AL-AIN, United Arab Emirates (AFP) - Tom Rogic's injury-time thunderbolt settled an Asian Cup thriller on Tuesday (Jan 15) as defending champions Australia beat Syria 3-2 to reach the last 16 and knock out their war-torn rivals.
The result meant the holders finished second in Group B behind Jordan, whose simultaneous 0-0 draw with Palestine gave the Palestinians hope of qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
Syria, vocally backed by thousands of their fans in Al Ain, twice fought back from a goal behind before Rogic slammed home the winner in the third minute of injury time.
Injury-hit Australia, with only six outfield players on the bench, needed just a draw to go through as they kicked off at the same time as Jordan against Palestine.
Syria looked an early threat before Australia started to get a grip on the game and Hibernian striker Jamie Maclaren flashed a header just wide.
There was drama on the half-hour when a Syrian free-kick bounced through a packed penalty area and into the net, but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Mark Milligan.
But Australia were getting close and Awer Mabil, after seeing one raking shot blocked, unleashed a fabulous effort which curled into the top corner four minutes before half-time.
However, the lead lasted just two minutes as Mouaiad Alajaan's cross picked out Omar Khrbin, who on his 25th birthday saw his header saved by Mat Ryan but then gobbled up the rebound.
On 54 minutes, Chris Ikonomidis's shot was hooked away by Omro Al Midani - but the ball was judged to have crossed the line by the additional assistant referee, who was surrounded by Syrian players.
SYRIA PENALTY
The incident silenced the massed ranks of Syrian fans but there was uproar around the stadium shortly afterwards when their team vehemently claimed a penalty for a Milligan handball.
Australia looked firmly in control and they could have had a third goal when substitute Apostolos Giannou saw a low shot cannon off the base of the upright.
But Mexican referee Cesar Ramos threw Syria a lifeline when he gave them a penalty after Omar Al Soma went down in the box - and the striker stroked them level once more with 10 minutes to go.
It looked like Syria would escape with a vital point before Celtic's Rogic, playing the tournament with a broken hand, belted Australia's third from distance.
Meanwhile in Dubai, Jordan were held to a goalless draw by Palestine in a fiery clash to preserve their unbeaten record and progress as Group B winners.
Twice quarter-finalists, in 2004 and 2011, Jordan stunned holders Australia in their opening game before beating Syria 2-0.
But they found plucky Palestine a tougher nut to crack in Abu Dhabi.
Abdallatif Al Bahdari header gave Jordan a scare on the hour-mark of a match that was not one for football purists.
Jordan went close when Ahmad Ersan's long-range blast was blocked by Palestine goalkeeper Rami Hamada before the game petered out with both sides content to take a draw.
Mr Mohamad Akbar Bin Abdul Nawas is an experienced local football coach who recently led Indian professional football team Chennai City Football Club to become 1 st-time champion of Hero I-League (Indian top professional football division). Prior to that, he had accumulated head coach experience both locally (e.g. with Tampines Rovers FC) and
Football: China strips South Korea of Panda Cup for 'indecent
PSG star Edinson Cavani doubtful for Manchester United clash BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Edinson Cavani could miss Paris St Germain's Champions League clash with Manchester United due to a hip injury.
Guardiola not worried about Man City players' social media use by BeSoccer @besoccer_com - 02 Feb 2019 0 672 Pep Guardiola is not concerned about the way his Manchester City players use social media, despite a post from Kyle Walker that appeared to mock Premier League title rivals Liverpool.
Guardiola not worried about Man City players' social media use
Klopp plays down Liverpool fatigue concerns ahead of season run-in. Football - Champions League - Liverpool Training - Melwood, Liverpool, Britain - April 16
Pep Guardiola issued an apology to Watford over the award of Manchester City's first goal on Pep Guardiola says that if the goal was offside, then he is sorry to Watford for the decision
Guardiola Sorry For Offside Goal In Manchester City Win
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at Leicester Tweet. Share. View photos. Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Cardiff City - King Power Stadium, Leicester
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at
Norwich is returning to the Premier League after a three-year absence _ and Sheffield United is likely to be promoted, too. Norwich, a club from eastern England, clinched one of the two automatic promotion places from the second-tier League Championship by beating Blackburn 2-1 on Saturday.(Chris Radburn/PA via AP)
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says his players are 'still in a dream' after reaching the Champions League semi-finals in dramatic fashion but expects his side to be ready for Saturday's crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City.
Soccer: Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says
Pep Guardiola's bid to win the Champions League for the first time since 2011 will come under threat from his old friend Mauricio Pochettino when Manchester City face Tottenham in the quarter
Pochettino plans to ruin old pal Guardiola's Champions League
A FIFA feasibility study has concluded that the 2022 World Cup can expand to 48 teams by using at least one of Qatar's neighbors as an additional host, and says there is a low legal risk to
FIFA backs 48-team World Cup in 2022 | Sports - Geo.tv
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15). The 34-year-old's decision means PSG have an extra space in their squad for a non-EU player. Silva has played 274 games since joining the reigning Ligue 1 champions in 2012 and has 77 caps for Brazil.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
Other than having to integrate a new-look side, Shigetomi also has to contend with new SPL rules which require Albirex to sign at least four Singaporean players, with at least two playing the entire first half. The club missed out on several targets in the close season, but still managed to sign six local players.
Singapore football must build a star overseas to create a
Latest Singapore News. Scoot flight from Taipei to Singapore delayed for over 10 hours - TODAYonline; Football: Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas is I-League's best coach as champions Chennai City sweep awards - The Straits Times; Singaporean, 36, died in Bintan while on diving course
Customer Service Associate (Permanent) - iElite Singapore
LONDON: Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday. Chris Hughton's side have been sucked into relegation danger in the Premier League after six games without a win. But
Brighton edge into FA Cup quarter-finals | New Straits Times
0 comments:
Post a Comment