Australia move to semis as Uzbekistan make history
The entertaining match looked to be heading to penalties after both sides squandered a number of opportunities before Kewell was left unmarked to direct his header home after a beautifully-flighted ball from Matt McKay.
Australia enjoyed the better of the chances in the match with Kewell and left winger McKay wasting two good opportunities in the first-half when they both struck shots over the bar. Iraq, on the other hand, wasted the best chance of the match in the 55th minute when Emad Mohammed was put clear after a neat throughball from captain Younus Mahmood but the striker angled his shot wide.
Australia, the best Fifa-ranked side in the tournament at 26th, will play Uzbekistan in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Uzbekistan down Jordan
Earlier, Uzbekistan wrote a new chapter in their football history by making it to the Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time with a tense 2-1 win against Jordan.
Both teams were gunning for a maiden last-four berth and a brace from Ulugbek Bakaev earned his team the right to face Australia for a place in the final.
At a half-empty Khalifa Stadium, the former CSKA Moscow striker pounced twice in the space of three minutes soon after half-time before Jordan captain Bashar Bani Yaseen pulled one back to set up an exciting finale.
Jordan came into the game burdened by a slew of injuries, with Odai Al Saify, Hatem Aqel and Anas Bani Yaseen all ruled out. Jordan attacked relentlessly but the Uzbek defence held firm.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2011.
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