The elite eight: Quarter-final cast confirmed

Abu Dhabi: After an unforgettable Round of 16 stage, the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-final cast has been confirmed.

From a starting field of 24 teams, only an exclusive eight remain, with four mouth-watering matches – each containing a former champion – set to be played on Thursday and Friday

Who, when, where?

VIETNAM v JAPAN

Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai – 17:00, January 24

The Vietnamese fairy-tale continued in the Round of 16, as Park Hang-seo’s side came from a goal behind to overcome Jordan in a penalty shootout, claiming the nation’s first ever AFC Asian Cup knockout stage win.

Their next challenge comes in the form of the competition’s most successful ever team; four-time champions Japan, who made it four wins from four with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

CHINA PR v ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi – 20:00, January 24

Still unbeaten, and still yet to concede a goal, Islamic Republic of Iran are building nicely as they look to win their first AFC Asian Cup title since 1976 – with their comprehensive 2-0 Round of 16 win over Oman underlining their smooth progress.

China PR appear in the last eight for the second consecutive edition of the tournament, having come from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Thailand in the first knockout round.

KOREA REPUBLIC v QATAR

Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi – 17:00, January 25

Korea Republic’s quest to end their 59-year title drought faces what is arguably their most challenging obstacle yet, with Qatar having won all four of their matches without having conceded a single goal.

The match will feature the coming together of one of Asia’s most celebrated stars, Korea’ Republic’s Tottenham Hotspur ace Son Heung-min, and one of its brightest emerging talents in seven-goal Qatari striker Almoez Ali.

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES v AUSTRALIA

Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain – 20:00, January 25

Both United Arab Emirates and Australia emerged from epic Round of 16 tussles to ultimately prevail against Central Asian opposition, and book the first meeting between the AFC Asian Cup hosts and reigning champions since Vietnam met Japan in the 2007 edition.

The sides also met in the 2015 semi-final, and Alberto Zaccheroni’s men will eager to square the ledger after the Socceroos won 2-0 on the way to claiming the Continental crown.

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Consolidados Grande SP 21/01/2019

No horário da tarde, Globo conseguiu elevar a média de público. Sessão da Tarde está conquistando índices superiores ao do extinto Vídeo Show. A sessão de filmes freou o programa de fofoca do SBT, Fofocalizando. A estreia do Álbum A Grande Família também fez boa média.

O Sétimo Guardião começou a semana na casa dos 30 pontos. Enquanto Jesus, da Record TV, registrou apenas um dígito.

Pela manhã, Encontro com Fátima Bernardes tem a pior média entre os programas de entretenimento da Globo.

Confira, abaixo, as audiências de segunda-feira, 21 de janeiro de 2019:

Hora Um – 4,2
Bom Dia São Paulo – 7,2
Bom Dia Brasil – 8,6
Mais Você – 6,7
Bem Estar – 6,7
Encontro – 6,4
SP1 – 13,1
Globo Esporte – 11,6
Jornal Hoje – 11,5
Sessão da Tarde: Intocáveis – 13,1
O Álbum da Grande Família – 12,4
Vale a Pena Ver de Novo: Cordel Encantado – 14,8
Malhação: Vidas Brasileiras – 15,8
Espelho da Vida – 17,8
SP2 – 20,1
O Tempo Não Para – 22,8
Jornal Nacional – 27,7
O Sétimo Guardião – 30,2
BBB19 – 22,6
Tela Quente: Maze Runner – Prova de Fogo – 16,2
Jornal da Globo – 8,9
Supergirl – 6,0
Corujão: Um Homem, Várias Mulheres – 5,2
Flash BBB19 – 5,0

Balanço Geral Manhã – 1,1
São Paulo no Ar – 2,4
Fala Brasil – 4,1
Hoje em Dia – 4,8
Balanço Geral SP – 8,5
Bela a Feia – 5,9
Essas Mulheres – 4,9
Cidade Alerta – 9,5
A Terra Prometida – 8,7
Jesus – 9,3
Jornal da Record – 8,5
Repórter Record Investigação – 8,0
Chicago Med – 3,5

Primeiro Impacto – 4,6
Bom Dia & Cia – 7,3
Fofocalizando – 5,3
Casos de Família – 4,7
Teresa – 4,9
Carrossel – 5,2
SBT Brasil – 6,7
Roda a Roda – 9,7
As Aventuras de Poliana – 11,3
Cúmplices de um Resgate – 10,9
Programa do Ratinho – 9,8
Conexão Repórter – 6,9
The Noite – 4,2
Roda a Roda (reprise) – 3,3
SBT Notícias – 3,0

Um ponto equivale a 73 mil domicílios sintonizados na Grande São Paulo. Esses números servem como referência para o mercado publicitário.

Fonte: Assessorias de imprensas das emissoras – Praça São Paulo

O PLANETA TV

#AFCAsianCup2019 Korea Republic 2-1 Bahrain (After Extra Time)

Dubai: Korea Republic needed extra time to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, defeating Bahrain 2-1 in their Round of 16 tie at the Rashid Stadium on Tuesday.

Substitute Kim Jin-su was the Korea Republic hero with his headed winner at the tail end of the first period of extra-time and the two-time champions will now face either Qatar or Iraq, who play later on Tuesday, in the last eight at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium on Friday.

Bahrain can walk tall despite the defeat as they took the match to the Koreans and in scoring, became the first team in the tournament to breach the East Asians defence.

The Taeguk Warriors, powered by Son Heung-min, seized control of possession when the match got underway but were unable to crack open the compact Bahraini defence.

Miroslav Soukup’s charges also showed their intent with Mohamed Jasim Marhoon forcing Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu into a dive but his effort flew wide in the fourth minute, before Komail Hasan Alaswad tested the custodian a minute later.

 

Korea Republic, however, continued to dominate but their first glimpse at goal only came in the 34th minute when an exchange of passes saw Hwang Hee-chan with possession in the box but the Bahrain defenders reacted before he could unleash a strike.

The 22-year-old Hamburger SV was not to be denied though as two minutes from the half-time whistle, he put Korea Republic ahead from close range.

The move began with Son laying a pass to Lee Yong on the right flank, who then sent the ball into the box which was blocked by ‘keeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi, only for it to land at Hee-chan’s feet who then had the simplest of tasks of passing it into the net.

 

Korea Republic pressed from the start of the second half in search of a second goal to put the game to bed, forcing Alawi into action with back-to-back saves to deny Ui-jo and In-beom’s shots on target.

Bahrain, however, did not sit back and troubled the Korean defence with their counter-attacks.

Bahrain had a golden opportunity to level the tie in the 70th minute when the Korean defenders failed to cleanly clear a corner kick, allowing Jamal Rashed Abdulrahman to fire a shot which seemed headed into the top right corner, only for Seung-gyu to spectacularly palm it out.

 

The West Asians did not go unrewarded for their aggression as the Korean defence was breached for the first time in the tournament when Mohamed Saad Alromaihi slammed the ball into the net after Hong Chul had made a last ditch clearance of Mahdi Faisal Alhumaidan’s attempt.

Ui-jo had a great chance to win the tie for Korea Republic when he intercepted a poor back pass in added time but his attempt to curl the ball past an onrushing Alawi went wide, which meant extra-time.

 

Korea immediately took control when the match restarted with attempts by Ju Se-jong, Lee Seung-woo and Kim Young-gwon.

Bahrain defended admirably but were caught off guard when Lee Yong sent in a brilliant cross from the right which Jin-su met with a thumping header to seal his team’s place in the quarter-finals.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Ryan the hero as Socceroos prevail on penalties in Round of 16 nail-biter

Mat Ryan was the shootout hero as the Socceroos beat Uzbekistan 4-2 on penalties to reach the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Quarter Finals following a tense 0-0 draw after 120 minutes in Al Ain.

Star goalkeeper Ryan saved two attempts to set the stage for the fit-again Mathew Leckie to dispatch the decisive fourth spot-kick.

Australia had been in complete control after a cagey first half but had to hold their nerve to advance to a last-eight encounter against the United Arab Emirates.

Ryan was on form from as early as the 10th minute of a gruelling battle as he smothered Eldor Shomurodov’s close-range shot, the striker having been released on the counter.

Tom Rogic and Aziz Behich were among three players to enter the book amid a keenly contested first half that yielded little goalmouth action.

Australia’s monopoly on possession began to pay dividends after the interval with Rhyan Grant getting himself into good positions for a pair of headers.

Having shaken off a hamstring injury sustained on club duty last month, Leckie was injected for his first appearance of the tournament in the 68th minute and immediately made an impression on the match.

Uzbekistan goalkeeper Nesterov then turned a deflected Rogic shot around the upright and Jackson Irvine went agonisingly close to connecting with the resultant corner from Chris Ikonomidis.

It was more of the same throughout the ensuing 30 minutes extra-time with Rogic, Leckie and Behich all registering shots on target without managing to break the mounting tension.

Mark Milligan converted first in the subsequent shootout as Ryan came to the fore following Nesterov’s denial of left-back Behich.

The Brighton and Hove Albion man brilliantly denied both Islom Tukhtakhujaev and Marat Bikmaev to allow Leckie to join captain Milligan and substitutes Robbie Kruse and Apostolos Giannou on the scoresheet, his confident sealer sending Graham Arnold’s men through to the next stage.

Featured image courtesy of the Asian Football Confederation

 

Source : Socceroos WEBSITE

Opposition confirmed: Socceroos to face UAE in Quarter Finals

After emerging victorious from a gripping encounter against Uzbekistan, the Socceroos will face hosts the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, 26 January 2019 at 3am (AEDT) in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Quarter Finals.

Graham Arnold’s men got the job done over the White Wolves via a 4-2 win on penalties after the game had remained locked at nil-all for 120 minutes.

Australia enjoyed the majority of possession, but were unable to break through as Tom Rogic, Rhyan Grant, Apostolos Giannou and Mat Leckie were all denied in the second half.

Australia’s two Mathews then came to the fore for the Socceroos — goalkeeper Maty Ryan produced two stunning saves to keep out Uzbekistan, while the returning Mat Leckie held his nerve on the fifth penalty to bury Uzbekistan and catapult the Socceroos to the Quarter Finals.

Standing in Australia’s way of a Semi-Finals berth are the hosts UAE who narrowly beat Kyrgyz Republic 3-2 in extra-time.

Captain Mark Milligan thanking fans following the Socceroos’ win over Uzbekistan.

The UAE conceded an injury-time equaliser to take the game to extra-time, before Alberto Zaccheroni’s men eventually sealed the win.

United Arab Emirates v Australia
Date: Friday, 25 January 2019
Venue: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Kick-off: 8:00pm (local); 3:00am (AEDT – Saturday, 26 January 2019)
Broadcast: Live in Australia on FOX SPORTS 505
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae

( Featured Image courtesy of the Asian Football Confederation)

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Shootout star Ryan reflects on his Schwarzer moment for triumphant Socceroos

Mat Ryan cast his mind back to Mark Schwarzer’s titanic 2005 showing against Uruguay after mimicking the Socceroos great during Tuesday morning’s suspenseful shootout triumph over Uzbekistan at AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™.

The Brighton and Hove Albion man was just 13 when the legendary Schwarzer, Australia’s most capped player, helped end the country’s 32-year wait for a FIFA World Cup appearance by producing two decisive penalty saves on an unforgettable night in Sydney.

Now 26 and a bona fide star of the Socceroos, Ryan enhanced his own legacy by twice denying Uzbekistan from 12 yards as 120 minutes of toil ended in ecstasy in Al Ain.

His clutch performance set the stage for Mathew Leckie to complete a 4-2 spot-kick triumph as Graham Arnold’s men advanced to the Quarter Finals.

“I was a little boy in the crowd that night Schwarzer had his heroics,” Ryan told Fox Sports.

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be out here representing Australia, having been a young fan that night.

“Recently I got 50 caps to my name and for that tonight now… I hadn’t saved a penalty for the national team, it was something that was bugging me.

“To get two in that moment just there, I’m really happy and for a goalkeeper that’s the pinnacle.”

Ryan’s twin saves were all the more crucial given they came after Ignatiy Nesterov kept out Aziz Behich’s attempt, the left-back putting his hand up following Mark Milligan’s successful conversion.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514577001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5991985930001

The hero of the night held his ground to parry Islom Tukhtakhujaev’s strike down the middle and then picked the right way to foil Marat Bikmaev.

“In this day and age you’re always trying to have a look before the game to see if you can gain some kind of advantage,” Ryan said.

“A few of their takers mixed it up either side. You have to have a bit of luck at the end of the day with the side you choose to go or whether you stay in the middle.

“Thankfully twice tonight [the decisions] paid off.”

The Socceroos face the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, 26 January 2019 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Kick-off is at 3am (AEDT) and will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS 505.

 

Source : Socceroos WEBSITE

 

Leckie: I’ve ‘never hit a penalty that good’

Socceroos forward Mathew Leckie explained the penalty he scored to secure Australia’s 4-2 shootout win over Uzbekistan may have been the best of his life. 

Graham Arnold’s side dominated proceedings during their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Round of 16 clash, but were denied on several occasions in the second half by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov.

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514577001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5992097813001

At 3-2 in the shootout, and needing one more penalty to win, Leckie stepped up to the plate and struck the ball as sweet as they come.

“I wanted to make sure I hit it hard, that way if I got it into the corner (the keeper) wouldn’t have had a chance,” Leckie told Fox Sports.

“To be fair, out of all the penalties I’ve taken in my life training, I’ve never hit it that good, so it was meant to be.

“I think the boys did super well today, obviously I came on, but the Uzbekistan team were so disciplined, it was so hard to break them down, I think it was a bit of a stalemate for both teams.”

The penalty rounded out a sensational comeback from injury for Leckie.

The Hertha Berlin flyer has been crucial to Australia’s attack for the past eight years, making his name one of the first on the team sheet.

But when his AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ preparations were curtailed by a hamstring injury sustained during club action, scoring the winner made the weeks of rehab more than worthwhile for Leckie.

“(Scoring the penalty meant) everything,” said Leckie. “For me to just be playing today, it’s super special.

“We’ve worked super hard — Phil Coles and the rest of the physio staff — they’ve done everything they can to get me back and today [because] there was also a question mark for the Quarter Finals if we made it.

“24/7 we’ve been working hard to get me right and I felt good today,” Leckie concluded.

The Socceroos face the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, 26 January 2019 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Kick-off is at 3am (AEDT) and will be broadcast live on FOX SPORTS 505.

( Featured Image courtesy of the Asian Football Confederation)

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Joint statement on Broadcast Piracy

Abu Dhabi: A joint statement on behalf of FIFA, UEFA, AFC, Premier League and La Liga on BeoutQ.

“Collectively, we, as rights-holders in various football competitions, condemn the pirate entity beoutQ, which continues to abuse the operations of rights holders and legitimate broadcasters through its persistent and illegal screening of events for which it has made no effort to secure the rights; the latest example of which is the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

“The activities of beoutQ are a clear and flagrant breach of our intellectual property rights. beoutQ’s piracy harms not only us, as rights holders, but also our legitimate licensees and, ultimately, the fans of our competitions.

“Money raised from the sale of TV rights helps us to support the participants, as well as to develop and grow the sports of which we are guardians from the grassroots up. Piracy kills that investment.

“We will work closely with partners and relevant authorities to enforce and uphold our intellectual property rights and put an end to this widespread piracy issue for everyone’s benefit.”

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

#AFCAsianCup2019 UAE 3-2 Kyrgyz Republic (After Extra Time)

Abu Dhabi: Host nation the United Arab Emirates kept alive their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 title ambitions on Monday, as an extra-time Ahmed Khalil penalty helped secure a hard-fought 3-2 win over Kyrgyz Republic and a place in the quarter-finals.

In truth, Alberto Zaccheroni’s side struggled for large periods of a game which saw Khalil’s success from 12 yards seal their progress only after Kyrgyz Republic had twice come from behind following Khamis Esmaeel’s early opener at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium.

On a night when tournament debutants Kyrgyz Republic shone brightly, the UAE’s victory sets up a quarter-final showdown with Australia in Al Ain on Friday, and maintained Emirati hopes of claiming a first-ever Continental crown.

Entering the game as Group A winners, the UAE began brightly, and after Valeri Kichin’s splendid last-ditch tackle had robbed Ali Mabkhout when the striker was bearing down on goal, they went ahead in the 13th minute through a fine Esmaeel header from Ismaeil Matar’s corner.

Having impressed during the group stage, Kyrgyz Republic bounced back in fine fashion shortly before the half-hour mark, Akhlidin Israilov’s delightful pass finding Akhlidin Israilov who rounded UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and finished with aplomb to draw his side level.

 

Clearly buoyed by the equaliser, Kyrgyz Republic refused to concede an inch to their opponents, although Matar threatened to restore the UAE’s lead when he fizzed a shot from distance narrowly over as the first half drew to a close.

After the break, Mabkhout almost immediately headed Bandar Mohammed’s pinpoint cross inches wide of the post, before a curling Kichin delivery eluded its intended target and thudded against Eisa’s crossbar with the custodian beaten.

However, any momentum Kyrgyz Republic had been building was brought to a sudden halt on 64 minutes as the UAE went ahead once again, this time Mabkhout collecting Amer Abdulrahman’s pass and drilling the ball beyond Kutman Kadyrbekov in the Kyrgyz Republic goal.

 

To their eternal credit, Kyrgyz Republic refused to buckle, and after Vitalij Lux, who bagged a hat-trick last time out, had flashed a late effort agonisingly wide, Tursunali Rustamov headed home a last gasp equaliser following Anton Zemlianukhin’s cross to send the pulsating match into extra-time.

Mabkhout spurned an early chance in the second minute of the additional 30, before – just 60 seconds later – the striker was brought down in the area by Bekzhan Sagynbaev. Substitute Ahmed Khalil stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and put his side ahead yet again.

 

Bakhtiyar Duyshobekov’s header then brushed an upright and the seemingly omnipresent Rustamov crashed a shot against the bar in the final seconds.

However, it was not to be though for the Central Asians, as the UAE held firm to seal their ticket through to the last eight and signal Kyrgyz Republic’s departure from a competition in which they had often more than held their own.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

#AFCAsianCup2019 Australia 0-0 Uzbekistan (After Extra Time, Australia win 4-2 on penalties)

Al Ain: Maty Ryan was the hero for Australia as the defending champions edged through to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 on Monday evening with a 4-2 win over Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout.

Ryan kept out spot-kicks from Islom Tukhtakhujaev and Dostonbek Khamdamov to leave Mathew Leckie to score the winning penalty that took Graham Arnold’s side into the next round of the competition.

Neither side had been able to find the back of the net during the previous 120 minutes, leaving Ryan to provide the heroics for his team, who now face the United Arab Emirates – who defeated Kyrgyz Republic 3-2 in their last 16 tie – in the next round.

The win was no less than the Australians deserved in game that saw Arnold recall Trent Sainsbury following his suspension while Hector Cuper’s Uzbekistan team featured five changes from the team that lost 2-0 to Japan, with veteran midfielder Odil Ahmedov among those recalled.

The match started with Eldor Shomurodov’s change of pace leaving Sainsbury flat-footed in the penalty area, only for Ryan to deny the Russia-based striker’s effort when in on the Australian goal.

Two minutes later Aziz Behich tried his luck from outside the area but his low shot caused Ignatiy Nesterov few problems as the Uzbekistan defence successfully kept the Socceroos at arm’s length.

Uzbekistan were shading the battle for control as they successfully stifled Australia’s threat in the final third and threatened on the break. Two minutes before the half hour mark they went close again as Javokhir Sidikov let fly from distance, the ball going narrowly wide of Ryan’s right post.

Uzbekistan’s preferred outlet was through Shomurodov and the 23-year-old carried a constant threat. Nine minutes before the break he cut through the Australian defence again before pulling the ball back and finding Khamdamov with time and space to shoot, but his attempt was woefully off target.

 

As the second half wore on, though, Australia asserted more control. Jamie Maclaren’s blocked shot looped up for Rhyan Grant to head into the hands of Nesterov while the Sydney FC full-back was also on the end of Milos Degenek’s clever diagonal ball, sending his header over the bar from an acute angle.

Leckie’s introduction for Awer Mabil midway through the half gave Australia a boost and the Hertha Berlin winger almost put his side in front when he skipped through the Uzbekistan defence. Nesterov, though, dropped to his right to parry before the ball was hacked clear.

 

Nesterov was again on hand to push away Rogic’s deflected effort 10 minutes from time as Uzbekistan rarely ventured beyond their own half, with only Odil Ahmedov’s mis-hit volley to show for their efforts in the dying moments of normal time.

With the 90 minutes finishing goalless, the game went into extra-time and Australia’s frustration continued as Chris Ikonomidis, Leckie and Rogic all failed to break the deadlock for the defending champions, leaving the game to drift towards a shootout.

Nesterov saved Behich penalty in the second round of the shootout before Tukhtakhujaev was denied by Ryan and, with Khamdamov missing in the penultimate round, Leckie struck to take Australia through.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE