#Retrospectiva2019 Brasil campeão da Copa América de 2019

Resumão

Como é bom estar em casa. E estar de volta. Em seu retorno ao local onde mais se sente à vontade e onde mais jogou, a seleção brasileira voltou a reinar na América. O Brasil venceu o Peru por 3 a 1 na tarde deste domingo, no Maracanã, e conquistou pela nona vez a Copa América. Mas sofreu. Jogou com um a menos em boa parte da segunda etapa, ao ter Gabriel Jesus expulso. O camisa 9 havia dado assistência e feito um dos gols. Everton e Richarlison fizeram os outros gols brasileiros e Guerrero, de pênalti, fez o gol peruano, o único sofrido pela Seleção na campanha.

NOVE VEZES BRASIL

Após 12 anos, a seleção brasileira conquista a Copa América. A equipe brasileira foi campeã pela nona vez e sempre venceu quando sediou o torneio (1919, 1922, 1949, 1989 e 2019). São seis conquistas nas últimas 13 edições. O Brasil é o terceiro maior vencedor do torneio, que tem o Uruguai no topo, com 15 títulos, e a Argentina em segundo, com 14. A próxima edição é já no ano que vem, na Argentina e na Colômbia.

DO CÉU AO INFERNO

Decisivo na semifinal contra a Argentina, Gabriel Jesus novamente foi destaque. Fez um grande primeiro tempo. O camisa 9 protagonizou uma excelente jogada ao dar assistência para o gol de Everton, que abriu o placar. Depois, desempatou o jogo para a Seleção, no final da primeira etapa. No entanto, aos 24 minutos do segundo tempo, em uma disputa no alto com Zambrano, levou o segundo amarelo e foi expulso. Revoltado, ele fez sinal de roubo, socou o banco de reservas e foi aos prantos nos corredores do Maracanã. Mas sai como um dos principais jogadores da campanha vitoriosa da seleção brasileira.

OS 90 MINUTOS

Esqueça aquela seleção peruana goleada na primeira fase. O time de Gareca acertou a marcação e tomou a iniciativa no Maracanã. Mas esbarrou na eficiência brasileira. Em sua primeira finalização, a Seleção abriu o placar com Everton, eleito melhor em campo, em chute de primeira após jogadaça de Gabriel Jesus. O Peru chegou ao empate em pênalti marcado e revisado no vídeo pela arbitragem. Guerrero converteu. Mas a alegria peruana durou pouco. No último lance da primeira etapa, Gabriel Jesus acertou belo chute da entrada da área e fez o segundo: 2 a 1.

Brasileiros comemoram o gol de Gabriel Jesus, no final do primeiro tempo (Foto: Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters)

O drama na segunda etapa foi ainda maior. Destaque no primeiro tempo, Gabriel Jesus foi expulso ao levar o segundo amarelo e deixou o Brasil com um a menos na reta final da decisão. Gareca não se intimidou. Lançou Ruidíaz, Andy Polo e Gonzáles para tentar o empate. Mas a Seleção se segurou. E desperdiçou chances no contra-ataque. No fim, Richarlison foi o responsável pelo ato final. Em sua redenção após sofrer com a caxumba e desfalcar o Brasil nas quartas de final, ele fez, de pênalti, o terceiro gol do Brasil: 3 a 1.

VAR EM AÇÃO

Após uma série de polêmicas ao longo da competição, a Copa América não poderia terminar sem o VAR. Ele esteve em ação duas vezes, para confirmar os dois pênaltis marcados. O primeiro, a favor do Peru, ao confirmar toque de mão em Thiago Silva na primeira etapa. O segundo, no final da partida, a favor da seleção brasileira, ao confirmar falta em Everton dentro da área.

Pênalti do Peru! Bola bate no braço de Thiago Silva e juiz aponta marca do cal, aos 40 do 1º tempo

O MAIOR CAMPEÃO DA HISTÓRIA

Daniel Alves ergueu seu 40º título da carreira, o primeiro como capitão da seleção brasileira. Ele é o jogador com mais conquistas na história do futebol. Foi a quarta vez que o lateral foi campeão pelo Brasil.

O MELHOR? O ARTILHEIRO? SÓ DEU BRASIL

Além de conquistar seu 40º título na carreira e ampliar a vantagem como maior vencedor da história do futebol, Daniel Alves foi eleito o melhor jogador da Copa América. O Brasil também ficou com o melhor goleiro, Alisson, e o artilheiro, Everton, que terminou a competição com três gols, ao lado de Guerrero. O jogador do Grêmio, no entanto, teve mais assistências e ficou com o troféu.

Daniel Alves recebe prêmio de melhor jogador da Copa América 2019

CAPITÃO AMÉRICA

Tite conquista o seu primeiro título pela seleção brasileira e alcança um feito inédito: é o primeiro treinador a ser campeão de todos os torneios continentais na América do Sul. Ele tem as taças da Copa Sul-Americana (2008), pelo Internacional, Libertadores (2012) e Recopa (2013), pelo Corinthians, e, agora, a Copa América (2019) pela Seleção.

Tite é jogado para o alto pelos jogadores brasileiros

RENDA RECORDE

O futebol brasileiro tem um novo recorde de renda registrado. O público na final foi abaixo do estimado, com 58.584 pagantes, mas o valor arrecadado chegou a R$ 38.769.850,00, o maior já registrado e divulgado em uma partida de futebol no Brasil.

GLOBO ESPORTE.COM31

Qatar 4-0 UAE

Abu Dhabi: Qatar will play Japan in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final after Felix Sanchez’s charges beat host nation the United Arab Emirates 4-0 on Tuesday in an absorbing last four encounter at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

A stirring first-half performance – which saw Boualem Khoukhi break the deadlock and Almoez Ali notch a record-equalling eighth goal of the tournament – laid the foundation for the victory which was rubberstamped by late strikes from Hassan Al Haydos and Hamid Ismaeil as Qatar progressed with relative ease to set up Friday’s title showdown with the Japanese.

While Qatar’s success saw them advance to their first-ever AFC Asian Cup final, it left the UAE to rue what could have been as they failed to emulate their run to the final in 1996.

After a somewhat cautious opening, Qatar finally issued their statement of intent when Salem Al Hajri’s shot from distance forced UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa into a fine stop on 14 minutes.

With Abdelkarim Hassan and Assim Madibo returning from suspension, Qatar continued to look the more likely of the two sides, and they duly took the just eight minutes later.

Khoukhi’s angled drive from 18 yards somehow finding its way under Eisa’s despairing dive and into the net.

 

Clearly stunned by the opener, the UAE responded through an Ismail Al Hamadi header which was smartly saved by Saad Al Sheeb, and a similar effort from Ali Mabkhout that fizzed wide of the target shortly before the half-hour mark.

However, worse was to come for the Emiratis as Qatar doubled their lead in the 38th minute.

This time Akram Afif found Almoez Ali who advanced into the area before firing home via a post to equal Ali Daei’s record for the most goals by a player at Asia’s premier event.

 

With Ahmed Khalil and Ismaeil Matar both introduced to the fray after the break, the UAE were quick to threaten as Al Sheeb superbly tipped over a Mabkhout piledriver and then defender Khoukhi blocked a Matar effort from close-range.

Al Sheeb was on hand once again to deny Khalil shortly after as the UAE’s search for a way back into the game became more frantic as the minutes ticked by.

 

Despite being forced to defend deep in their own half for long periods, Qatar remained dangerous on the break and they duly added a third in the 81st minute when captain Hassan Al Haydos rounded off a delightful move by manoeuvring past Bandar Mohammed and clipping the ball over Eisa.

After the UAE’s Ismail Ahmed was shown a straight red card late on for dangerous play, substitute Ismaeil rounded off the scoring to emphatically confirm Qatar’s place in the final.

 

Source : Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

UAE 1-0 Australia

Al Ain: Australia’s defence of their AFC Asian Cup title came to an end on Friday evening as Ali Mabkhout’s second half goal earned tournament hosts the United Arab Emirates a 1-0 win over the Socceroos and set up a semi-final meeting with Qatar.

Mabkhout took advantage of an under-hit back pass midway through the second half to steal in behind the Australian defence and round Maty Ryan to register the only strike of the game.

Alberto Zaccheroni’s side will now take on Qatar with a place in the final at stake as the hosts moved one step closer to emulating their run to the deciding game when the tournament was last held in the UAE in 1996.

With Tom Rogic unavailable due to suspension, Graham Arnold went for a tactical switch that saw Australia start with Jamie Maclaren and Apostolos Giannou paired together in attack while Robbie Kruse and Chris Ikonomidis patrolled the flanks.

There were changes, too, for the hosts. Ismaeil Mattar made his first start of the tournament alongside Mabkhout as Zaccheroni also introduced Walid Abbas, Fares Juma, Majed Hassan and Mohamed Ahmad as he made five changes to the side that eventually saw off Kyrgyz Republic.

 

Zaccheroni’s alterations were the first to take effect as the Emiratis started brightly. With less than a minute on the clock, Ismail Al Hammadi controlled Ali Hassan’s ball into the area before forcing Ryan to palm the ball clear.

In a lively opening, Trent Sainsbury sent his looping header of Ikonomidis’ corner over the bar as both teams started with few inhibitions.

Ryan was on hand once more to deny the hosts as the clock ticked towards the 20 minute mark when Al Hammadi, again, threatened after stepping inside Sainsbury to fire off an effort that the Socceroos keeper pushed away.

 

Neither side was prepared to sit back in an open and entertaining first half, with Australia taking advantage of the space in midfield to dominate for periods without finding a way through the well-drilled Emirati defence.

With five minutes left in the half the Socceroos did find a way through as Giannou was presented with the time to set his sight on goal, but Khalid Eisa swatted that shot clear. At the other end, Ali Mabkhout missed the chance of the half, heading over from close range.

 

Australia ramped up the pressure in the second period as Degenek and Jackson Irvine both saw their headers from corners miss the target and Ikonomidis dragged his shot just wide. Giannou then had the ball in the net following the introduction of Mathew Leckie for Maclaren, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

There was to be no such intervention, though in the 68th minute when Mabkhout put the UAE ahead with their first opening of the second period, the Al Jazira forward alert enough to step in to intercept Degenek’s backpass before rounding Ryan to score.

 

Australia grew increasingly desperate as the clock ticked down, with Arnold throwing on Awer Mabil and Andrew Nabbout in an attempt to claw back an equaliser but the Socceroos came up short to end their reign as Asian champions and allow the UAE advance.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Korea Republic 0-1 Qatar

Abu Dhabi: A superb second-half Abdelaziz Hatim goal proved the difference as Qatar beat Korea Republic 1-0 to claim a place in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-finals on Friday.

Hatim’s thunderous effort from distance settled a tense yet absorbing affair, one which sees Qatar head into their first-ever AFC Asian Cup semi-final in what is the nation’s tenth appearance in the competition.

By way of contrast, the Koreans exit the tournament by the slenderest of margins having failed to make amends for their defeat in the final of the 2015 edition in Australia.

Qatar will now meet either host nation the United Arab Emirates or Australia, who meet later on today, in the last four on Tuesday.

After a distinctly cautious start by both sides, Korea Republic slowly but surely began to gain a foothold and it was they who threatened first when Jung Woo-young fired well over from distance on 16 minutes.

Content to sit back and soak up the pressure, Qatar were nevertheless a threat going forward as first a fierce Hasan Al Haydos effort was blocked by a wall of red Korean shirts, and then the highly regarded Akram Afif brought a smart save out of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu shortly after the half-hour mark.

Moments later, and in what proved to be the final genuine opportunity of the opening half, midfielder Hwang In-beom curled a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area after Qatar had failed to adequately deal with Lee Yong’s free-kick.

 

Qatar emerged for the second period clearly eager to take the game to their opponents, although it was Korea Republic who once again came closest to breaking the deadlock, this time Hwang Ui-jo controlling the ball superbly before bringing a fine save out of Qatar custodian Saad Al Sheeb.

With captain Son Heung-min a growing influence, Korea Republic continued to press, Lee Chung-yong missing a glorious chance at the far post after Al Sheeb had misjudged the flight of Kim Jin-su’s deep cross.

Tournament leading goalscorer Almoez Ali was to have his first sight of goal on 60 minutes when the livewire forward forced Kim Seung-gyu into another excellent stop as the Qataris remained a threat on the counter-attack.

 

Kim Jin-su then grazed the outside of an upright with a delightful free-kick, before Qatar took the lead in sensational fashion. Gathering possession some 25 yards from goal, Abdelaziz Hatim sent the ball rocketing past Kim Seung-gyu’s despairing dive and into the bottom corner.

Within seconds Hwang Ui-Jo had a goal ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for offside, while Boualem Khoukhi’s spectacular overhead kick was expertly repelled by Kim Seung-gyu.

Late and intense Korea Republic pressure failed to find the equaliser they so desperately craved, leaving Qatar to progress amid scenes of jubilation.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

China PR 0-3 IR Iran

Abu Dhabi: A consummate performance by Sardar Azmoun laid the foundation for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s 3-0 win over China PR as Team Melli eased into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-finals on Thursday.

The livewire 24-year-old forward was in superb form throughout, setting up Mehdi Taremi for the Iranian opener and scoring himself to further underline his burgeoning reputation.

Azmoun’s excellence and Iran’s victory saw Carlos Queiroz’s charges make it five wins and as many clean sheets from their five matches at Asia’s premier event, and take a step nearer to claiming the nation’s first Continental title since 1976.

The Iranians are now set to face Japan – albeit minus Taremi who will be suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the competition – in the semi-finals on Monday.

The Iranians then spurned a glorious chance to double their advantage when Mohammad Kanani found Taremi from captain Ashkan Dejagah’s free-kick only to see the Al Gharafa star somehow miss the target from only three yards.

With Omid Ebrahimi pulling the strings to great effect in midfield, Iran’s second was, however, not long in coming, as another long ball caught saw Azmoun out-muscle Liu Yiming before the 24-year-old rounded goalkeeper Yan Junling to score shortly after the half-hour mark.

To their credit, two-time runners-up China held firm in the wake of Azmoun’s strike to head into the interval with a glimmer of hope following what had been an exhilarating first half display by their opponents.

In truth, the pattern of play changed little after the break as Taremi and Kanani looped headers narrowly over the bar, before Alireza Jahanbakhsh curled an effort narrowly wide of Yan’s left-hand upright on 58 minutes.

With China struggling to find a way back into the game, Yan then produced a fine stop to deny Ehsan Hajisafi as Iran threatened to add a third and put the result beyond doubt.

Substitute Yu Dabao missed from close-range with 10 minutes remaining to realistically end Chinese hopes of a revival, leaving Azmoun to depart the scene to a standing ovation in the final moments and Karim Ansarifard to net another for Iran after yet another defensive error.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Vietnam 0-1 Japan

Dubai: Japan advanced to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 semi-finals after defeating Vietnam 1-0 in an absorbing last eight tie that saw the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) twice being called into action.

Introduced from the quarter-final stage, VAR first denied and then benefited Japan as the Samurai Blue stayed on track for a record-extending fifth AFC Asian Cup title.

VAR was first called into play in the 24th minute when Maya Yoshida’s goal was ruled out for a handball and again in the 56th minute when Vietnam’s Bùi Tien Dung was ultimately judged to have brought down Ritsu Doan.

Doan converted the spot-kick and Japan will face the winners of Tuesday’s later last eight tie between Islamic Republic of Iran and China PR in Monday’s semi-final.

Japan, having opted for a defensive approach in their Round of 16 tie against Saudi Arabia, were back at their attacking best from the start as they pressed high to keep Vietnam in their half.

The lion’s share of possession, however, didn’t translate into clear openings for Hajime Moriyasu’s side as a disciplined Vietnamese backline kept the Samurai Blue at bay.

 

Koya Kitagawa’s pass in the 23rd minute gave Genki Haraguchi a sight at goal but before he could unleash a strike, Vietnam defender Do Duy Manh slid in to send the ball out of play.

The resultant corner saw Haraguchi send in a curler that found a surging captain Yoshida, who headed the ball into the back of the net.

 

However, the Video Assistant Referee was called into action for the first time in the AFC Asian Cup and much to Vietnam’s relief, referee Mohammed Abdulla Mohamed of UAE disallowed the goal as Yoshida’s header had deflected off his arm.

A buoyant Vietnam then took the game to Japan, with Nguyen Công Phuong ending a surging run by just sending the ball wide.

With Vietnam in the ascendancy, the Japanese defence came under pressure and goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda was forced into making his first save of the game as Phan Van Duc came close in the 37th minute strike, before being called into action again a minute later to deny another close-range attempt from the Song Lam Nghe An midfielder.

Dang Van Lâm ensured his side went into the break level with a superb save after Ritsu Doan found Takumi Minamino inside the box, only to see the Vietnam goalkeeper stretch out a hand to send the ball out of play.

 

Japan kept their foot on the pedal in the second half and their slick passing and penetrative runs had Vietnam defending desperately.

One such move saw the surging Doan’s run blocked by Bui and referee Mohammed, after referring to the VAR, awarded a penalty which the Japanese midfielder converted in the 57th minute.

 

Having taken the lead, Japan kept a stranglehold on possession as Vietnam hardly got a touch of the ball.

One rare Vietnam foray upfront saw substitute Nguyen Phong Hong Duy coming close in the 73rd minute as his low drive missed the upright by mere inches.

That was to be it for the Southeast Asians as their fairytale run came to an end while for Japan, a fifth AFC Asian Cup title remains in sight.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

Qatar 1-0 Iraq

Abu Dhabi: A glorious Bassam Al Rawi free-kick proved the difference on Tuesday as Qatar beat a determined Iraq 1-0 to progress through to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 quarter-finals.

Al Rawi struck in the second half of a fascinating encounter, one which swung one way and then the other before being settled by the number 15’s superb effort at an atmospheric Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The victory leaves Qatar on course for a first-ever Continental crown and they will now meet Korea Republic in the last eight on Friday.

Despite Iraq’s industrious start to the game, it was Qatar who spurned the first genuine opportunity when 2018 AFC Player of the Year Abdelkarim Hassan rattled the bar with a shot from close-range following Abdelaziz Hatim’s cross in only the fourth minute.

As Qatar continued to press in the opening stages, a well-placed Hatim came close to connecting with Hasan’s whipped delivery, only for goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb to then dive bravely at the feet of an onrushing Mohanad Ali to repel Iraq’s opening attack of the tie.

 

Iraq suffered a blow shortly after the half-hour mark as influential midfielder Humam Tareq left the pitch on a stretcher, although an Ahmed Ibrahim header which forced Al Sheeb into a smart save subsequently demonstrated the threat still posed by Srecko Katanec’s charges.

However, 2000 and 2011 quarter-finalists Qatar were to end an absorbing first half in the ascendancy as Hasan’s deflected cross brushed an upright and Al Rawi headed Akram Afif’s corner agonisingly wide of the target.

 

The second period began just as brightly and, after Iraq custodian Jalal Hassan had denied Akram Afif, Qatar went ahead on 62 minutes, Al Rawi curling home a delightful free-kick that Hassan could do little about.

Moments later, Hassan spread himself well to deny his rampaging Qatari namesake, before producing another fine stop to keep out a fierce Hatim drive from distance.

 

Iraq, though, refused to buckle, as first Ali Adnan flashed a free-kick inches past the post and then Ahmed Ibrahim’s 80th minute header missed by a similarly fine margin.

It was not to be though for the 2007 champions as Qatar, with captain Hasan Al Haydos excelling throughout, valiantly held firm despite late Iraqi pressure to move ever closer to realising their title aspirations.

 

Source : AFC Asian Football Confederation WEBSITE

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

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

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