Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Al Ain: Host nation the United Arab Emirates have been dealt a blow with news that defender Khalifa Mubarak will miss the rest of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 after fracturing his leg in Monday’s 3-2 win over Kyrgyz Republic.
The 25-year-old Al Nasr favourite suffered the injury trying to clear a Mirlan Murzaev shot during the Round of 16 encounter which was eventually settled by an Ahmed Khalil penalty in extra-time.
Mubarak, who is already receiving medical attention in Germany, will now be missing for the UAE when they face Australia in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: After over one million votes were cast, Vietnam's Nguyen Quang Hai's fine free-kick was chosen best goal in the Group Stage.
From the almost 1.3 million votes cast, Nguyen's sublime free-kick garnered 465,629 votes, with China PR's Wu Lei (305,806) and Islamic Republic of Iran's Saman Ghoddos (134,491) second and third respectively.
Now we turn to some of the best goals from the Round of 16, and ask you to select your favourite in our poll at the end.
As Vietnam, Islamic Republic of Iran, China PR, Japan, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Korea Republic and Qatar progressed past the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 we saw some stunning strikes along the way.
Here are six we picked for your consideration.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Korea Republic, says head coach Paulo Bento, will continue playing their brand of football after the Taeguk Warriors advanced to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-finals by overcoming a gritty Bahrain on Tuesday.
Bento’s men needed extra-time to see off Bahrain 2-1 in their Round of 16 tie at the Rashid Stadium to set up a meeting with the impressive Qatar next.
Goals by Hwang Hee-chan and substitute Kim Jin-su secured the East Asians their passage to the quarter-finals but they were not at their fluid best against Bahrain and Bento said Korea Republic have to play in the style they are most comfortable with.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Head coach Felix Sanchez believes Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Iraq which propelled Qatar into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-finals only served to underline the impressive team spirit which exists within his talented squad.
Bassam Al Rawi’s sublime free-kick in the second half of an absorbing tie helped seal the success, as Qatar racked up a fourth successive victory to guarantee themselves a third AFC Asian Cup quarter-final appearance after reaching the same stage in both 2000 and 2011.
With their last eight encounter against Korea Republic to come at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium on Friday, Sanchez feels Qatar’s current campaign in the United Arab Emirates points to a particularly bright future for his team – especially with the 2022 FIFA World Cup edging ever closer.