Australia and S Korea share spoils at Asian Cup
he two Asian heavyweights are both seen as potential winners but neither could find the decisive winner.
DOHA:
Australia and South Korea shared the spoils 1-1 in the battle of the big guns at the Asian Cup as both sides inched closer to the quarter-finals.
The two Asian heavyweights are both seen as potential winners but neither could find the decisive winner. The 21-year-old Koo Ja-Cheol got the breakthrough on the 24th minute, striking his third goal of the competition. But a second-half equaliser from Mile Jedinak ensured both teams earned a point.
It leaves South Korea and Australia on four points from two games with Bahrain and India playing later.
Japan beat Syria in thriller
Ten-man Japan struggled past Syria 2-1 in a high-octane and controversial Asian Cup group match to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
Captain Makoto Hasebe opened the scoring for the three-time champions in the 35th minute but Syria pulled one back from a penalty controversially awarded against goal-keeper Eiji Kawashima on the 76th minute. Kawashima was adjudged to have brought down Sanharib Malki despite the player being flagged offside.
Japanese players and team officials protested but Iranian referee Torky Mohsen gave a penalty and dismissed the goal-keeper. Down to 10 men, Japan nevertheless stepped up a gear and Keisuke Honda slotted in the winner from another penalty six minutes later.
“The referee’s decision was wrong,” said Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni. “We confirmed the linesman raised the flag but the referee ruled it was not an offside, saying that the ball was in the process of a Japanese back pass. It was totally a one-sided game for Japan.
“Our 10 men worked as if they were 11. They fought gallantly.”
Japan fail to protest red card in time
Meanwhile, Suzuki also told a media briefing that Japan failed to lodge a formal protest in time against the sending off of goal-keeper Kawashima.
Japanese officials said that they would lodge a protest, but Suzuki said they failed to do so within the two-hour time frame after the match and that any letter now will be treated as mere correspondence.
“At this stage we have not received an official protest,” said Suzuki. “We have written to the Japanese delegation informing them that Kawashima was – pending further investigation – suspended for a match.”
Kuwait fined $1,000
The Kuwait Football Association was fined $1,000 for allowing an unaccredited photographer into their changing rooms.
Tournament Director Tokuaki Suzuki said that the photographer of the Kuwait Football Association president had been allowed into the changing rooms even though he did not have the correct accreditation.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2011.
Australia and South Korea shared the spoils 1-1 in the battle of the big guns at the Asian Cup as both sides inched closer to the quarter-finals.
The two Asian heavyweights are both seen as potential winners but neither could find the decisive winner. The 21-year-old Koo Ja-Cheol got the breakthrough on the 24th minute, striking his third goal of the competition. But a second-half equaliser from Mile Jedinak ensured both teams earned a point.
It leaves South Korea and Australia on four points from two games with Bahrain and India playing later.
Japan beat Syria in thriller
Ten-man Japan struggled past Syria 2-1 in a high-octane and controversial Asian Cup group match to keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
Captain Makoto Hasebe opened the scoring for the three-time champions in the 35th minute but Syria pulled one back from a penalty controversially awarded against goal-keeper Eiji Kawashima on the 76th minute. Kawashima was adjudged to have brought down Sanharib Malki despite the player being flagged offside.
Japanese players and team officials protested but Iranian referee Torky Mohsen gave a penalty and dismissed the goal-keeper. Down to 10 men, Japan nevertheless stepped up a gear and Keisuke Honda slotted in the winner from another penalty six minutes later.
“The referee’s decision was wrong,” said Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni. “We confirmed the linesman raised the flag but the referee ruled it was not an offside, saying that the ball was in the process of a Japanese back pass. It was totally a one-sided game for Japan.
“Our 10 men worked as if they were 11. They fought gallantly.”
Japan fail to protest red card in time
Meanwhile, Suzuki also told a media briefing that Japan failed to lodge a formal protest in time against the sending off of goal-keeper Kawashima.
Japanese officials said that they would lodge a protest, but Suzuki said they failed to do so within the two-hour time frame after the match and that any letter now will be treated as mere correspondence.
“At this stage we have not received an official protest,” said Suzuki. “We have written to the Japanese delegation informing them that Kawashima was – pending further investigation – suspended for a match.”
Kuwait fined $1,000
The Kuwait Football Association was fined $1,000 for allowing an unaccredited photographer into their changing rooms.
Tournament Director Tokuaki Suzuki said that the photographer of the Kuwait Football Association president had been allowed into the changing rooms even though he did not have the correct accreditation.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2011.