Asian Cup 2015: Group Stage Scores, Results, Updated Table and Schedule
Australia are setting out to win their first ever Asian Cup competition and looking to build on a disappointing showing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
This year's hosts joined the confederation in 2007 and came close to winning the competition in 2011, when they lost after extra time in the final.
Japan were the victors that day, securing their record fourth tournament win. A total of 16 teams now have the chance to try to topple Asia's dominant side in a busy schedule which runs from Jan. 9-31.
Be sure to check back here regularly for the latest updates from the competition.
Group Standings
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Here's an up-to-date rundown of all the 2015 Asian Cup group standings, courtesy of the tournament's official website:
Group A:
| South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | |
| Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6 | |
| Oman | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 3 | |
| Kuwait | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 0 |
Group B:
| China PR | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 9 | |
| Uzbekistan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | |
| North Korea | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 0 |
Group C:
| Position | Nation | P | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Iran | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | UAE | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Bahrain | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 4 | Qatar | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | -6 | 0 |
Group D:
| Position | Nation | P | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
| 2 | Iraq | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Jordan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Palestine | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0 |
Schedule and Results
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Be sure to check out the full schedule of fixtures, provided by the tournament's official website:
Group A:
| Date | Fixture | AEDT | GMT | ET |
| Jan. 9 | Australia 4-1 Kuwait | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 10 | Korea Republic 1-0 Oman | 4 p.m. | 5 a.m. | 12 a.m. |
| Jan. 13 | Kuwait 0-1 Korea Republic | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 13 | Oman 0-4 Australia | 7 p.m. | 8 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Jan. 17 | Australia 0-1 Korea Republic | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 17 | Oman 1-0 Kuwait | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
Group B:
| Date | Fixtures | AEDT | GMT | ET |
| Jan. 10 | Uzbekistan 1-0 DPR Korea | 6 p.m. | 7 a.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Jan. 10 | Saudi Arabia 0-1 China PR | 7 p.m. | 8 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Jan. 14 | DPR Korea 1-4 Saudi Arabia | 6 p.m. | 7 a.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Jan. 14 | China PR 2-1 Uzbekistan | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 17 | Uzbekistan 3-1 Saudi Arabia | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 17 | China PR 2-1 DPR Korea | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
Group C:
| Date | Fixtures | AEDT | GMT | ET |
| Jan. 11 | UAE 4-1 Qatar | 6 p.m. | 7 a.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Jan. 11 | Iran 2-0 Bahrain | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 15 | Bahrain 1-2 UAE | 6 p.m. | 7 a.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Jan. 15 | Qatar 0-1 Iran | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 19 | Iran 1-0 UAE | 7 p.m. | 8 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Jan. 19 | Qatar 1-2 Bahrain | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
Group D:
| Date | Fixtures | AEDT | GMT | ET |
| Jan. 12 | Japan 4-0 Palestine | 6 p.m. | 7 a.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Jan. 12 | Jordan 0-1 Iraq | 7 p.m. | 8 a.m. | 3 a.m. |
| Jan. 16 | Palestine 1-5 Jordan | 6 p.m. | 7 a.m. | 2 a.m. |
| Jan. 16 | Iraq 0-1 Japan | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 20 | Japan 2-0 Jordan | 8 p.m | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
| Jan. 20 | Iraq 2-0 Palestine | 8 p.m. | 9 a.m. | 4 a.m. |
Jan. 20 Recap: Japan Win Group D, Iraq Secure Quarter-Final Place
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Japan completed their Group D whitewash with a 2-0 win over Jordan on Tuesday, securing all possible nine points along their route to the Asian Cup knockout stages.
The usual suspects fired Javier Aguirre's team to victory. Keisuke Honda—who hit the woodwork three times during his previous outing—had a goal disallowed after Shinji Kagawa's cross was adjudged to have gone out of play.
Honda added his name to the scoresheet moments after, however, providing a simple tap-in after Jordan keeper Amer Shafi palmed a powerful shot into his path. Shafi was impressive throughout the first-half and stopped Jordan from suffering a rout.
Substitute Yoshinori Muto set Kagawa up for the second. The Borussia Dortmund star side-footed home his team-mate's pinpoint cross to put Ray Wilkins' side to the sword, dumping them out of the competition. Honda still had time to hit the post, but Japan marched on regardless.
You can view the highlights here, via the tournament's official Twitter feed:
"HIGHLIGHTS | Japan 2 - 0 Jordan: http://t.co/wlWuMQCvi2 #JPNvJOR #AC2015
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 20, 2015"
Jordan's loss was Iraq's gain. Radhi Shenaishil's side needed three points to confirm their place in the quarter-finals, a feat they managed with a 2-0 win over Palestine.
Younis Mahmoud's headed goal settled any nerves just after half-time. Although he missed a penalty with half an hour to go, Ahmed Yasin powered home an excellent strike from the edge of the box to send Palestine home without a point.
Be sure to check out the highlights below:
"HIGHLIGHTS | Iraq 2 - 0 Palestine: http://t.co/dORVJYQ1gX #IRQvPLE #AC2015
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 20, 2015"
Iraq deservedly progress, rounding off an entertaining group stage at the Australian tournament.
Jan. 19 Recap: Iran Top Group with Late Winner, Bahrain Beat Qatar
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Substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad scored a last-minute header to lead Iran beyond the United Arab Emirates and toward Group C victory in a thrilling 1-0 win to end Monday's Asian Cup action.
Both teams knew three points would confirm topping the group and avoiding a date with Japan. It looked as if the UAE would scrape through as leaders on goal difference, but Carlos Queiroz's men pounced with a simple header in injury time.
Ghoochannejhad had only been on the pitch 18 minutes when he connected to Sardar Azmoun's cross for the vital moment. You can view the highlights below, via the tournament's official Twitter feed:
"Highlights: @TeamMeliIran 1-0 @uaefa_ae #IRNvUAE #AC2015 https://t.co/2xJtvAvjzv
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 19, 2015"
Elsewhere, Bahrain outfought Qatar 2-1 to earn their only victory of the tournament. Goals from Sayid Dhiya Shubbar and Sayed Ahmed Jaafar ensured Qatar finished bottom of the group, leaving Bahrain with at least one triumph to enjoy after both teams suffered two previous defeats.
Shubbar's opener came after brilliant work from Faouzi Aaish, who sprinted beyond three defenders before delivering his cross. Hassan Khalid did manage to level things with 20 minutes to go, but Jaafar's terrific long-range curler caught Qasem Burhan off his line for the winner.
Be sure to check out the highlights below:
"Highlights: @FollowQFA 1-2 @bfainfo #QATvBHR #AC2015 https://t.co/ypw3j7JFnB
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 19, 2015"
Iran and the UAE progress to the knockout stages, with the former yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
Jan. 18 Recap: China Top Group B Unbeaten, Uzbekistan Storm Past Saudi Arabia
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China solidified their place atop Group B on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over North Korea assuring them of a quarter-final tie against Australia, while Uzbekistan romped past Saudi Arabia 3-2 to finish as runners-up.
Sun Ke struck twice for Alain Perrin's side to give them their third successive victory and seal a 100 percent start to the 2015 Asian Cup, although North Korea may well be disappointed with the result.
As the official Asian Cup Twitter account shows, North Korea had as many attempts on goal as their opponents, but were unable to show the same clinical features:
"Full Time: China 2:1 DPR Korea #AC2015 #CHNvPRK pic.twitter.com/sfqynjxSFJ
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 18, 2015"
As a result, Jo Tong-sop's men finish without a point to their name and exit early from the tournament, having missed the best of their clear-cut chances.
In fact, it was an own-goal from Chinese attacker Gao Lin which gave the North Koreans their consolation i the 56th minute, although they would fail to draw level at any point.
Uzbekistan's victory was a far more important matter as they headed into Sunday's clash level on points with Saudi Arabia, needing to score goals and win if their involvement in the competition was to be prolonged.
And Mirjalol Qosimov's side answered the call to arms perfectly, taking just two minutes to score through Sardor Rashidov's intervention.
Saudi Arabia would draw level thanks to Mohammad Al-Sahlawi and in the case of a draw, it would have been them who took a quarter-final place opposite South Korea.
However, Vokhid Shodiev put Uzbek noses back in front before Rashidov bagged again to seal the tie and give Qosidov's side their last-eight encounter against South Korea.
Jan. 17 Recap: South Korea top Hosts to Win Group A, Oman Beat Kuwait
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Host nation Australia suffered their first defeat of the 2015 Asian Cup on Saturday, losing 1-0 at the hands of South Korea at Suncorp Stadium to finish second in Group A.
Lee Jung-Hyub provided the breakthrough that would maintain South Korea's 100 percent start to the tournament and their third successive 1-0 victory.
Both teams started the match in understandably tense manner, knowing full well that defeat would mean losing out on priority qualification for the quarter-finals.
South Korea were made to chase the victory, too, given that their inferior goal difference meant a draw wouldn't be good enough to see them claim first place in Group A.
However, it was a calm display from Uli Stielike's contenders, who were defensively impressive once again and are still yet to concede their first goal in the competition.
Anto Rosso of Beyond The Pitch highlighted the Reds' workrate at the back, denying any and all attempts the Socceroos would produce:
"Big win for South Korea, defended very well ... lots of energy expended too
— Antö (@rossoAnto) January 17, 2015"
It played into South Korea's hands to score first. Given that the teams strengths evidently lie among their back line and ability to restrict the opposition in front of goal, guarding their lead was a more advantageous ploy.
The likes of Tim Cahill and Robbie Kruse were introduced by head coach Ange Postecoglou late on in the fixture, but the attacking pair weren't able to give the home outfit the edge they needed in Brisbane.
Meanwhile, Oman overcame Kuwait in a Group A dead rubber, which means the latter are the first team to officially end their tournament without so much as a point to their name.
The victors were far from busy in front of goal, as OptaJason pointed out, but an Abdulaziz Al-Maqbali goal gave the goal they needed to salvage some dignity at the close of their tournament:
"0 - With an hour gone, Oman are still yet to attempt a single shot (inc. blocked) against Kuwait in their #AC2015 match. Quiet.
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) January 17, 2015"
In the end, it was a dire lack of finishing quality from Kuwait that led to their defeat, failing to capitalise upon the multitude of chances they carved out.
Both teams will be disappointed to be going home this early, but Paul Le Guen's side can at least feel content in ending on a high note.
Jan. 16 Recap: Japan Qualify, Jordan Maintain Hope After Thrashing Palestine
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A stunning four-goal performance from Hamza Al Daradreh saw Jordan overcome Palestine 5-1 in Melbourne on Friday.
Little action appeared before Yousef Al Rawashdeh opened the scoring for Ray Wilkins' side. Al Daradreh provided a pass into space on the left side of the box before his team-mate curled a fantastic effort beyond sprawling stopper Ramzi Saleh.
Jordan's lead was doubled two minutes later when the Al Daradreh show began. Incisive attacking play from Abdallah Deeb Salim saw him skip around the defender before placing a shot to the back post, which Al Daradreh slid into the back of the net. The striker notched another clinical finish before the break, turning home Saeed Al Murjan's accurate low cross.
Palestine offered better control in possession after half-time, but the game was already gone. Things once again fell apart with 15 minutes to go, when Al Daradreh sped clear of the defence to finish beyond Saleh, who was fortunate not to be sent off when he deliberately handled outside the area moments later.
Oday Zahran set Al Daradreh up for his fourth and Jordan's fifth, when his bouncing cross was side-footed home at the near post. The prolific forward became just the fourth player in Asian Cup finals history to net a quartet of strikes in a single match with the finish.
Palestine had time to find a consolation through Jaka Ihbeisheh, but they couldn't produce a memorable comeback in a simple victory for Wilkins' men. You can see full highlights below, per the official Asian Cup Twitter feed:
"HIGHLIGHTS | Palestine 1 - 5 Jordan: http://t.co/dZasJygFrU #PLEvJOR #AC2015
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 16, 2015"
Jordan now have a shot at qualifying for the quarter-finals during their final match with Japan, who beat Iraq 1-0 to secure safe passage into the next round.
Keisuke Honda's 23rd minute penalty was enough to defeat Radhi Shenaishil's spirited side, who will knock Jordan out of the competition if they beat Palestine in the final round of matches.
Honda could have mirrored Al Daradreh's heroics from the match before after hitting the woodwork three times, but once again added the star quality needed to see Japan through.
Jan. 15 Recap: United Arab Emirates and Iran Qualify for the Knockout Stages
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A Mohamed Husain own goal proved to be the pivotal moment during United Arab Emirates' 2-1 win over Bahrain, a match which won't live long in the memory.
The UAE started extremely quickly with a goal just seconds after kick-off. Omar Abdulrahman, who was the creative force behind the side's play, provided an intelligent pass to Ali Ahmed Mabkhout for the opening strike. The forward made no mistake, beating opposition goalkeeper Sayeed Jafaar with a simple finish.
Nigerian-born striker Jaycee Okwunwanne equalised with a powerful header at the back post after Faouzi Aaish's corner. It wasn't to be for Bahrain, however, after Husain's mistimed header flew into his own net with 20 minutes remaining.
Bahrain exit the competition with one match to spare, while UAE are now locked in a battle with Iran for Group C victory after two wins. Either way, Mahdi Ali's side progress to the quarter-finals.
This result meant Iran could also qualify with victory over Qatar, a feat they managed during a drab 1-0 win in Sydney.
Qatar offered little in the way of attacking threat, producing one shot on target, per Soccerway. Iran offered the higher tempo and were one quality moment away from grabbing the result.
Fortunately for Carlos Queiroz's side, an excellent tackle from Andranik Teymourian set Ashkan Dejagah free on the right wing, who delivered a testing ball to Sardar Azmoun for the winner. Sardar executed a terrific spin and finish beyond the stopper to send Iran through.
Both teams can now play a pressure-free final group stage match after taking maximum points in their opening two ties.
Jan 14 Recap: Saudi Arabia Thrash North Korea, China Secure Quarter-Final Place
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Saudi Arabia overcame their opening match defeat to China with a solid 4-1 win over DPR Korea in Melbourne.
Despite what turned out to be a simple victory for Saudi Arabia, it was the North Koreans who notched the first goal. Relying almost exclusively on long balls throughout the match—pumping possession forward before sending runners to chase—their tactics helped create the breakthrough after 11 minutes.
The Saudi Arabians initially failed to deal with this approach, letting Ryang Yong-Gi finish after goalkeeper Abdullah Waleed palmed straight into his path.
However, after Naif Hazazi responded by missing a point-blank header for Cosmin Olaroiu's side before lacing home a powerful equaliser after an incisive counter on 37 minutes.
There was only ever going to be one winner from here. Saudi Arabia's attacking threat intensified after they notched their first goal of the tournament, with Mohammad Al-Sahlawi side-footing a simple opportunity into the net after the North Koreans failed to clear, per the Asian Cup's official Twitter feed:
"Al Sahlawi gives Saudi Arabia the lead in Melbourne! #AC2015 #PRKvKSA pic.twitter.com/SG0JFTiF73
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2015"
Twelve minutes after half-time, the striker capitalised on another defensive misunderstanding—which saw Ri Myong-Guk fail to gather possession when rushing from his line, before the nearest centre-back punted possession off Al-Sahlawi—who stroked into the gaping net.
Salem Al-Dawsari then blazed over with the goal at his mercy, and Al-Sahlawi missed opportunities to grab his hat-trick, but there was still time for further dramatics in the North Korean box.
Saudi Arabia flooded the area with numbers, Salem dinking an excellent attempt off the bar. It looked as if the ball would bounce over the line, but midfielder Lee Yon-Jick handled to keep it out. He received a straight red, handing Nawaaf Al Abed the chance to score from the spot. Ri pushed his penalty onto the post, but Abed slid in to eventually turn the ball in.
The final whistle sounded shortly after this moment, with Saudi Arabia picking up a vital three points along their path to qualification for the quarter-finals.
You can view the full highlights below:
"Highlights | DPR Korea 1 - 4 Saudi Arabia: http://t.co/AHQYYEQEPD #PRKvKSA #AC2015
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2015"
The day's late game pitted China against Uzbekistan in a battle which would determine the Group B leaders heading into the final round of fixtures. Both sides won their opening encounters, but it was China who ascended to the top of their quarter with a 2-1 win in Brisbane.
Little excitement appeared until the 22nd minute, when Odil Ahmedov's deflected shot left Chinese stopper Wang Dalei with no chance other than to pick the ball out of his net. Uzbekistan enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges in a first-half which lacked rhythm.
China significantly upped their tempo after the break and were rewarded with a smart equaliser 10 minutes after the restart. Uzbek goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov misjudged the flight of a cross, allowing Gao Lin's terrific reverse pass to set up Wu Xi for the equaliser, noted by the tournament's social media feed:
"Gao Lin flicks the ball back where Wu Xi is waiting to smash it home! What a game we have here! #CHNvUZB #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/1uDsDle9cP
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2015"
The Chinese continued to grow in confidence, but it was an inspired decision from manager Alain Perrin which sparked the team into taking the lead.
Perrin brought Sun Ke into the match on 66 minutes, and two minutes later, the midfielder skipped into life before curling a deflected shot between two defenders and into the opposition's net. You can view highlights of the game below:
"HIGHLIGHTS | China 2 - 1 Uzbekistan http://t.co/3iWhULxqif #CHNvUZB #AC2015
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 14, 2015"
Ke's strike proved to be the winning moment, allowing China to assume control of the group and qualify for the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
Jan. 13 Recap: Australia and South Korea Secure Quarter-Final Qualification
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South Korea became the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2015 Asian Cup after beating Kuwait 1-0 in Canberra.
A thrilling end-to-end tie saw the South Koreans dominate a competitive first half, before Kuwait desperately tried to rescue their tournament with ambitious attacking play in the second.
Keun-Ho Lee received the first real opening with half an hour on the clock. He burst into the area and aimed to dink the ball over Kuwaiti goalkeeper Youssef Hameed. The stopper's reflexes saw the ball cannon wide, but five minutes later, South Korea took the lead.
Right-back Cha Du-Ri charged toward the box, providing a pinpoint cross to Nam Tae-Hee, who headed beyond Hameed. Kuwait struggled to offer an offensive threat until after the break, which saw Al Maqseed hit a post with a curled effort.
Nabil Maaloul's side upped the tempo as the closing moments approached, but lacked composure when in front of goal. It was certainly a gutsy performance from the underdogs, who will at least look to get something out of their final match with Oman.
South Korea built upon victory over the aforementioned West Asian side, booking their place in the latter stages.
You can view highlights of the match right here:
"HIGHLIGHTS | Kuwait 0 - 1 Korea Republic: http://t.co/ICBKzhWbIr #KUWvKOR #AC2015
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 13, 2015"
Hosts Australia followed that result by comfortably booking their place in the next round. The Socceroos demolished Kuwait 4-1 during their opening encounter and once again flexed their muscles to beat Oman 4-0.
The home fans had very little to worry about. Despite appearing organised in the opening minutes, Oman collectively failed to pressure their opposition, allowing Australia to dictate possession and create chances. Trent Sainsbury found acres of space in the box from a corner, which saw him head across goal and into the path of Matt McKay, who converted just in front of Ali Al-Habsi's line.
Robbie Kruse notched his second goal of the competition just three minutes later with a simple serge into the box. He finished coolly with half an hour on the clock, after previously grazing the Omani post.
The referee's failure to play an advantage then saw Mark Milligan's goal ruled out in favour of giving Australia a penalty. Luckily, Milligan stepped up to side-foot the spot-kick in, allowing the official to escape any controversy on the stroke of half-time.
Oman rarely offered attacking threat and often grouped together to allow Australia freedom of the pitch. Mathew Leckie's dribbling is a potent weapon for the hosts, as highlighted by his terrific assist in the 70th minute. He got the ball out of his feet, sped down the left wing and delivered a smart cross to substitute Tomi Juric, who stretched to net his first of the tournament.
You can view highlights of the nation's second win right here:
"Highlights: @OmanFA 0-4 @Socceroos #OMAvAUS #AC2015 http://t.co/UOehbArxYY
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 13, 2015"
Australia, just like their final group opponents South Korea, march into the quarter-finals with little hassle. The two sides could rest players during their clash on Saturday, especially with more important fixtures to come.
Jan. 12 Recap: Japan Ease to Victory over 10-Man Palestine, Iraq Overcome Jordan
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Japan opened their Asian Cup account with a simple 4-0 victory over Palestine, underlining their tag as one of the tournament's favourites.
Yasuhito Endo opened the scoring on eight minutes before Palestine could get a foothold in the game. It was a soft strike from 25-yards, goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh unable to cover his right-hand corner with a sluggish dive.
Shinji Kagawa struggled to get into the match during the opening stages, but he reacted quickly to a bouncing ball across the box to set up Shinji Okazaki for the second. The Borussia Dortmund star volleyed onto the head of Okazaki, who notched just before the 25-minute mark to calm any lingering Japanese doubts.
Japan maintained their pressure, spreading the ball quickly and keeping numbers in the opposition's half to never let Palestine settle. A clumsy challenge from Ahmed Mahajna saw a soft penalty awarded in Japan's favour, giving Keisuke Honda the simplest of chances to make it 3-0 before the break.
It was 4-0 shortly after half-time. Kagawa wriggled free on the left of the area, delivering a pinpoint cross to Maya Yoshida, who powerfully headed home.
Palestine did well to quash Japan's flow from here—the underdogs possessed plenty of energy despite their ragged organisation—but things became even tougher when Mahajna was sent off with just over 25 minutes to go.
The game slowed in the latter stages. Saleh made a smart save to stop Honda adding his second in stoppage time, but Japan eased home to victory with little trouble to get their title defence off to a terrific start.
Highlights of the match were posted on the Asian Cup's official Twitter account:
"Highlights: Japan 4-0 Palestine #JPNvPLE #AC2015 https://t.co/7Xa4LbPpeG
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 12, 2015"
Elsewhere, the day's late game was more notable for a slew of mistimed tackles rather than actual quality. Swindon Town's Yaser Kasim scored the only goal of the game to provide Iraq with a 1-0 win over Jordan in a combative affair.
Both countries showed plenty of heart in a match which produced nine yellow cards, per Soccerway. Jordan defender Anas Bani Yassen received two cautions to eliminate himself from the game with five minutes to go, halting his nation's chances of equalising less than 10 minutes after Kasim hit the back of the net.
Centre-back Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf received Jordan's best chance with half an hour to go. He was unable to put power on his shot from inside the box, failing to take advantage of a rare corner.
The post-match stats highlighted a total of 41 conceded fouls between the teams:
"Jordan full time stats: @JordanFA 0-1 @IRAQFA #JORvIRQ #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/evmuqHsfyL
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 12, 2015"
"Iraq full time stats: @JordanFA 0-1 @IRAQFA #JORvIRQ #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/zkW9SYzn9I
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 12, 2015"
Ultimately it was Kasim's moment of quality—he wriggled beyond multiple opponents before slotting a soft shot beyond Amer Shafi—which deservedly separated the teams. Neither side impressed, but Iraq have now put themselves in a strong position to qualify from the group.
Jan. 11 Recap: Vital Wins for the United Arab Emirates and Iran
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The United Arab Emirates got their 2015 Asian Cup campaign off to a flying start, beating Qatar by an emphatic 4-1 scoreline thanks to braces from Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout.
Qatar actually began this game very well. UAE were unable to settle in the early stages, as their opponents pressed and left little space to be exploited; they were awarded for their early diligence midway through the first half when Khalfan Ibrahim put them ahead thanks to a fine finish.
Here's a look at the goal, courtesy of the Qatari Football Twitter account:
"Khalfan Ibrahim's goal on replay? Here you go, my followers. (via @andreptch) #UAEvQAT #AsianCup2015 https://t.co/dghqOgmUfq
— Qatari Football (@QatariFootball) January 11, 2015"
That strike seemed to jolt the UAE into life however and they were level not long after. Qatar were unable to clear their lines inside their own penalty area and Khalil was on hand to poke home an equaliser, giving UAE some vital momentum heading into half time.
As noted here by OptaJason, it's a goal that was a long time coming for the UAE in this competition:
"306 - UAE have ended an Asia Cup finals goal drought which lasted 306 minutes of football and went back to 2007. Tonic. #UAEvQAT
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) January 11, 2015"
From that point on, they didn't look back. Khalil put his side ahead seven minutes into the second half with a teasing free-kick and as Qatar started to push forward, gaps appeared in their defence that were duly exploited by the UAE, particularly Mabkhout.
His first goal was disappointing from Qatari perspective, as one again it was a player in white who reacted quickest to a loose ball. The fourth goal came just seconds before the final whistle and was the coupe de grace on what was a fine UAE performance all in all.
Here's the highlights in full from the match, per the tournament's official Twitter account:
"HIGHLIGHTS | UAE 4 - 1 Qatar. A stunning start to #AC2015 for UAE! http://t.co/HXzHdEFat2 #UAEvQAT
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 11, 2015"
Given the envious task of following that game was Iran versus Bahrain. But the match was an engrossing affair with both sides harbouring an obvious intent to play open, attacking football. Subsequently, it was little surprise we were rewarded with an exceptional opening goal.
That came courtesy of Iran's Ehsan Hajsafi, who finished wonderfully from the edge of the penalty area right on the cusp of half time. As we can see here courtesy of the tournament's Twitter account, it was a strike that the supporters in attendance were very appreciative of:
"WOW! What a goal from Iran and look at that reaction from the fans! #IRNvBHR #AC2015 http://t.co/vT7AsABo0s
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 11, 2015"
Here's a look at the opener courtesy of Yakatak Football:
"This Iran goal from Ehsan Hajsafi is a great effort! #AsianCup2015 #IRNvBHR https://t.co/Oetd5VbZ8U
— Yakatak Football (@YakatakFootball) January 11, 2015"
After that vital finish Iran always looked like the stronger of the two sides and they controlled the vast majority of proceedings throughout the second half. They were frustrated by a cohesive Bahrain defensive effort for long spells but eventually they bagged the killer second goal.
That came from Masoud Shojael 20 minutes from time and from that point on, Iran never looked flustered, easily preserving their two-goal buffer. Bahrain will take some positives from this game, but the goal conceded just before half time was ultimately their undoing.
Jan. 10 Recap: Uzbekistan, Korea Republic and China PR Earn Wins
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Uzbekistan passed their way to a deserved 1-0 win over DPR Korea to start their AFC Asian Cup campaign in style. An Igor Sergeev goal marked a superb start for Uzbekistan in Group B.
Sergeev's team controlled the possession and produced several passages of stylish combination play. Veteran midfield general Odil Ahmedov was particularly influential during the first half.
If there's one criticism it's that the approach play was occasionally a little too over-elaborate. However, Uzbekistan still treated the crowd to several intricately created attacking moves.
It was a typically fluid and stylish passage of play that set up Sergeev's goal. The towering striker provided an emphatic finish following a quick and smart exchange of passes.
The competition's official Twitter feed carried an image of the decisive moment:
"Brilliant cross in and Sergeev heads home a big leaping header! #UZBvPRK #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/GJz6ptBGf4
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 10, 2015"
Sergeev and his team-mates have now taken an important early lead in Group B
Earlier, Korea Republic swarmed all over Oman. They used a relentless wave of high-energy pressing to boss the game.
The only surprise was they won by just a single goal. That goal came courtesy of Cho Young-cheol. The Qatar SC forward scrambled home the winner on the stroke of half time.
More pressure predictably followed after the break, leaving Omar goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi a busy men. The experienced stopper provided the highlight of the game when he produced an absolutely fantastic save in the 56th minute.
Al-Habsi hurled himself to palm away a point-blank range header:
"57' BRILLIANT from @AliAlhabsi! Another save from the @LaticsOfficial man! #KORvOMA #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/WTYLuFSpiN
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 10, 2015"
Al-Habsi's heroics almost allowed his team to steal what would have been an unjust point. A glancing head from a corner crashed off the undersized of the bar in added time:
"90+1 SO CLOSE for @OmanFA in the dying seconds! Kim Jin-hyeon tips onto the bar! #KORvOMA #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/j4WcUhyBPN
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 10, 2015"
Korea Republic 'keeper Kim Jin-hyeon was actually credited with the game-saving save.
The result puts Korea Republic second in Group A, but still trailing hosts Australia, who found goals easier to come by on the tournament's opening day.
Where Oman failed to get something from a defensive performance, China PR found reward for a superb rearguard action. A single-goal win over Saudi Arabia belied the fact China saw little of the ball in the first half.
However, the Chinese defence never buckled and limited Saudi Arabia to blunted possession lacking the proverbial cutting edge. Eventually, the first half descended into a fairly turgid affair.
But this style of game certainly suited China. The team stayed patient and cagey in the second half, waiting for a chance to break.
First though, the Chinese had to endure a scare when Saudi Arabia earned a penalty. However, the spot kick was emphatically rebuffed by goalkeeper Wang Da Lei:
"61' SAVEDD!! Wang Da Lei saves on his birthday!! #KSAvCHN #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/PfJdxqwK8Q
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 10, 2015"
The smart stop kept China's hopes alive. The team grew in confidence and even began passing the ball with some authority, a rare sight during the first hour.
One scrappy, but persistent passage of play saw China battle to earn a free kick. This was the chance the team's resolute defending had merited.
Guizhou Renhe midfielder Yu Hai promptly made the most of the opportunity:
"81' GOALLL!!! China 1-0! Yu Hai takes the FK, it takes a deflection and loops in! #KSAvCHN #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/8e9ak7gcS2
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 10, 2015"
Yet more stubborn defending helped China hold on for an invaluable first three points.
Jan. 9 Recap: Australia Battle Back to Easily Topple Kuwait
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Australia overcame an early scare against Kuwait to win the opening match of the 2015 Asian Cup by a 4-1 scoreline.
The Arab side took the lead through centre-back Ali Hussain Fadhel, who capitalised on poor defending to steer home a diving header in the seventh minute. He was given acres of space to notch the opening goal of the competition, but from that moment the hosts stepped up their game.
The Socceroos initially struggled to find a steady passing rhythm, but Tim Cahill's equaliser just after half an hour rounded off a period of constant pressure. Massimo Luongo beat three players to the right of Kuwait's box before playing a low ball in to Cahill, who slotted into the gaping net.
Two minutes before the interval, Luongo's impressive start to the tournament got even better when he headed Australia into a first-half lead. A huge leap saw Luongo hang in the air to meet a lofted cross, his powerful header giving Hameed Youssef no chance to make the stop.
Cahill had a free shot in the box saved on 57 minutes, shortly before Mathew Leckie cannoned a terrific curled effort off the bar after cutting inside from the right. Robbie Kruse was brought down inside the area moments after this chance, providing Mile Jedinak with the chance to put Kuwait to bed.
The Crystal Palace captain did exactly that. He rolled his spot-kick to the bottom right-hand corner of Youssef's goal, sending the home fans into joyous celebration. Nathan Burns smashed the bar with an excellent header with 15 minutes to go, before Aussie goalkeeper Mathew Ryan was forced into a brilliant save on the counter.
Leckie had time to skip into the Kuwait box one last time, before the ball dropped to James Troisi, who powered his effort beyond the opposing stopper.
Despite the poor start, this moment rounded off a confident performance for the Australians, who have now set out their intentions for the tournament.
