Iran and Iraq advance, Saudis on verge

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Lebanon face must-win against North Korea

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Jan 12, (Agencies): Iran and Iraq advanced to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup on Saturday with a game to spare.

Three-time champions Iran beat Vietnam 2-0 and secured their spot in the round of 16 while 2015 semifinalist Iraq beat Yemen 3-0 in another Group D game.

Another three-time champions, Saudi Arabia, moved closer to gaining their spot in the next round after beating Lebanon 2-0 in Group E. With two wins each, Iran and Iraq meet in Dubai on Wednesday to decide the group winners.
Saudi Arabia meet Qatar on Thursday to close the group stage in a highly charged game amid the political tensions between the two nations. The top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16. It was a record ninth successive victory for Iran in Asian Cup group matches.

Asia’s top-ranked team has dominated possession and looked comfortable in its opening two games, scoring seven goals without conceding. Iran’s Sardar Azmoun took care of the goals against Vietnam, scoring in each half. Saman Ghoddos crossed for the forward to put Iran ahead with a closerange header before halftime. Azmoun added his second in the 69th with a left-footed strike from the middle of the box for his third goal at the tournament. Vietnam lost a second straight match after falling to Iraq 3-2.

Iran are led by former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz, who is chasing a major title with Iran after eight years in charge. In Sharjah, Mohanad Ali Kadhim and Bashar Resan Bonyan scored with low shots from outside of the area early in the first half to give Iraq a comfortable advantage against Yemen.

Substitute Alaa Abbas sealed it in second-half injury time. Yemen and Vietnam are pointless and will fight for third place in Al Ain on Wednesday. In Dubai, Fahad Al Muwallad opened the scoring 12 minutes into the game and Hussain Almoqahwi doubled the lead in the 67th.

With two wins from two, Saudi Arabia lead Group E with six points and could advance with a game in hand if North Korea fails to beat Qatar on Sunday. Saudi Arabia won their opening two games at the Asian Cup for the first time since 1996, when they last won the title.

After two defeats, Lebanon face a must-win against North Korea to have a chance to make it to the next round. The arrival of Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min for South Korea’s Asian Cup campaign will not change their approach to a tournament in which they have reached the last 16 knockout round, coach Paulo Bento has said.

The Koreans laboured to a 1-0 win Saudi Arabia midfielder Hussain Al-Mogahwi (foreground), kicks the ball as he scores his goal during the AFC Asian Cup Group E soccer match between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Jan 12. (AP) Iran forward Sardar Azmoun celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the AFC Asian Cup Group D soccer match between Iran and Vietnam at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Jan 12. (AP)

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