TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015 SPORTS Australia, UAE aiming for first Asian Cup titles MELBOURNE: If the detour leads to the this Asian Cup. ultimate destination for Tim Cahill and Abdulrahman “is a good player, so is the Socceroos, Australians won’t be wor- Mabkhout up front,” Australia coach ried at all about the route the national Ange Postecoglou said, before adding team has taken to the Asian Cup final. that he was more concerned with the Australia takes on the United Arab threat posed by the team as a whole Emirates in the semifinals today at than by individual players. Newcastle, 160 kilometers (100 miles) “They are probably one of the few north of Sydney. Organizers no doubt national teams in this region, and partic- would have preferred a semifinal at a ularly the Middle East, who have been heaving former Olympic stadium in pretty stable in terms of their coach and Sydney on Australia Day, Jan. 26, but the their team,” Postecoglou said. “They look Socceroos missed out on that by losing more cohesive than some of the other their last group game 1-0 to South Korea. sides that tend to chop and change a bit. The South Koreans instead took that That is where the danger lies, rather than slot - at Australia’s marquee stadium on with the individuals.” the national holiday - for their semifinal Australia and the UAE have never met against 2007 champion Iraq. in a competitive match, and their last Australians widely expected, then, two friendlies have ended in scoreless that their team would be meeting draws. Australia joined the Asian confed- defending champion Japan in the eration in 2006 and its best run at the 33,000-seat stadium at Newcastle, in a continental championships was a run- rematch of the 2011 Asian Cup decider. ner-up finish to Japan in 2011, when the But the UAE ensured that wouldn’t hap- UAE finished 13th. pen with a surprising quarterfinal win on Two quarterfinals were decided on penalties over the four-time champions. penalties but that didn’t’ concern And so both teams will be aiming for Postecoglou, who didn’t leave any doubt their first continental title when Australia about his approach in the knockout hosts the UAE, a team that is growing in stage. “What they do becomes a little bit confidence and self-belief. irrelevant ... we want to dictate the Cahill produced two spectacular goals game,” he said. “So whether they sit back to deliver Australia a 2-0 quarterfinal win or come at us, we have to make sure in over China last week. The United Arab either scenario we are the ones on the SYDNEY: Iraq’s Younus Mahmood (L) fights for the ball with South Korea’s Kim Jin Su (R) during the semi-final football match between South Emirates earned their place after a front foot and dominating the game.” Korea and Iraq at the AFC Asian Cup in Sydney yesterday. — AFP thrilling 5-4 upset win on penalties after UAE coach Mahdi Ali said the win over their quarterfinal with regional power- reigning champion Japan had given his house Japan finished 1-1 after extra time. team renewed confidence. “Of course ... S Korea beat Iraq 2-0 to While Australia has enviable attacking it’s a great thing it will give the players options with the likes of Cahill, Massimo more confidence and more motivation,” Luongo, Robbie Kruse and captain Mile Ali said. “We fought for the 120 minutes Jedinak, the UAE boasts the most prolific for this game and thank God that we win reach Asian Cup final forward in the tournament in Ali this game.” Mabkhout, who has found the net four He knows, though, that the game times. The 35-year-old Cahill has three against Australia will rise to another lev- goals this tournament and has captured el. “Of course playing against Australia in S Koreans in first final since 1988 the imagination of home fans with his Australia will be a very tough game,” Ali uncanny ability to turn a game with pin- said. “It will be a very tough game and SYDNEY: South Korea moved a step closer to the Match. “All the players were together, firm to get down low to push the ball across his goal. point headers and inspired shots at goal. the stadium will be very crowded and we burying their 55-year Asian Cup hoodoo when and united, and that’s what gave us the win The South Korea goalkeeper gave the Iraqis UAE Omar Abdulrahman, hope that we do the same in the next they grabbed a goal in each half to beat Iraq 2-0 today.” South Korea had looked the most likely to the sniff of an equaliser when he rashly charged meanwhile, has proved a formidable foe game (as we did against Japan).” — AP yesterday and set up a final against Australia or score in a cagey opening to the match with Son out of his area three minutes after halftime but United Arab Emirates. Heung-min, the two-goal hero of their quarter- another two minutes on and his team’s lead had Lee Jeong-hyeop gave the Taegeuk Warriors final victory over Uzbekistan, drawing a fingertip been doubled. the lead with a 20th minute header and defender save out of Jalal Hassan with a long-range effort. The ball bounced around the area in an Kim Young-gwon lashed the second into the net A minute later and the Koreans were in front, extended bout of aerial ping-pong from a Son five minutes after the break as the South Koreans Kim Jin-su curling a free kick into the box and Lee corner before Lee Jeong-hyeop chested it down reached the final for the first time since 1988. rising above the Iraqi defence to head down and for Kim Young-gwon to hit it first time from the Iraq, perhaps emotionally and physically drained into the net. edge of the box past the despairing dive of by their dramatic quarter-final victory over Iran Iraq skipper Younis Mahmoud was making his Hassan. Iraq were forced to press forward but last week, played with plenty of passion but were presence felt up front but South Korea are not a clear-cut opportunities were still few and far unable to become the first side to breach the side to be bullied at the back and he was more between for them while Hassan had to be at his Korean defence in five matches in Australia. often than not battling alone in the first half. sharpest to deny long-range efforts from South Their hopes of another fairytale run to the title The persistent rain that fell on Sydney all day Korean skipper Ki Sung-yueng and Son inside a to match their 2007 triumph were washed away was not able to dampen the spirits of a noisy minute. in the Sydney rain and it is twice champions crowd of just over 36,000, the South Koreans at Kalaf continued to cause problems with his South Korea who will return to Stadium Australia one end with inflatable batons and the horde of pace on the right flank but there always seemed next Saturday in search of a first Asian Cup crown Iraqis at the other accompanied by drums and to be a South Korean foot or head to cut out the since 1960. “This semi-final was crucial for us to whistles. The Koreans had more to shout about final ball and prevent a scoring chance. “The play- get to the final, we know we have not won this but Iraq gave their supporters a lift with a flurry ers did a good job,” said Mahmoud. “My team has competition for many years,” said South Korean of attacks just before the break when winger many young players and this was their first time Nam Tae-hee, who was named Man of Amjed Kalaf’s raking drive forced Kim Jin-hyeon (playing in a big tournament).” — Reuters Unfancied hosts, Congo advance in Cup of Nations

BATA, Equatorial Guinea: Hosts Equatorial hardly had any time to put together a competitive ners-up but they made it two wins on the bounce Guinea and ’s Congo Brazzaville team after being appointed at the start of this all the same. defied the odds to become the first teams to qual- month, and he later described the triumph as a Thievy Bifouma’s second goal of the tourna- MALABO: Senegal’s players walk on the pitch at Malabo stadium yesterday on the ify for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of “Cinderella story”. “The poor team beat the rich ment gave Congo the lead early in the second half eve of their 2015 African Cup of Nations football match Senegal v Algeria. — AFP Nations on Sunday. The duo were considered the team on merit, thanks to their sacrifice, their com- and clinched the win in the 88th outsiders in Group A when the competition mitment, their pride and their passion,” he said. minute just after Aristide Bance had levelled for began, but Congo advanced in first place after “This squad only came together 20 days ago in the Stallions. Congo are through to the quarter- Senegal in pole position beating Burkina Faso 2-1 in Ebebiyin while Madrid, then we went to Lisbon and put in place a finals for the first time since 1992, while Le Roy has Equatorial Guinea sunk Gabon 2-0 amid emotion- style of play with optimism. “We were convinced now reached the knockout stage of the African ahead of Group C al scenes in Bata. After drawing their first two in every training session that we could go far. To football showcase seven times in eight attempts matches at the tournament, the Nzalang Nacional be in the top eight in Africa is an honour for such a with five different countries. “It’s incredible. I feel a had to beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Gabon small nation.” For Gabon, who only needed a draw lot of emotion and incredible happiness. These MALABO: Billed as the toughest section His teammate Yacine Brahimi added: to go through and did so to match their achieve- to go through, there was a feeling of injustice, guys are incredible,” said Le Roy, whose side, like at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations when “There is so much at stake. We are ment of reaching the last eight as co-hosts in with Aubameyang saying the Ivorian referee erred Equatorial Guinea, might never have been at the the draw was made, Group C reaches its approaching this match as if it is a final. 2012. A disputed 55th-minute penalty, won and in awarding the hosts a penalty for a foul on finals in the first place. denouement today evening. The match against Ghana (a 1-0 defeat) is converted by former Real Madrid forward by Lloyd Palun. “It’s really upsetting Beaten on penalties by Rwanda in the second Everything is still up for grabs as behind us. We have learnt from our errors Balboa, set Equatorial Guinea on their way in front because at this level referees should not be round of qualifiers in August, they were allowed group leaders Senegal take on pre-tour- and we will give everything against of a sell-out 35,000 crowd before Spanish-born allowed to make mistakes like that,” said the back in when Rwanda were punished for fielding nament favourites Algeria in Malabo Senegal.” substitute Iban Edu secured the win four minutes Borussia Dortmund star. While Gabon go home, an ineligible player and then came through their while Ghana and South Africa clash in The encounter sees two French coach- from time. Equatorial Guinea advance to a quarter-final in final qualifying group ahead of 2013 champions Mongomo. es going head to head in Gourcuff and Tears of joy from some home players greeted Ebebiyin against the runners-up from Group B. Nigeria. “We have come from nowhere. Anything There are myriad different scenarios as Giresse, with the former hoping the pitch the final whistle and celebrations spilled over onto that happens from now on is a bonus,” added Le all four sides bid to advance to the in Malabo on the island of Bioko helps the streets as the nation soaked up a success that Le Roy does it again Roy, whose side will now return to Bata to face the knockout stages, although Alain Giresse’s his side produce the kind of passing foot- was unimaginable just a few short weeks ago. Congo won the group after beating Burkina Group B runners-up next Saturday. Senegal know that a draw against ball they have been unable to develop in Last summer they were disqualified from the com- Faso as veteran French coach Le Roy celebrated A wide open Group B concludes on Monday, Algeria will take them through, while a their first two games in Mongomo. petition for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifi- another remarkable success story in the African when Tunisia need only draw with DR Congo in win will ensure that they go through to “If the pitch in Malabo is better then er against Mauritania, only to be reinstated as the game. Having claimed their first win at the finals Bata to advance, while Zambia, the 2012 champi- the last eight as group winners. that’s good for everyone. May the best replacement hosts following Morocco’s withdraw- in 41 years when they beat Gabon in midweek, ons, must beat Cape Verde to keep alive their The Lions of Teranga are looking to team win,” said Giresse, the former France al over Ebola fears. But coach Esteban Becker Congo needed only a draw against the 2013 run- hopes of going through. — AFP qualify for the tournament knockout international. Back in Mongomo, on con- stage for the first time since 2006, when tinental Africa, Ghana are targeting a first they reached the semi-finals in Egypt. Cup of Nations victory against South Algeria, who won 2-1 in the 1990 semi- Africa as they bid to extend a record of finals in the only previous meeting of the reaching at least the semi-finals at each sides at the competition, know a win will of the last four Nations Cups. The Black take them into the last eight. However, Stars put an opening defeat to Senegal Christian Gourcuff’s side, Africa’s top- behind them when they beat Algeria ranked team, will also progress with a thanks to a late goal from Asamoah Gyan draw if South Africa beat Ghana in the on his return from a bout of malaria. other match. Meanwhile, in Mongomo, However, Andre Ayew said: “We’e not Ghana will go through with a win, while taking anything for granted. Algeria is a draw will suffice provided Algeria don’t behind us and next is South Africa. It will beat Senegal. be a very tough battle. “Expectations South Africa must win and hope back at home must now have risen, but Senegal beat Algeria, although they Ghana have always dealt with the pres- would also go through in the case of an sure.” South Africa have the toughest task Algeria win provided they can overturn of all four contenders and will be without their goal difference deficit to Senegal. Thulani Hlatshwayo after he suffered The different possibilities are concussion in the 1-1 draw with Senegal headache-inducing, but Algeria defender last time out. Madjid Bougherra insisted that the situa- However, young defender Rivaldo tion in Group C showed how exciting the Coetzee could return after missing that tournament is. game. “We still have another game to “When you look at this African Cup, play, so don’t write us off just yet. every group is being decided in the last Football has its own miracles. With one games. It’s exciting and I think it’s been a game to go, we can still surprise a lot of great competition this year. The stan- people,” insisted coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ EBEBIYIN: Congo’s goalkeeper Christopher Mafoumbi (C bottom) dives to block a shot on goal by Burkina Faso’s forward Issiaka Ouedraogo dard is really high,” said Bougherra. Mashaba. — AFP during the 2015 African Cup of Nations group A football match between Congo and Burkina Faso in Ebebiyin on Sunday.— AFP