Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Yuya Osako returned to Japan’s starting line-up to score a second-half brace and seal the Samurai Blue’s spot in the final of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 as Hajime Moriyasu’s side defeated the Islamic Republic of Iran 3-0 at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.
Osako, who was included from the start for the first time since sustaining a hip injury in Japan’s opening game, put the four-time champions in front 11 minutes after the interval before doubling his side’s lead midway through the half from the penalty spot.
The Werder Bremen striker’s double – and Genki Haraguchi’s late third - sent his nation into their fifth AFC Asian Cup final since 1992 and they will face the winners of the semi-final between the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the decider on Friday.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Head coach Felix Sanchez has declared that his impressive Qatar side are not feeling the pressure as they prepare to meet host nation the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-finals.
After reaching the quarter-finals in 2000 and 2011, Tuesday’s encounter represents Qatar’s first foray into the last four, with Sanchez’s charges, who have yet to concede a goal, amassing five successive victories during their historic campaign.
With a title showdown now just 90 minutes away, and despite the rarefied atmosphere that accompanies any semi-final showdown, the Spanish tactician is backing his players to continue their fine form against the 1996 finalists.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Head coach Alberto Zaccheroni believes the momentum his United Arab Emirates side has been gathering throughout the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will prove decisive on Tuesday as they look to beat Qatar and claim a place in the final.
The host nation needed a late Ahmed Khalil penalty to secure a 1-1 draw in their opening game, before beating India and sharing the spoils with Thailand as they claimed pole position in Group A.
A narrow win over Kyrgyz Republic in the Round of 16 duly followed, while a far more dynamic performance against Australia ultimately ensured Zaccheroni’s charges a place in the last four.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: With two sides looking to take another step towards a first Continental title at a sold-out AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-final, the-AFC.com examines the key information ahead of the clash between Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
Injury clouds for hosts; Two in, two out for Qatar
It will be a suspenseful wait for the Emirati team sheet to be revealed, but Ismail Al Hammadi and captain Fares Juma are expected to start despite suffering knocks in a bruising quarter-final win over Australia.
While the fitness of those players remains under a cloud, Alberto Zaccheroni will be able to call on Khamis Esmaeel, who served a suspension against the Socceroos.
Bassam Al Rawi and Abdelaziz Hatim, Qatar's goal scoring heroes from their two previous knockout stage wins, are both suspended, but Omer Madibo and 2018 AFC Player of the Year Abdelkarim Hassan will be welcomed back with open arms.
Outstanding disciplinary records were erased following the quarter-finals, meaning only a red card in Monday's match will result in a player missing the final.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: On the verge of his side's first ever AFC Asian Cup semi-final. Qatar's star left-back Abdelkarim Hassan has a simple message - anything is possible.
Qatar's success would have been difficult to imagine four years ago. Hassan, an unused substitute, watched on as Bahrain's Sayed Ahmed scored eight minutes from time to deliver a final blow to Al Annabi's 2015 campaign.
Three successive losses meant Hassan's side left Australia without a single point. After years of steady progress, and a quarter-final appearance on home soil four years prior, it was their worst ever result at an AFC Asian Cup.
Skip forward four years and the circumstances are unrecognisable. Qatar have won five successive matches, and beaten three former champions in a row, to reach the final four for the first time history.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Victory was sweet for Ismaeil Matar and the United Arab Emirates as the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 hosts knocked defending champions Australia out of this year’s tournament on Friday evening, four years after losing out to the Socceroos in the semi-finals.
Ali Mabkhout’s solitary goal midway through the second half ensured the UAE advanced to the last four for the second tournament in a row and erased the agony of losing 2-0 to the Australians in Newcastle in 2015.
Nine of Alberto Zaccheroni’s 23-man squad were involved in the last edition of the Continental Championship and veteran striker Ismaeil Matar claimed the quarter-final win over the Australians went some way towards soothing the memory of that loss.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi says familiarity and stability within his side's playing and coaching ranks is a positive factor in their surge to a first ever AFC Asian Cup semi-final.
The West Asians earned a slice history on Friday, defeating two-time winners and 2015 runners-up Korea Republic thanks to Abdelaziz's Hatim's 78th-minute screamer at Zayed Sports City Stadium.
The achievement is the latest for a side packed with young talents to have blossomed under the tutelage of head coach Felix Sanchez, who also coached 11 players from the current squad at last year's AFC U-23 Championship
The Qatari starting line-up also featured no less than seven players from the Al Sadd club, including Khoukhi, who believes those examples of continuity are aiding the team's cause.