Soccer-S Korea, Bahrain, Indonesia Make Asian Cup Last 16, Oman Out – News18

AL WAKRAH, Qatar:South Korea completed second in Asian Cup Group E after Malaysia held them to a 3-3 draw on Thursday with an equaliser within the fifteenth minute of added time which left Bahrain prime of the standings after a 1-0 win over Jordan.

Bahrain ended with six factors because of Abdulla Yusuf Helal’s winner and South Korea completed on 5. Jordan, third with 4 factors, additionally went by as the most effective third-positioned groups.

Saudi Arabia, who had already assured a final-16 spot, topped Group F after they have been held to a goalless draw by Thailand whereas Oman didn’t advance after a 1-1 draw with Kyrgyzstan.

Oman completed with two factors and Indonesia (three factors in Group D) superior for the primary time with a greater report as a 3rd-positioned staff together with Syria, Palestine and Jordan.

Indonesia will play Australia and Palestine tackle hosts Qatar. Syria face heavyweights Iran.

South Korea will face Saudi Arabia within the final 16 and coach Juergen Klinsmann mentioned they didn’t intentionally end second to keep away from a titanic conflict with Group D runners-up Japan.

“We didn’t want to avoid Japan, it definitely wasn’t our plan to concede three goals today. We wanted to go through in first place, that was our goal,” Klinsmann informed reporters.

“Malaysia played with a lot of heart and you have to give them credit but we should have won this game.”

South Korea opened the scoring within the twenty first minute when Jeong Woo-Yeong headed residence from a nook. The objective was initially not awarded as Malaysia keeper Syihan Hazmi clawed the ball out of the air earlier than VAR confirmed it had crossed the road.

Malaysia equalised six minutes into the second half after they received the ball again excessive up the pitch earlier than Faisal Halim twisted and turned within the field to attain from a good angle.

Malaysia took the lead 11 minutes later when Arif Aiman was fouled within the field by Seol Young-Woo and awarded a penalty after a VAR examine, with the ahead stepping as much as put it away.

“With VAR decisions, we can sit down and talk about it all day. It’s out of our hands and control, the referee made the decisions,” South Korea’s Son Heung-min mentioned.

“Obviously you can argue or question the decision, but we have to respect their decision. They have screens to watch it back.”

LATE DRAMA

The sport had late drama, nonetheless, as Lee Kang-in restored parity within the 83rd minute when his free kick into the highest nook went in off the woodwork after Hazmi tried a save, the strike taking place as an personal objective.

South Korea received a penalty in harm time with one other VAR examine after the referee deemed Oh Hyeon-Gyu to have been fouled and Son discovered the underside nook from the spot.

But with nearly the final kick of the sport within the fifteenth minute of stoppage time, Romel Morales equalised to spark wild celebrations among the many Malaysian followers.

“For us it’s a fantastic result. Congratulations to all Malaysian fans, I appreciate the support we had. I’m grateful to all the players for what they’ve done,” Malaysia’s South Korean coach Kim Pan-gon mentioned.

Bahrain netted the winner from a counter-assault within the first half when Helal sprinted from the centre circle with simply the keeper to beat and pulled the set off from exterior the field to attain.

Bahrain will play Japan within the subsequent spherical and Jordan face Iraq.

PENALTY SAVED

Saudi Arabia had a penalty taken by Abdullah Radif saved within the first half and although they dominated the sport, with Thailand failing to have a shot on the right track, they have been held in a consequence which despatched each groups by.

Thailand will tackle Uzbekistan within the subsequent spherical.

Oman started to dream of qualifying for the final 16 when Muhsen Al Ghassani opened the scoring from a nook in a melee contained in the six-yard field within the eighth minute.

But their hopes evaporated within the eightieth minute when Kyrgyz ahead Joel Kojo capitalised on a miscommunication between defender Khalid Al-Braiki and goalkeeper Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini to place the ball into an empty web.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)