SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015 SPORTS Schalke win over Hanover BERLIN: Schalke 04’s star striker Klaas-Jan Borussia Moenchengladbach went third Huntelaar will miss next week’s Bundesliga in the league on Saturday after Patrick clash at leaders Bayern Munich after being Herrmann netted their second-half goal in sent off in yesterday’s 1-0 league win over a 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart, who dropped Hanover 96. to second from bottom. ‘The Hunter’, who has claimed seven Herrmann drilled home Branimir league goals this season, was shown a Hrgota’s swirling cross 20 minutes from straight red for hacking down Hanover’s time to move Lucien Favre’s side up behind Manuel Schmiedebach five minutes from leaders Bayern and VfL Wolfsburg. time. With Borussia Dortmund at Bayer The Dutch international has netted 66 Leverkusen later on Saturday, Freiburg sent goals in 117 league games at Schalke, but Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund to the bottom of is now suspended for what already looked the table with a 4-1 comeback win at home a difficult league clash at Bayern’s Allianz to Eintracht Frankfurt. Arena on Tuesday. Ex-Bayern Munich striker Nils Petersen “The red card against Klaas-Jan came off the bench to claim a second-half Huntelaar has hurt us,” admitted Schalke hat-trick on his debut, having joined from coach Roberto Di Matteo. “It was a foul and Werder Bremen at the end of December. the referee was in a good position. “Klaas- Freiburg picked up their first win since Jan was trying to win the ball, but didn’t November, which catapulted them up from succeed and, of course, it’s a pity he will be last place to 13th in the table. Cologne missing now.” pulled away from the relegation zone and The Royal Blues went ahead at the up to tenth with a 2-0 win at strugglers Veltins Arena when midfielder Marco Hamburg, who drop to 15th and just above Hoeger slotted his shot past Hanover’s the bottom three. Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler Cologne picked up their fifth away win, with 32 minutes gone. to match Bayern’s tally on the road as mid- The win lifted Di Matteo’s Schalke, who fielder Marcel Risse scored both second- face holders Real Madrid in the last 16 of half goals. the Champions League next month, up to He fired his first through the legs of fourth in the table. Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny SYDNEY: Australia’s Mile Jedinak (center) receives trophy from FIFA president Sepp Blatter (left) and AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Pep Guardiola’s Bayern had their lead before burying a final pass from Nigeria’s Al Khalifa (right) after beating South Korea in the AFC Asian Cup football final.—AFP cut to eight points on Friday when they suf- Anthony Ujah 12 minutes from time. fered a shock 4-1 hammering at second- Mid-table Mainz romped to a 5-0 win placed VfL Wolfsburg as the Bundesliga over Paderborn as midfielder Yunus Malli resumed after the winter break. scored twice and set up their third. —AFP Aussies crush Koreans DR Congo come from to clinch Asian Cup behind to win classic SYDNEY: Substitute James Troisi smashed home The Socceroos, runners-up to Japan in 2011, But then Luongo, who has been a revelation BATA: DR Congo ended the fairytale run of passed just over the bar. a dramatic extra-time winner as Australia beat had been on the brink of victory thanks to a for the Australians and was deservedly voted neighbours Congo Brazzaville yesterday But, in contrast, the second half was a South Korea 2-1 to win their first Asian Cup title fierce strike from Massimo Luongo on the stroke player of the tournament, wriggled free to blast when they came from behind to win 4-2 remarkable affair. In the 52nd minute, in an electrifying final yesterday. of half-time, which triggered wild celebrations a long-range drive past Kim’s despairing dive. and qualify for the semi-finals of the 2015 Mbokani headed down for Bokila, who Troisi broke Korean hearts with the very last from the waves of fans in green and gold in a It was the first goal South Korea had conced- Africa Cup of Nations. crashed a volley against the underside of kick in the first extra period after Son Heung-Min crowd of 76,000. ed in the tournament on their way to a first final Congo, who were only reinstated in the the bar, before Congo opened the scoring had snatched a magical injury-time equaliser at But South Korea’s superstar Son produced a in 27 years. Korean pin-up Son pounced in show- qualifying tournament of this competition at the other end moments later. the end of normal time. moment of sheer brilliance in injury time, burst- stopping fashion, drilling a left-foot shot past after Rwanda were disqualified for fielding Delvin Ndinga swung a free-kick into Australia’s triumph gave them a first title ing through to fire past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan before celebrating with the massed ranks an ineligible player, led this battle of the the box and Dore got in behind his marker since defecting from Oceania nine years ago, Ryan after a clever flick from captain Ki Sung- of “Red Devils” fans behind the Australian goal. Congos 2-0 before DRC fought back to win to volley past veteran goalkeeper Robert while South Korea’s anguish continued after Yueng. But in extra time, Tomi Juric picked Kim Jin- with four goals in the last 25 minutes. Kidiaba. they failed to break a hoodoo in the tournament Australia, the Asian Cup’s top scorers with 14 Su’s pocket and when his cross was pushed out Following a flat first 45 minutes in a Bifouma then doubled the Red Devils’ stretching back to 1960. “It was a super effort goals, were forced to dig deep in a reversal of by Kim Jin-Hyeon, fellow substitute Troisi belted largely deserted Estadio de Bata, this derby lead in the 62nd minute when he latched from everyone,” said Australia coach Ange the group meeting between the two sides earli- the ball into the roof of the net. clash came to life after the break, with on to a loose ball inside the area after Postecoglou. “It was a final, it never goes to er in the tournament, which was dominated by The Korean players, who had surpassed Ferebory Dore volleying Congo in front 10 Kidiaba had saved from Dore to grab his script. It was tough, you’ve got to grind it out Australia but won 1-0 by the Koreans. expectations after the squad was ravaged by minutes into the second half. third goal of the tournament. and the courage the players showed tonight was injuries and sickness during the tournament, Thievy Bifouma then doubled their lead However, DR Congo pulled a goal back enormous.” BRUISING FINAL slumped to the turf in tears at the final whistle. just after the hour mark, but the Leopards on 65 minutes when Mbokani was left with “I knew we’d finish stronger,” he added, before Australian captain Mile Jedinak set the tone “I don’t agree we are not champions,” said were back in the game on 65 minutes a simple finish following superb work by shaking the hands of the devastated Korean for a bruising final when he clattered Son during South Korea coach Uli Stielike. “We don’t have when Dieumerci Mbokani found the net. Yannick Bolasie on the left. players. “We pride ourselves on being very fit the early skirmishes, and right-back Ivan Franjic the cup but the way our players played today we Loteteka Bokila equalised with 15 min- The Leopards now had the momentum and it was just a matter of taking our chance. I’m was then booked for a crude foul on Park Joo- are the champions of a lot of hearts. utes remaining before substitute Joel on their side and Bokila made up for his super-proud of them. Hopefully from now on, us Ho. Defender Kwak Tae-Hwi headed a Ki free kick “I will tell you something in Korean Kimwaki Mpela put Florent Ibenge’s side earlier miss when he turned inside the box Aussies can take on the world because I have a wastefully wide after 24 minutes before Tim because it comes deep from the heart I wrote ahead and Mbokani then clinched the win. and fired home the equaliser. real belief in these guys.” Australia’s historical tri- Cahill, making possibly his last appearance in a it down,” added the German, unfolding a The result sees DR Congo advance to For a short while extra time loomed, but umph vindicated Postecoglou’s decision to over- Socceroos shirt, forced a smart save from goal- piece of paper. “Korea you can be proud of the last four for the first time since 1998, then Kimwaki put DR Congo ahead for the haul the team after its “golden generation” keeper Kim Jin-Hyeon as both teams came out your boys!” Loud booing directed at FIFA pres- while the adventure ends here for Claude first time when he rose unmarked to head passed their prime. of their shell. ident Sepp Blatter and Asian football chiefs as Le Roy’s team. The first half never really got home a free-kick past the stranded It could also further antagonise countries said Son, Australia’s tormentor-in-chief, almost Australia’s players collected their prize mat- going, with both sides playing with caution Christoffer Mafoumbi in goal.