AFC Asian Cup: Quarterfinals

Iraq : 2 ( Younis Khalef (2) , Younis Khalef (66) )

Vietnam : 0

Stadium : Rajamangala Stadium Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 11:11 PM

 

 

 

 

 

AFC Asian Cup: Quarterfinals

Japan : 1 ( Naohiro Takahara (72)

Australia : 1 ( John Aloisi (69) )

Stadium : My Dinh National Stadium

Japan win 4-3 on penalties at 9:25 PM

 

 

 

 

 

HANOI - Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was the hero for defending champions Japan as they eliminated Australia 4-3 in a penalty shootout to progress to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

Kawaguchi saved from both Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill as Japan’s quest for a third successive Asian Cup title stayed alive with Yuji Nakazawa scored the winning penalty emphatically past Mark Schwarzer.

The Japanese rekindled memories of their last appearance in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup, when they knocked out Jordan in similar fashion before going on to win the title.

It was a brave performance, though, from the Australians who played the entire extra-time period with just 10 men after Vince Grella was sent off.

At score at that stage was 1-1 after John Aloisi’s 70th minute opener was cancelled out less than two minutes later when Naohiro Takahara struck from close range.

Aloisi struck for the Socceroos with just 20 minutes to go when he pushed home a corner from substitute Harry Kewell after the ball had somehow managed to cross the six-yard box untouched.

But Australia’s lead lasted less than two minutes when Takahara capitalised on Mark Milligan’s miss-hit clearance before turning and firing past Schwarzer, via the goalkeeper’s right post.

Japan’s hopes of progressing improved further as time was running out when referee Kuwaiti Saad Khameel Al Fadhli sent midfielder Vince Grella off when he hit Takahara in the face with a flailing arm as both went up for a header, but Ivica Osim’s team were unable to take full advantage.

Not surprisingly, the champions controlled possession but they lacked the creativity to breach the tightly packed Australian defence.

The game went into extra-time but the Australians put up a dogged defence and successfully kept the Japanese at bay, even though there was a scare for the Socceroos with just second remaining.

A lofted cross into the penalty area was met by Shunsuke Nakamura’s flying volley, but Schwarzer’s reflex save to his right kept the ball out and took the game into a penalty shootout.

Kawaguchi guessed correctly to deny Kewell and Neill while Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo converted successfully before Tim Cahill put Australia on the board.

Yuichi Komano made it 3-1 and Nick Carle kept Australia alive with his spot kick. The pressure increased on Japan when Takahara put his effort over the bar and when David Carney scored that left Nakazawa to go head-to-head with Schwarzer.

The veteran defender, however, was equal to the task to send Japan into the semi-finals once again. at 9:22 PM

 

 

 

 

 

BANGKOK, July 19 (Reuters) - Vietnam's Phan Van Tai Em is in coach Alfred Riedl's bad books after arranging his wedding party for the same day as their Asian Cup quarter-final against Iraq.

Although the midfield playmaker will miss Saturday's match in Bangkok, Riedl is more unhappy with Tai Em's lack of faith in the Vietnamese team.

'It's very disappointing that he has no confidence in his team, or he would not have arranged his wedding for the same day as the quarter-finals,' the Austrian told Reuters.

'I won't ask him to cancel. He's invited all the guests already. He just didn't believe the team had a chance,' Riedl added.

Buoyed by huge home support, co-hosts Vietnam finished a surprise second in Group B behind three-times champions Japan to reach the Asian Cup knockout stages for the first time in 47 years.

Source : soccernet at 12:10 PM

 

 

 

 

 

HANOI – Australia striker Mark Viduka has admitted his battle with Japan’s veteran centre-back Yuji Nakazawa could be a major factor in deciding who comes out on top in Saturday’s AFC Asian Cup quarter-final meeting at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

Three-time winners Japan and Australia, making their first Asian Cup appearance, were billed as pre-tournament favourites and the battle between Viduka and Nakazawa is set to be a major factor in determining who advances to a semi-final meeting with either Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in Hanoi next Wednesday.

Newcastle striker Viduka headed home two late goals in the must-win triumph over Thailand which helped secure Australia’s passage into the last eight after Graham Arnold’ side had weathered a second half storm from the co-hosts, who only needed a draw to advance and send the Socceroos crashing out.

The 31-year-old former Leeds and Middlesbrough frontman was also on the scoresheet during the 3-1 defeat by Iraq, while Yokohama Marinos defender Nakazawa led Japan to the top of Group B with a string of commanding displays for the defending champions.

“The last time we met I found him a very difficult defender to play against. He is big, he is strong and also very mobile and a very difficult player and it will be a big battle,” said Viduka.

“We both also have other strengths in our team apart from us two. We got players on the bench who can come on a make a difference so it should be a good all round battle.

“They have just come through their season so maybe they are fitter than us and accustomed to the weather and they do have an advantage over us in terms of that, but we are now getting to a point where we are getting used to it. But for both sides it’s going to be a difficult thing to overcome.”

Australia’s lacklustre displays against Oman, which saw a point rescued by a stoppage time strike from substitute Tim Cahill, and the defeat by group winners Iraq led to Arnold and his side coming under severe criticism from certain sections back home.

But Viduka was delighted as the Socceroos responded to down Thailand, capped off by two trademark headers from the veteran striker, who made his international debut in 1994.

“We started off on the wrong foot in the first two games in our group and were deserved to be criticised for the way that we played,” he added. “The criticism started to be focused on non-football things, especially in Australia, and we all knew in the last game we needed a good result and I think it brought us together and put us all in the same boat and gave us that extra motivation to do well.

“It’s always a good thing for a striker to score goals. Sometimes you have a blinder and you don’t get a sniff on goal but sometimes you have a shocker and they bounce off your backside and they go in. It’s always a good confidence factor when you score goals for any player, striker or non-striker.

“In the last game against Thailand I didn’t think I had played that well but I scored two goals and it could have been down to the formation. At the clubs I have played at I have always played with two strikers and personally I think it’s a lot easier to have somebody else up there, not just for myself, but it gives the other players another person to target.”

The Newcastle striker, who made the switch for St James’ Park from Middlesbrough at the end of the last domestic season in England, has revealed a long held respect for current Japan coach Ivica Osim, admitting their paths have crossed prior to this weekend’s meeting in northern Vietnam.

“I have always admired him as a coach since he coached the Yugoslavia national team at the World Cup in Italy,” said the striker. “I have always known of him and a few times when I was playing in Croatia we played some friendly matches against Sturm Graz where he was coaching at the time.

“I never met him until I played in a testimonial for Zvonimir Boban in Zagreb and he was the coach of the team I was playing for. I have found him to be a very approachable person and he made a good impression on me.” at 12:07 PM

 

 

 

 

 

HANOI – Australia coach Graham Arnold has handed defending champions Japan the favourites tag ahead of Saturday’s eagerly anticipated AFC Asian Cup quarter-final showdown between Asia’s heavyweights in Hanoi.

Australia needed a 4-0 victory over Thailand in their final Group A game to advance, while Japan eased through by topping Group B and remain in northern Vietnam, all factors which lead Arnold to lean in the direction of Ivica’s Osim’s side ahead of kick-off at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

“I think Japan deserve to be favourites. If you look at the group games they have been in better form than us,” said Arnold, who enjoyed two years in Japan with J.League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

“Their local players in the J.League are in the middle of their season so at this stage they deserve to be favourites, but saying that, Australians love to be underdogs. We had our first final against Thailand, we came through that, and this is our second one.”

The Socceroos made a slow start to their maiden continental adventure after a draw against Oman and defeat by Iraq, but Arnold is confident his side will again produce the required performance on Saturday after storming to the crucial victory over Thailand.

Arnold goes into the game without the suspended Luke Wikshire, who collected a second yellow card during the victory over Thailand, but with Lucas Neill returning from a ban, Brett Emerton will take up the vacant midfield role on the right and Michael Beauchamp and Mark Milligan will join the West Ham man in a three man central defensive backline.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game as Japan have shown some good form in the group stage. We have grown in momentum in our three games and we are looking forward to the game,” he said.

“This game has come at a great time for us; maybe the first two games against Oman and Iraq shocked the players in showing how difficult the tournament is. You are going to have to come up against one of the favourites sometime and I’m quite happy to come up against them now.

“Japan have played a slow, patient style up to now in Hanoi but a fast pace would suit us because we have got players who thrive on fast football and love playing fast attacking football.”

Arnold has also played down any advantage his side may have following Australia’s victory over Japan at last summer FIFA World Cup which has dominated the majority of pre-match build-up.

“It’s a totally different competition, the Asian Cup it totally different from the World Cup last year. There are different players involved and different coaches involved,” said Arnold, who worked under Guus Hiddink in Germany.

“Japan are a very, very good side and we are going to have to perform at our best to be successful. We have trained very well over the last few days since we have been here in Vietnam, the group is very happy. The 4-0 victory over Thailand gave us a lot of confidence and we are looking forward to it,” said Arnold. at 3:40 AM