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TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2019

George’s season high 3-pointer and King Kohli bows out with India Ronaldo late winner pulls 2536 points lead Thunder past Bucks 26 undefeated in New Zealand 27 Juventus 11 points clear

Japan stun Iran to reach Asian Cup final

Queiroz stands down as Iran coach after semi-final defeat

ABU DHABI: Japan’s goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda (2nd-R) catches the ball during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semi-final football match between Iran and Japan at the in Abu Dhabi yesterday. — AFP

AL AIN: Werder Bremen striker Yuya might have had a case that Morteza Osako scored twice in 11 second-half min- Pouraliganji’s arm blocked Takumi utes to help four-times champions Japan Minamino’s cross accidentally for the penal- Kuwait SC wins HH Crown Prince Football Cup into the final of the Asian Cup with a 3-0 ty, the opening goal was down to the sort of victory over tournament favourites Iran lapse of concentration that Queiroz has yesterday. warned his team against. Osako headed the first home in the 56th Minamino had made a break down the minute and added his second from the left and crumpled to the floor on the edge penalty spot to help set up a date with of the area looking for a free kick or penal- either hosts the United Arab Emirates or ty. None was forthcoming but while Qatar in Friday’s final in Abu Dhabi. defender Ehsan Hajsafi was asking the ref- Genki Haraguchi put a gloss to the score- eree to book the striker for a dive, line with a powerful run and shot in stop- Minamino raced to retrieve the ball and page time at the end of the match but the crossed it from the corner flag for Osako to contest was already long decided. Iran had head home unchallenged. been the form team of the tournament but “It was very competitive, quite balanced their dreams of a ending a 43-year wait for a game, until one error by my team, a naive fourth continental title were left in tatters by error. We were all expecting action from the the clinical Samurai Blue. referee over the simulation,” said Queiroz. Carlos Queiroz announced in the post- “It was an emotional breakdown from my match news conference that his nearly players and after that there was only one eight-year run as Iran coach, which took in team on the pitch.” two World Cups, was over. “I think the sim- It was the first goal Iran had conceded in plest thing to do is to copy the old song: six games at the tournament but winger ‘and now, the end is here’,” the Portuguese Alireza Jahanbakhsh came close to equalis- said, misquoting the song Frank Sinatra ing five minutes later with a free kick that KUWAIT: Kuwait SC players celebrate their victory after winning His Highness the Crown Prince Football Cup in Kuwait made famous. forced a good save out of Shuichi Gonda. yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al Zayyat “I’m happy and proud to say I did it my The second blow landed soon afterwards way.” Roared on by a noisy majority of the when the referee pointed to the spot after crowd, the Iranians had enjoyed the better the ball had struck Pouraliganji on the arm, KUWAIT: Kuwait SC won His Highness ate performance by both teams but Arabi SC 2-1, while Kuwait’s difficult 2- of a competitive, if goalless, first half but confirming his decision following a look at the Crown Prince Football Cup after Zayed’s goal broke the silence of the 1 win over Al-Nasr took the team to were completely deflated by Osako’s twin the TV pictures on the sideline. beating rival Qadsia SC 1-0 yesterday. fans. The first half ended with Kuwait yesterday’s clash. His Highness the strikes and never looked like fighting their Osako sent goalkeeper Alireza Faisal Zayed scored Kuwait’s sole goal leading by one goal. Qadsia put on a Crown Prince Football Cup was first way back into the match. Beiranvand the wrong way from the spot to give the club’s seventh Crown Prince better show in the second half but was held in season 1993-94. Qadsia SC has “We knew it was going to be tough but and a fifth final in the last eight versions Football Cup title. His Highness the unable to level the score sheet. The final nine titles under its belt, followed by Al- the players showed great fighting spirit,” of the continental championship look Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad match was attended by FIFA President Arabi and Kuwait with seven each. said Japan coach . “I’m assured, Haraguchi helping to wrap up Al-Jaber Al-Sabah attended the final Gianni Infantino and top official. Qadsia Salmiya SC won the Cup twice and happy the players showed that fighting spirit their first win by a margin of more than match. The first half witnessed moder- reached the finals after beating Al- Kazma once. — KUNA and really went for the win.” While Iran one goal at the tournament. —Reuters