsible for the result,” he said. “I think we created more than enough chance to score goals and when you don’t score goals there’s pressure on the defence.
“I think we played a good game and if you play like this you will be a good team. I’m 100 percent convinced that we can win by two goals and then life becomes completely different.” -
Group D News
Bahrain pulls off Jakarta shocker
2007.07.17, Korea Herald
Korea's Asian Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after a shock 2-1 defeat inflicted by Bahrain in Jakarta.
Despite taking an early lead in the Indonesian capital, the 2002 World Cup semifinalists find themselves in last place in Group D with one game remaining. Korea must win that match against host Indonesia to have any chance of making the quarterfinals.
A week ago that wouldn't have seemed too much of a tall order but the Southeast Asians showed what they are capable of in front of 90,000 home fans and Korea seemed incapable of holding onto a lead.
While Korea controlled most of the game, the team's age-old problems remain - an inability to convert possession into clear chances and a defense that is always liable to lose concentration at crucial times.
Indonesia had lost 2-1 to the Saudis the previous evening and after that frenzied atmosphere created by its partisan and passionate fans, there was a slightly anticlimactic feel to the proceedings in a largely empty arena.
The locals may not have been thrilled by the prospect of Korea-Bahrain but the 7,000 Korean fans inside the huge Gelora Bung Karno Stadium didn't care - they were celebrating a goal after just three minutes.
Coach Pim Verbeek made no less than five changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia four days earlier and his decision paid dividends almost immediately as two of the new players were involved in the opening goal.
Lee Chun-soo, recovered from a fever, saw his cross deflect off a red-shirted Bahraini defender and loop toward the left-side of the penalty area where Kim Do-heon was loitering. The Seongnam midfielder is known for his spectacular goals and didn't disappoint with a smart volley into the far corner.
Much of the remainder of the first half was flat with neither side able to find any rhythm or create any clear chances. After letting a one goal lead slip in the opening game with Saudi Arabia, Verbeek stressed in the pre-match press conference that his players needed to learn how to "kill teams off."
More study is needed as Bahrain, who had hitherto threatened little, equalized three minutes before the break.
Salman Ali ran onto what was a simple free-kick over the top of a static Korean defense line and, from the left edge of the six-yard box, the 29-year-old defender let the ball bounce once before firing a low shot past Lee Woon-jae at the near post.
There was more urgency showed by both teams after the break. Lee Dong-gook went close for the Taeguk Warriors while goalkeeper Lee was almost caught out by a cross that drifted uncomfortably close to the far corner of his goal.
Ten minutes after the restart, Korea was left wondering how it wasn't ahead as two successive shots, the first from Lee Dong-gook and the second from Kim Doo-hyun, were blocked on the line by Bahraini defenders with the goalkeeper nowhere to be found.
Korea started to gain control of the game but was struggling to seriously trouble Bahraini goalkeeper Abdulrahman Ahmed.
Lee Chun-soo should have scored with 15 minutes remaining. A header from substitute Cho Jae-jin found the attacker alone just four meters from goal but Lee completely misfired with only the keeper to beat.
With five minutes remaining, Bahrain took a shock lead that delighted the neutrals at the stadium. A loose ball fell to Ismael Abdullatif just inside the box and the striker's fierce shot gave the goalkeeper no chance.
It was a dismal night for Korea who needs to rise to the occasion on Wednesday or face an early return home.
By John Duerden Contributing writer -
Thanks ordinaryguy32.Originally posted by ordinaryguy32:Welcome back, Jae Yoon.
Good sportsmanship you're exhibiting there.
Hope Korea can qualify like the Aussies...
Japan vs Australia.... I'm rooting for Japan!!
Hopefully we can make it to the last 8.
Tomorrow will be a crucial game. Korea must win or they have to say good bye. It'll be the first time in so many years that they're knocked out first round.
I hope not.
-
Group C
Iran would certainly beat Malaysia ,just depends on how many goals.
Uzbekistan would have to beat China to get through but its not gonna be easy, most likely to end in a draw.
Group D
Saudi just need a draw against Bahrain for next round. Bahrain would want to win for a chance to top the group.
Korea would have to go all out for a win against the host with at least 2 goals(or more) incase the other match ended in a draw or Saudi lost. This group really complicated and put Korea in a difficult spot unless Saudi win so they can just beat Indonesia by 1 goal. -
Yesterday, Tuesday, July 17, 2007 - NO GAME
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Today, Wednesday, July 18, 2007, Match Day 11
Match #21
18/7/07 17:20 (JKT Time)
Indonesia v Korea Republic
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
Match #22
17:20 (JKT Time)
Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
Jaka Baring Stadium, Palembang, Indonesia
Match #23
20:35 (KL Time)
Malaysia v Iran
National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Match #24
20:35 (KL Time)
Uzbekistan v China
Shah Alam Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Saturday July 21, 2007 Match day 12
21/7/07
17:20 (Hanoi Time)
Quarter-Final 3
Japan v Australia
My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam
20:20 (BKK Time)
Quarter-Final 1
Iraq v Vietnam
Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
Group D Special Report - Korea
Lee Ho ready to make necessary sacrifices
Jul 16, 2007
PA Sport
By Michael Church, PA Sport
Korean football is renowned for its long line of top quality central midfielders, and Lee Ho is hoping to become the latest to take on the self-less role that allows the rest of the team to perform.
Players such as Yoo Sang-chul, Lee Eul-young and Kim Nam-il have been the bedrock upon which the Korea Republic national team has been built for much of the last decade.
But with the old guard now having either hung up their boots or on the verge of doing so, Lee is ready to step up and take on the task.
“Those guys were players I used to watch and I really admire them because they achieved a lot for Korean football,” he said of the generation who led Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.
“They always stayed behind the other players and they were the ones who worked and sacrificed themselves for the team. I want to follow the way they played for the team.”
Of the old guard, only Kim remains active with the national team and, had it not been for a late injury, he would have captained the side at the AFC Asian Cup finals.
However, despite KimÂ’s absence in Indonesia, Lee has already had the opportunity to play alongside the former Excelsior Rotterdam midfielder and he is hoping his more illustrious partnerÂ’s experience will rub off on him.
“Kim Nam-il has a lot of experience,” he said. “He controls the team and controls the tempo of the game. He provides great leadership and he’s the perfect role model for a young player.
“If I can learn from him as quickly as possible that would be ideal because he has done so much for Korean football.
“I want to earn as much experience as possible so that one day soon I can become a player like Kim Nam-il and be essential to the team.”
Last yearÂ’s World Cup finals in Germany formed part of LeeÂ’s education, and his performances there convinced Korea boss Dick Advocaat to take the 22-year-old with him to the Russian Premier League side Zenit St. Petersburg.
His first six months with the club were a success, featuring 18 times in the starting line-up, but since then he has struggled to earn a place in the team as Zenit have moved to the top of the Russian league standings.
“It was always my dream to go abroad and I realised that playing outside would make me a much better player and so I made a decision to go abroad after I got a proposal to do so,” said Lee.
“The football style in Russia is a European style and although it can’t be compared with something the English Premier League, it is tough and it’s much tougher than the Korean league. Of course when it comes to the individual skills and technique, it’s difficult to compare but when it comes to one-on-one situations, it’s pretty tough.
“After the World Cup I went straight to the Russian league and played a lot of games but this year unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to play a lot of games in the Russian league, so I’m losing a lot of match fitness and rhythm so compared with this time last year I have lost a lot of sharpness.”
Adapting to life in Russia has been a challenge for Lee, who openly admits to having had difficulties with the language and, despite being with the club for a year, he has struggled to settle in.
“Being so far away from home is quite difficult because you have to focus on yourself for the training sessions and also for normal life,” he said. “It’s all new and you have to learn.
“I was told by the club that going outside the team accommodation, I was told not to go out too often because of the security situation so I usually stay at the club, although I do the odd tourist thing. So I haven’t seen much of the city.
“In order to survive in a foreign country, you must have good football skills but the other important thing is the language, you need to understand the language. That’s what I’ve realised. Also for your private life, when you go outside the club you have to speak the language as well. You need that to stay and survive in other countries.
“Not many Russian people can speak English and that’s part of the reason I was struggling because if they could speak English then I could spend more time going out and make friends, but because of the language it’s a struggle.”
As a result, Lee is considering trying somewhere new, with reports in Korea suggesting he may return to the K-League – where he previously played for Ulsan Hyundai – or try his luck in the J.League.
However, LeeÂ’s first objective is not to return to Asia.
“I haven’t decided yet but most likely after the Asian Cup it’s likely that I’ll decide to move,” he said. “I’m a football player and I like to play, so if I leave I’ll go to a club where I know I will get to play.
“The primary target for me is to stay in Europe and if that’s not possible then I’d still like to play somewhere that I’ve never experienced before. It doesn’t matter where it is, as long as I can play. That’s the most important thing.”
Before that, though, heÂ’s hoping he can play a part in helping the Koreans win the AFC Asian Cup title for the first time in 47 years as coach Pim Verbeek looks to rejuvenate the team in preparation for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
“Quite a number of players are playing in England and they are doing a good job and that has raised the reputation of Korean players and it’s higher now than before,” he said.
“Because of that Korean players are getting more confidence and our coach is doing a good job and when it comes to the changing of the generations he’s trying to pick younger players who have great talent and give them experience. I think we’re on the right track with regards to the World Cup in 2010.
“Of course there are things we have to improve, such as our form when we play in away games. Those are difficult for us and 2010 is an away game for us as well and we have to work on that because those games will be difficult.
“The Asian Cup, because it’s a tournament, will help. It will give the players more experience and that really helps.” -
Group D news
Korea Either Wins or Packs
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
With its Asian Cup dreams now hanging by a thread, South Korea heads into tonight's final group match needing a big win over surging co-hosts Indonesia, and a deafening home crowd of 90,000 certainly doesn't help.
The Koreans declared themselves as tournament favorites arriving in Jakarta but a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in the opener and an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to underdogs Bahrain have left the Taeguek Warriors with bruised egos, shattered confidence and sore bodies.
Since its superb World Cup run in 2002, it's hard to deny that Korean football has regressed considerably in depth of talent, and so far, national team manager Pim Verbeek seems to have failed to make the tactical adjustments to coax the squad into playing better than the sum of its parts.
The Dutchman, once hailed as a national hero as a coach for Guus Hiddink, now finds himself under fire, with some local newspapers speculating that the always-petulant Korean Football Association (KFA) will soon come calling for his head.
And it looks like some of his best players have already started tuning him out. Middlesbrough forward Lee Dong-gook, who started in the Bahrain match, claimed to the media that the team was out-coached on the pitch and complained about the lack of touches.
Nonetheless, Verbeek is confidence of his team's chances of advancing to the knockout stage, although going through Indonesia was clearly not the way he wanted to do it.
"I am expecting a great game. Clearing the home team by two goals in front of a crowd of 90,000 is a big challenge to both the players and coaches,'' said Verbeek in a news conference in Jakarta Tuesday.
He also added that there will be no big changes in strategy from the previous two games, with the wide midfielders joining the lone striker on the attack when the team has the ball.
Indonesia presents an ultimate test to Verbeek's optimism. At least on paper, the co-hosts represent the least talented bunch of the four in Group D.
However, their 2-1 win over Bahrain in the opener and impressive performance in the 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, which they gave up the heart-breaker in stoppage time, clearly shows the fitness and determination of the Indonesian players, as well as how far their frantic, foot-stomping home crowd of 90,000 could carry them.
Indonesia is expected to adopt a similar strategy the Saudis and Bahrain employed against Korea __ pounding the ball to the flanks and taking advantage of the slow Korean defenders.
Fleet-footed Saudi forward Malek Maaz tortured the Korean defense throughout the game before drawing the game-tying penalty in the second-half on an ill-advised foul by right-back Oh Beom-seok.
The Chunnam Dragons duo of Kim Jin-kyu and Kang Min-soo __ who Verbeek trusts as central defenders __ failed to recover for their defensive miscues that led to the two goals against Bahrain.
Indonesia seems to have the personnel to attack Korea in the same way. Pint-sized forward Bambang Pamungkas could give Korean defenders nightmares with his pace and trickery, while skipper Ponaryo Astaman gives the team a creative playmaker in the midfield.
Korea could take comfort in the fact that the Indonesians will be without holding midfielder Eka Ramdani due to accumulated bookings. Attacker Elie Aiboy, who scored the equalizer against Saudi Arabia, could also miss the match as he is nursing a knee injury.
Stemming the Indonesian attack is one thing, scoring against them is another. Coping with the loss of Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung and Suwon Samsung's Kim Nam-il, Verbeek has packed the midfield with five players for the effectiveness at keeping position.
However, with the midfielders forced to play deep most of the time to cover for defensive jitters, and forwards Lee and Cho Jae-jin struggling in their roles as lone striker, creating enough goal-scoring chances has become a problem for the Koreans.
Verbeek hopes to clear Indonesia by at least two goals, which would give them insurance should Bahrain beat Saudi Arabia in their group stage finale, and he has to be wondering where the offense will come from.
The Dutch coach is likely to start Cho as a lone striker, who does a better job than Lee in winning the ball in air and holding it up until the support arrives, with the Middlesbrough forward, the better finisher of the two, readied as a second-half substitute.
Ulsan Hyundai midfielder Lee Chun-soo has clearly been Korea's best player so far with his relentless attack on the right flank, and Verbeek could only hope that his set-piece prowess results in a goal this time, especially with his strikers looking out of touch.
Kim Do-hyeon, who scored the goal against Bahrain but otherwise had an ineffective game, is penciled as the offensive point man in the center midfield, while Seongnam Ilhwa teammate Kim Sang-shik hopes to replace the role of Suwon's Kim as the deep-lying playmaker.
Song Chong-kuk and Kim Dong-jin, defensive backs who were blamed largely for the loss to Bahrain, are not expected to get the call against Indonesia, as their games could be more fitted to a 4-4-2 style which requires full-backs to be more involved in the offense.
This means that Oh and Kim Chi-kyu, defenders with limited attacking skills, will man the flanks against Indonesia, and Verbeek expects a better performance by the duo than from the Saudi match.
The hostile home crowd at Jakarta's sweltering Gelora Bung Karno Stadium is not only a concern for Verbeek's boys. The Korean embassy in Jakarta has warned Korean football fans not to wander outside their designated area in the stadium and recommended them not to wear the Korean football team's uniform or red shirts. -
china are really jialat.
-
What is the latest score for the Iran Vs Malaysia and China Vs Uzbekistan?Originally posted by dragg:china are really jialat. -
Iran 2-0 M'siaOriginally posted by Short Ninja:What is the latest score for the Iran Vs Malaysia and China Vs Uzbekistan?
China 0-2 Uzbekistan -
China 0 - 3 Uzbekiztan
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Thanks for the update.Game over for Chinese and time to get a new coach.Uzbekistan and Iran Final or still too early to predict.Originally posted by omgukilledkenny:Iran 2-0 M'sia
China 0-2 Uzbekistan -
china lost by 3 goals to nil.
they should really buck up. -
Group C news
Uzbeks advance as China crash out
Jul 18, 2007
PA Sport
SHAH ALAM – Uzbekistan secured a quarter-final meeting with Saudi Arabia in the AFC Asian Cup after second half goals from Maksim Shatskikh, Timur Kapadze and Alexander Geynrikh lifted the central Asian side to a 3-0 win over China at Shah Alam Stadium on Wednesday.
Shatskikh fired the Uzbeks ahead after 72 minutes, Kapadze added a second with four minutes remaining before Geynrikh netted the final goal deep into injury time as Rauf InileyevÂ’s side claimed second place in Group C behind Iran.
The Uzbeks will travel to Jakarta to face the Saudis in the last eight on Sunday, while China missed out on the knockout stage of the Asian Cup for the first time since 1980.
China only needed a draw to progress and coach Zhu Guanghu made four changes to the side which drew 2-2 with Iran as Yang Jun replaced the injured Li Leilei in goal, Dong Fangzhou taking over from Wang Dong on the right wide and Du Wei and Zhang Shuai replaced suspended duo Li Weifeng and captain Zhang Zhi.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan coach Inileyev made three alterations from their 5-0 win over Malaysia as Aziz Haydarov, Aziz Ibragimov and Anvar Gafurov replaced Victor Karpenko, Anzur Ismailov and the suspended Islom Inomov.
Both teams started cautiously on the slick pitch at Shah Alam, which had been drenched by an earlier thunderstorm, and it was China that created the first chance after three minutes as Mao JianqingÂ’s low cross from the left flank was turned wide by Shao Jiayi.
Uzbekistan needed a win to progress and they threatened to open the scoring after 15 minutes when a shot from Server Djeparov on the right side of the China box nicked off Du Wei and fell into the grateful arms of Yang Jun.
Six minutes later, Zhou Haibin saw his well-struck long range free-kick turned over the Uzbek crossbar by goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov.
Yang Jun, playing in his first match of the tournament, got good cover from his defence in the opening half as Sun Xiang put in a good sliding challenge to prevent Timur Kapadze from taking a shot inside the six-yard area after 31 minutes, while Du Wei blocked a close-range effort by Maksim Shatskikh two minutes later.
Yang was called into action as the half closed as the custodian went down on one knee to stop a Shatskikh snap shot from just outside the area and then finding himself in the right position again to gather DjeparovÂ’s curling effort just before the interval.
Striker Geynrikh came on at half-time for Ulugbek Bakaev as Inileyev looked to inject more urgency into his side and the China defence were kept on their toes in the early minutes of the second half as Sun Xiang and Zhang Yaokun alertly foiled ShatskikhÂ’s attempts to force an opening.
Shao Jiayi twice tested Nesterov with a low shot from the edge of area six minutes before the hour mark and a free-kick from just outside the area on the hour but the Uzbek keeper was equal to the task on both occasions, diving low to turn aside both efforts.
It was the desperate Uzbeks who exerted much of the pressure and Shatskikh went close on four minutes later when his shot from the right of the China box fizzed across the face of Yang JunÂ’s goal.
Two minutes later, China went within inches of taking the lead as Zhang ShuaiÂ’s low cross from the right was met by an unmarked Wang Dong who rocked the underside of the crossbar from close range.
That miss would prove costly as the Uzbeks made the breakthrough with 18 minutes remaining as substitute Victor Karpenko curled in a free-kick into the area that was met by a glancing header from Shatskikh.
Yang Jun made a good stop on his line but the Uzbek striker followed up on his effort, crashing the ball into the back of the net to give the central Asians a precious lead.
The Uzbeks very nearly sealed the win two minutes later when Djeparov laid the ball off to an advancing Anzur Ismailov, who crashed his shot wide from the right edge of the box before Shatskikh put the ball into the net again shortly afterwards but was flagged offside.
However, the Uzbeks would claim a second four minutes from time when Karpenko curled in another free-kick that was just missed by the head of Shatskikh but met by Kapadze, who turned the ball past a helpless Yang.
And deep into injury time, Geynrikh piled further misery on China as he fired past Yang on the rebound after his initial free-kick had been blocked by the wall.