News

Asian Cup Round of 16 Review: Tajikistan’s dream debut and the favourites find a way

Share

After a group stage with a good few twists in turns, the knockout bracket of the Asian Cup was blown wide open. Some of the strongest sides collided as early as the Round of 16, while others who had never gotten this far before were presented with a great chance to continue making history.

By Neel Shelat

🇦🇺 Australia 4-0 Indonesia 🇮🇩

Indonesia should have felt a bit hard done by their Asian Cup knockout debut as they found themselves on the wrong end of a big scoreline against Australia. Their performance was not so bad at all, though, as they gave the Socceroos a decent run for their money.

Graham Arnold’s side did not look all that convincing at any point in the match. They took a two-goal lead into the half-time break having registered just one shot, as the opener came via a deflected own goal.

A couple of goals very close to the end beefed up the scoreline for Australia, but their overall performance left a lot to be desired. Against tougher opposition, they could well be made to pay for their slackness.

🇹🇯 Tajikistan 1-1 UAE 🇦🇪 (5-3 on pens)

The only debutantes at this Asian Cup, Tajikistan, continued their historic campaign with a memorable win over the United Arab Emirates.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Petar Šegrt’s men too, as they were clearly the better side over the course of the 90 minutes. Vahdat Hanonov’s header at the half-hour mark seemed to have steered them on the course for victory, but there was a lot more drama to come.

As the second half wore on, the UAE grew increasingly desperate for an equaliser and started to throw the kitchen sink at the game. That left them quite vulnerable at the back, allowing Tajikistan to create a number of big chances.

The Persian Lions squandered their chances, though, and their defensive resolve was broken in stoppage time. Nevertheless, they managed to hold on through extra time and then won the penalty shoot-out by converting each of their attempts.

With that, Tajikistan matched Australia’s 2007 debut season by reaching the last-eight stage. Given the grit and unity they are showing under Petar Šegrt, who is to say they can’t go even further?

🇮🇶 Iraq 2-3 Jordan 🇯🇴

The best Round of 16 tie for the neutrals was Jordan’s dramatic late win over Iraq in a five-goal thriller.

Although there were no goals in the first 45 minutes, the match was an enthralling end-to-end exhibition of attacking play from start to finish. Jordan were happier to let their opponents keep more of the ball but they too posed a serious counterattacking threat, demonstrating what they could do when Yazan Al-Naimat opened the scoring by pouncing on a loose pass just before half-time.

Iraq committed more bodies forward in the second half as they sought to turn the game around, and they were successful. Saad Natiq scored the equaliser, after which tournament top scorer Ayman Hussein established a lead for the 2007 champions.

However, he was controversially given a second yellow card for excessive celebration, leaving Iraq a man down at the end of the game. They seemed to do a decent job of holding on to their lead, for the most part, but then conceded twice in quick succession once the clock passed 90 minutes to lose the match!

🇶🇦 Qatar 2-1 Palestine 🇵🇸

Perhaps the biggest night in Palestinian football history saw them make their Asian Cup knockout debut against none other than hosts Qatar.

They put together an incredibly resolute defensive performance in the first half to frustrate the hosts, while Oday Dabbagh went up the other end and scored a solo goal with pinpoint accuracy to give Palestine a shock lead. They looked on course to protect it till half-time, but another well-worked corner routine from the home side saw Akram Afif’s ball find its way to Hassan Al Haidos, whose shot took a deflection on its way in.

Tintín Márquez recognised that something needed to change to spark his side into life in the second half, so he switched to a back four. Just moments into the period, Almoez Ali was brought down in the box after he ran onto Afif’s through ball, enabling the Al Sadd star to step up and put his side in front from the spot.

Qatar were able to hold on for the win relatively comfortably then, but Palestine did give it their all for a late equaliser. The players and staff should clearly leave Doha with their heads held as high as possible, as they have written their names into the history books at a time of immense hardship given the ongoing war on Gaza.

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan 2-1 Thailand 🇹🇭

Uzbekistan were widely considered the team to watch at this Asian Cup as their highly impressive young generation is beginning to make their presence felt in the senior squad.

21-year-old midfielder Diyor Kholmatov produced a pinpoint crossfield pass to set up Azizbek Turgunbaev for the opener. Thailand’s half-time changes brought them back into the game as substitute Supachok Sarachat scored a lovely equaliser by curling a shot into the bottom corner. The game could have gone either way from there, but 20-year-old Uzbek starlet Abbosbek Fayzullayev took matters into his own hands with an inch-perfect finish for what proved to be the winner.

Uzbekistan were just about the better team on the day against so this result must be called deserved, but Thailand should be proud of themselves as they put up a very good fight. This was the first time that the War Elephants made it to the Asian Cup knockouts in back-to-back editions, so they too seem to be heading in the right direction.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea 🇰🇷 (2-4 on pens)

Two heavyweights collided as early as the Round of 16 as Saudi Arabia and South Korea squared off at the Education City Stadium.

After an unconvincing group campaign, Jürgen Klinsmann elected to switch to a back-three and come closer to matching Saudi Arabia as far as team formations were concerned.

That did not quite work out as planned. Neither side looked too strong in the first half, but half-time substitute Abdullah Hadi Radif made an instant impact to give Saudi Arabia the lead seconds into the second half. Needing to chase the game, South Korea reverted to a back-four and began to pile on the pressure.

The Falcons were very much holding on for dear life by the end as last-ditch blocks and saves preserved their lead going into stoppage time, but they were finally undone right at the death by substitute Cho Gue-sung’s header.

After a goalless extra time period, the match was then decided on penalties. Cho Hyun-woo’s saves won the day for the Taegeuk Warriors as their takers were faultless, taking them through to an eighth-consecutive Asian Cup quarter-final.

🇧🇭 Bahrain 1-3 Japan 🇯🇵

Pre-tournament favourites Japan did not have the best of group stages either, so they might have felt a touch lucky to come up against Bahrain in the Round of 16 rather than one of the stronger group winners.

They made the most of this opportunity with a pretty convincing win in a match they controlled from start to finish. Just after the half-hour mark, Ritsu Doan scored the opener by following up Seiya Maikuma’s strike which rattled the post. A defensive lapse allowed Takefusa Kubo to double his side’s lead early in the second half, placing them in a commanding position.

Young goalkeeper Zion Suzuki’s unconvincing tournament continued as he offered Bahrain a route back into the game through an own goal. So, the Samurai Blue needed to restore their cushion to comfortably see out the win, and Ayase Ueda did just that.

🇮🇷 Iran 1-1 Syria 🇸🇾 (5-3 on pens)

Syria’s Asian Cup knockout debut saw them come up against a significantly stronger Iran, for whom this was a do-or-die edition of the tournament.

It is now almost 50 years since Team Melli last lifted the trophy. As their competitors continue to get stronger and stronger, many believe that this Asian Cup is the last chance for their ageing golden generation to write their names in the history books.

Syria seemed intent on preventing that from happening as they set up in a staunch 4-4-2 block, but Mehdi Taremi found a way to unlock it just after half an hour by winning and converting a penalty. Iran might have hoped to comfortably see out the win thereafter, but Syria’s own star forward Omar Khribin had other ideas as he created the chance for and scored a spot-kick in the second half to equalise.

As the match seemed to be heading to extra time, things got worse for Iran as Taremi picked up a second yellow card. It then became their turn to dig deep and defend, which they did quite well and thus took the game to penalties. One misstep by The Eagles of Qasioun was clinically punished, as Iran just about kept themselves in the tournament.

Looking ahead: Quarter-finals

History is sure to be created when Tajikistan take on Jordan. Neither team has ever gotten as far as the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, with the Persian Lions are in their debut campaign while Jordan have lost two quarter-finals in the last 20 years.

Later that day, a titanic clash will take centre stage. Having overcome Saudi Arabia, South Korea will face Australia in a tie which will see another one of the favourites fall.

Another huge match-up the following day will see Iran take on Japan. Neither team has looked as good as expected in this tournament so far, but the Samurai Blue will hope to have the edge on pure quality. Whoever wins this match will have a very good chance of going on to win the whole thing.

Qatar have looked quite good so far, but they have not really been tested by the strongest opponents. Uzbekistan are arguably not quite at their level yet either, but the young talent in the team could give the hosts a real run for their money.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Asian Cup, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Asian Cup Round of 16 Review: Tajikistan’s dream debut and the favourites find a way

After a group stage with a good few twists in turns, the knockout bracket of the Asian Cup was blown wide open. Some of the strongest sides collided as early as the Round of 16, while others who had never gotten this far before were presented with a great chance to continue making history.

By Neel Shelat

🇦🇺 Australia 4-0 Indonesia 🇮🇩

Indonesia should have felt a bit hard done by their Asian Cup knockout debut as they found themselves on the wrong end of a big scoreline against Australia. Their performance was not so bad at all, though, as they gave the Socceroos a decent run for their money.

Graham Arnold’s side did not look all that convincing at any point in the match. They took a two-goal lead into the half-time break having registered just one shot, as the opener came via a deflected own goal.

A couple of goals very close to the end beefed up the scoreline for Australia, but their overall performance left a lot to be desired. Against tougher opposition, they could well be made to pay for their slackness.

🇹🇯 Tajikistan 1-1 UAE 🇦🇪 (5-3 on pens)

The only debutantes at this Asian Cup, Tajikistan, continued their historic campaign with a memorable win over the United Arab Emirates.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Petar Šegrt’s men too, as they were clearly the better side over the course of the 90 minutes. Vahdat Hanonov’s header at the half-hour mark seemed to have steered them on the course for victory, but there was a lot more drama to come.

As the second half wore on, the UAE grew increasingly desperate for an equaliser and started to throw the kitchen sink at the game. That left them quite vulnerable at the back, allowing Tajikistan to create a number of big chances.

The Persian Lions squandered their chances, though, and their defensive resolve was broken in stoppage time. Nevertheless, they managed to hold on through extra time and then won the penalty shoot-out by converting each of their attempts.

With that, Tajikistan matched Australia’s 2007 debut season by reaching the last-eight stage. Given the grit and unity they are showing under Petar Šegrt, who is to say they can’t go even further?

🇮🇶 Iraq 2-3 Jordan 🇯🇴

The best Round of 16 tie for the neutrals was Jordan’s dramatic late win over Iraq in a five-goal thriller.

Although there were no goals in the first 45 minutes, the match was an enthralling end-to-end exhibition of attacking play from start to finish. Jordan were happier to let their opponents keep more of the ball but they too posed a serious counterattacking threat, demonstrating what they could do when Yazan Al-Naimat opened the scoring by pouncing on a loose pass just before half-time.

Iraq committed more bodies forward in the second half as they sought to turn the game around, and they were successful. Saad Natiq scored the equaliser, after which tournament top scorer Ayman Hussein established a lead for the 2007 champions.

However, he was controversially given a second yellow card for excessive celebration, leaving Iraq a man down at the end of the game. They seemed to do a decent job of holding on to their lead, for the most part, but then conceded twice in quick succession once the clock passed 90 minutes to lose the match!

🇶🇦 Qatar 2-1 Palestine 🇵🇸

Perhaps the biggest night in Palestinian football history saw them make their Asian Cup knockout debut against none other than hosts Qatar.

They put together an incredibly resolute defensive performance in the first half to frustrate the hosts, while Oday Dabbagh went up the other end and scored a solo goal with pinpoint accuracy to give Palestine a shock lead. They looked on course to protect it till half-time, but another well-worked corner routine from the home side saw Akram Afif’s ball find its way to Hassan Al Haidos, whose shot took a deflection on its way in.

Tintín Márquez recognised that something needed to change to spark his side into life in the second half, so he switched to a back four. Just moments into the period, Almoez Ali was brought down in the box after he ran onto Afif’s through ball, enabling the Al Sadd star to step up and put his side in front from the spot.

Qatar were able to hold on for the win relatively comfortably then, but Palestine did give it their all for a late equaliser. The players and staff should clearly leave Doha with their heads held as high as possible, as they have written their names into the history books at a time of immense hardship given the ongoing war on Gaza.

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan 2-1 Thailand 🇹🇭

Uzbekistan were widely considered the team to watch at this Asian Cup as their highly impressive young generation is beginning to make their presence felt in the senior squad.

21-year-old midfielder Diyor Kholmatov produced a pinpoint crossfield pass to set up Azizbek Turgunbaev for the opener. Thailand’s half-time changes brought them back into the game as substitute Supachok Sarachat scored a lovely equaliser by curling a shot into the bottom corner. The game could have gone either way from there, but 20-year-old Uzbek starlet Abbosbek Fayzullayev took matters into his own hands with an inch-perfect finish for what proved to be the winner.

Uzbekistan were just about the better team on the day against so this result must be called deserved, but Thailand should be proud of themselves as they put up a very good fight. This was the first time that the War Elephants made it to the Asian Cup knockouts in back-to-back editions, so they too seem to be heading in the right direction.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea 🇰🇷 (2-4 on pens)

Two heavyweights collided as early as the Round of 16 as Saudi Arabia and South Korea squared off at the Education City Stadium.

After an unconvincing group campaign, Jürgen Klinsmann elected to switch to a back-three and come closer to matching Saudi Arabia as far as team formations were concerned.

That did not quite work out as planned. Neither side looked too strong in the first half, but half-time substitute Abdullah Hadi Radif made an instant impact to give Saudi Arabia the lead seconds into the second half. Needing to chase the game, South Korea reverted to a back-four and began to pile on the pressure.

The Falcons were very much holding on for dear life by the end as last-ditch blocks and saves preserved their lead going into stoppage time, but they were finally undone right at the death by substitute Cho Gue-sung’s header.

After a goalless extra time period, the match was then decided on penalties. Cho Hyun-woo’s saves won the day for the Taegeuk Warriors as their takers were faultless, taking them through to an eighth-consecutive Asian Cup quarter-final.

🇧🇭 Bahrain 1-3 Japan 🇯🇵

Pre-tournament favourites Japan did not have the best of group stages either, so they might have felt a touch lucky to come up against Bahrain in the Round of 16 rather than one of the stronger group winners.

They made the most of this opportunity with a pretty convincing win in a match they controlled from start to finish. Just after the half-hour mark, Ritsu Doan scored the opener by following up Seiya Maikuma’s strike which rattled the post. A defensive lapse allowed Takefusa Kubo to double his side’s lead early in the second half, placing them in a commanding position.

Young goalkeeper Zion Suzuki’s unconvincing tournament continued as he offered Bahrain a route back into the game through an own goal. So, the Samurai Blue needed to restore their cushion to comfortably see out the win, and Ayase Ueda did just that.

🇮🇷 Iran 1-1 Syria 🇸🇾 (5-3 on pens)

Syria’s Asian Cup knockout debut saw them come up against a significantly stronger Iran, for whom this was a do-or-die edition of the tournament.

It is now almost 50 years since Team Melli last lifted the trophy. As their competitors continue to get stronger and stronger, many believe that this Asian Cup is the last chance for their ageing golden generation to write their names in the history books.

Syria seemed intent on preventing that from happening as they set up in a staunch 4-4-2 block, but Mehdi Taremi found a way to unlock it just after half an hour by winning and converting a penalty. Iran might have hoped to comfortably see out the win thereafter, but Syria’s own star forward Omar Khribin had other ideas as he created the chance for and scored a spot-kick in the second half to equalise.

As the match seemed to be heading to extra time, things got worse for Iran as Taremi picked up a second yellow card. It then became their turn to dig deep and defend, which they did quite well and thus took the game to penalties. One misstep by The Eagles of Qasioun was clinically punished, as Iran just about kept themselves in the tournament.

Looking ahead: Quarter-finals

History is sure to be created when Tajikistan take on Jordan. Neither team has ever gotten as far as the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, with the Persian Lions are in their debut campaign while Jordan have lost two quarter-finals in the last 20 years.

Later that day, a titanic clash will take centre stage. Having overcome Saudi Arabia, South Korea will face Australia in a tie which will see another one of the favourites fall.

Another huge match-up the following day will see Iran take on Japan. Neither team has looked as good as expected in this tournament so far, but the Samurai Blue will hope to have the edge on pure quality. Whoever wins this match will have a very good chance of going on to win the whole thing.

Qatar have looked quite good so far, but they have not really been tested by the strongest opponents. Uzbekistan are arguably not quite at their level yet either, but the young talent in the team could give the hosts a real run for their money.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Asian Cup, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.