Football: Arab knights send Korea and Australia to withdraw from the Asian Cup

AL-AIN: The hosts of the Asian and Qatar Cup, opposed to the Gulf of Qatar, provoked strong emotions by sending Australia, defending champion, and the South Korea of ​​Son Heung- min in quarter-final on Friday (25 January).

Defensive screamer Milos Degenek gave the United Arab Emirates a 1-0 win. The Qataris beat South Korea by the same score to set up a semi-final with regional tensions due to Qatar's blockade by the Gulf.

United Arab Emirates veteran Ali Mabkhout seized Degenek's bad pbad to win a victory greeted by happy drums and a flurry of smartphones at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.

In Abu Dhabi, Abdelaziz Hatim has launched a last goal. Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, was surprised by South Korea's 1-0 win over the title, to qualify for the first time in the semifinals.

Japan and Iran, with seven Asian Cup titles, will play the other semifinal for a place in the final in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 1.

Australia's Graham Arnold will feel aggrieved by his defeat after enameling 22 United Arab Emirates shots, but will be defeated by Degenek's defensive error after 68 minutes.

Degenek, who signed this week with Saudi giant Al Hilal, threw an occasional ball to Mat Ryan, but Mabkhout retaliated to deceive the Brighton goalkeeper and score in an empty goal.

"Football can be a cruel sport," said Arnold, a sad man, encouraging the 24-year-old central defender to bounce back.

"Obviously, he is hurting right now, but I'm going to make sure he's fine, he's a fantastic kid, a fantastic professional and he has a long future with him." Australian national team. "

Earlier, South Korea were looking to end 59 years of injury after winning the tournament in 1960, but it missed many chances before Hatim's free-kick after 78 minutes.

"We deserve to be in the semifinals.I feel like the happiest coach in the world.It's a big step forward," said Qatar coach , Felix Sanchez.

AUSSIE PAIN IN AL AIN

It took three minutes for the Koreans to record a shot, Hwang Ui-jo forcing the rescue of Saad Al-Sheeb at the back of the net.

Lee Chung-yong then shone full force and captain Son Heung-min was denied by Al-Sheeb before Kim Jin-su's free kick hit the post.

This waste came back to haunt them when Hatim crushed goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, carrying long-range rockets, to give a famous victory to the hosts of the 2022 World Cup.

"We have not created too many opportunities but we have created more than them," protested the South Korean coach Paulo Bento.

In Al Ain, Trent Sainsbury nodded as Australia turned out to be an early threat, but the UAE also looked brighter than their previous matches.

Apostolos Giannou saw a shot fired as Australia finished strong in the first half, but Mabkhout was just inches from the head when his head cleared.

The second half was one-sided, Degenek and Jackson Irvine getting closer to the head, and Giannou scored an offside goal.

All that Australia needed was a goal and there was disbelief when it turned around while Mabkhout, a peripheral figure for most of the half, was seized Degenek's back pbad.

"We showed a lot of character, we were strong in defense and attack and we fought hard," said United Arab Emirates coach Alberto Zaccheroni, congratulating Mabkhout, whose nine goals in the FIFA World Cup were Asia ranks it third in the list.

"Everyone knows that he is a high-caliber forward … his goal was crucial and turned the whole game," said the Italian.