6 January 26, 2019 Iran Score Three Past China to Japan Beat Vietnam 1-0 on VAR Penalty Face Japan in Semis ABU DHABI (Dispatches) - Regional heavyweights minutes later but the match official resisted Iranian Iran underlined their Asian Cup title credentials with pleas that he check with the video assistant referee a comfortable 3-0 victory over Marcello Lippi’s China (VAR), newly installed for the quarter-finals. on Thursday to reach the semi-finals of the continental Feng was hauled off in the 28th minute but two championship for the first time since 2004. minutes later another Chinese defender was deceived Goals from forwards Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun by a long ball, Azmoun wrestling his way past Liu and Karim Ansarifard combined with a record- Yiming before rounding goalkeeper Yan Junling and equalling fifth straight clean sheet was enough to set slotting the ball into the net from an angle. up a last four date with four-times champions Japan in China came out with a little more purpose after the Al Ain next Monday. break and substitute Xiao Zhi ballooned a header Outmuscled by the physical Iranians and over the bar but they were still caught in possession embarrassed by a series of defensive howlers, China too often and Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand sent World Cup-winning coach Lippi into almost snuffed out anything too dangerous. Japan’s midfielder Ritsu Doan scores the penalty kick for the opening certain retirement by exiting with barely a whimper at Fullback Ehsan Hajsafi drilled a low shot towards goal during the AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal soccer match between the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. the China goal on the hour mark that Yan did well to Japan and Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab The lively Iranian forward line were allowed far push away and it looked like, as in their last 16 match Emirates, Jan 24, 2019. (HASSAN AMMAR / AP PHOTO) too much space from the start and winger Alireza against Oman at the same stadium, Iran would be Jahanbakhsh sent a cross-shot whistling past the post unable to score after the break. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates feel real confidence with that. But in the fourth minute. In stoppage time, however, Mehdi robbed China’s (AP) - Japan and Iran became the we have to be more clinical, we The massed ranks of Iran fans did not have to wait Shi Ke on the halfway line and his pass sent first two teams to advance to the have to think of more details and Iran’s defender Hossein Kanaanizadeh, long for the first goal, though, and it came in the 18th Ansarifard clear to put the gloss on another emphatic Asian Cup semifinals on Thursday. we can handle it.’’ left, and China’s midfielder Zhao Xuri fight minute from the simplest of long balls up the middle. step towards ending Iran’s 43-year wait for a fourth Four-time champion Japan Video reviews were introduced for the ball during the AFC Asian Cup China defender Feng Xiaoting hesitated and Azmoun continental title. eliminated Vietnam 1-0 in their at the Asian Cup on Thursday for quarterfinal soccer match between Iran and pounced, taking his time to turn before sliding the ball Iran continued on their quest to end a barren run quarterfinal before three-time the rest of the tournament, and China at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in across the area to the unmarked Mehdi, who had all at the Asian Cup dating back 43 years with Mehdi winner Iran cruised past China disallowed a first-half goal by Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, the time in the world to stroke it into the net. Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard all on 3-0. Yoshida. VAR revealed the ball Jan. 24, 2019. Mehdi looked unlucky not to get a penalty three target in Abu Dhabi. The two unbeaten winners hit his arm. are set to meet in the semis on Later on, it was used before Monday. the lone goal in the second half, In Dubai, midfielder Ritsu Doan confirming Bui Tien Dung’s foul Lippi to Leave as Contract With China Ends converted a penalty with a low on Doan in the area. left-foot shot in the 57th minute Outsider Vietnam made the to give Japan its fifth win in five knockout stage only as the final, ABU DHABI (AP) - Marcello Lippi, After Asian Cup Tour national team in 2016, when China games, all by a one-goal margin. fourth-best third-place team from the 70-year-old Italian legendary coach, suffered a 4-game winless run in the ‘’It is clean sheet and we go the group stage and knocked out said here Thursday that he will leave his last stage of the Asian Zone qualifying through to the next round, that Jordan in a penalty shootout in position with China as his contract ends campaign. Although China eventually is the most important.’’ Japan the round of 16. after the AFC Asian Cup tour. failed to qualify for the 2018 World captain Maya Yoshida said. ‘’We Vietnam goalkeeper Dang Van The World Cup-winning coach did Cup finals in Russia, Lippi impressed need to improve a lot, attacking Lam was happy with the team’s not take questions from the media but the fans with his team improvement, side and defensive side as well. I achievement. made a brief statement after tournament especially in their fighting spirit. favorites Iran beat China 3-0 here on “I tried my best to make our team Thursday in the Asian Cup quarterfinal. improving, and I think I built something Paris Edges Feuz to “I want to thank everyone here, in some aspects. I wish I could end this because this match ends my contract journey in a better way,” Lippi said. with the Chinese national team,” Lippi What made Lippi disappointed Win Classic Downhill in said. in his good-bye match was that his “It has been a very huge honor for team conceded all three goals due to Kitzbuehel me to coach such an important national defensive errors. team for such an important country like China’s head coach Marcello Lippi (L) of Italy and captain Zheng Zhi Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, who called China.” attend the pre-match press conference one day ahead of the quarterfinal himself as “Lippi’s student” before the Chinese Football Association (CFA) match between China and Iran at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in Abu match, said China have been improving named Lippi as coach of China’s Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Jan 23, 2019. under the guidance of Lippi. Chelsea Beat Nadal Beats Tsitsipas for Tottenham on Penalties Fifth Australian Open Final to Reach Cup Final MELBOURNE ( AP) - Rafael round and 21-year-old Frances Tiafoe Nadal is certainly not treating tennis’ in the quarterfinals. next generation well at the Australian Asked if he was trying to make a Open. statement with the way he soundly Add 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated these up-and-coming talents, to the list of youngsters Nadal has Nadal said: “They don’t need any bullied on his way to his fifth final at message, no. They are good. They’re Melbourne Park and 25th at all Grand improving every month. So it’s always Italy’s Dominik Paris celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, men’s Slam tournaments. a big challenge to play against them.” World Cup downhill, in Kitzbuehel, Austria, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Nadal needed all of 11 minutes Tsitsipas’ run to the first major Thursday to show Tsitsipas – and semifinal of his nascent career was KITZBUEHEL, Austria (AP) season to win two downhills, after everyone else – that the kid’s upset most notable for the way he beat 20- - Dominik Paris won the classic also triumphing in Bormio, Italy, in of Roger Federer was not going to time major champion Federer in the downhill on the Streif course Friday December. be replicated on this night. Not even fourth round, saving 12 of 12 break for the third time. Paris’ previous wins in Kitzbuehel close. Breaking Tsitispas in the match’s points across four sets and 3 hours, 45 The Italian used a dauntless run came in 2013 and 2017. Only Didier third game and then another five times minutes. on the 3.3-kilometer course to Cuche (five) and Franz Klammer Thursday, while never facing a single But the left-handed Nadal was a much beat downhill leader Beat Feuz of (four) have won the race more times. Chelsea’s David Luiz celebrates after scoring the winning penalty break point himself until the very last more difficult puzzle to solve. during the second leg of the English League Cup semifinal soccer match Switzerland by 0.20 seconds. Alexander Koell of Sweden game, Nadal won 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. On Sunday, the 32-year-old Spaniard Otmar Striedinger of Austria crashed and had to be taken off the between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge stadium in It was the same straight-set, no- will try to earn his second Australian London, Jan 24, 2019. finished 0.37 behind in third. hill by helicopter with unknown contest treatment Nadal gave to Open title – he won the hard-court event Paris became the first man this injuries. 19-year-old Alex de Minaur in the third in 2009 – and his 18th Slam trophy. LONDON (Dispatches) - 2008 League Cup, saw its 1-0 Chelsea responded to the recent advantage from the first leg criticism from manager Maurizio wiped out in the 27th minute.