Japan edge profligate Saudis to reach Asian Cup quarter-finals

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Ryan the hero as Australia beat Uzbekistan in shootout

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Jan 21, (RTRS): A first-half goal from Takehiro Tomiyasu was enough to send Japan into the Asian Cup quarter-finals for the eighth consecutive tournament after a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium on Monday.

The Saudis, looking to end a 23- year drought since their third continental title, paid the price for failing to convert their chances and so the fourtimes champion Samurai Blue progress to face Vietnam on Thursday. Japan went in front in the 20th minute when defender Tomiyasu rose above a Saudi defender in the centre of the box to head a corner into the bottom lefthand corner of the net.

The Samurai Blue defenders put in a solid shift against an aggressive Saudi Arabia, who dictated play throughout the match but struggled in front of goal. Midfielder Salem Aldawsari had a golden opportunity to put the Green Falcons level in the 62nd minute but sprayed the ball over the bar with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box.

Moments later defender Ali Hadi Albulayhi guided the ball well over the bar with a free header after an inviting Aldawsari cross into the penalty area. The defeat could be Juan Antonio Pizzi’s last match as Saudi Arabia head coach. He told reporters that his contract expired at the Asian Cup and that so far there had been no discussions on renewing it. Japan, who claimed their last title in 2011, had won all three of their previous tournament matches to finish top of their group.

Australia goalkeeper Maty Ryan earned the Asian Cup holders a quarter-final place with two saves in the shootout to see off Uzbekistan 4-2 on penalties after the match finished goalless following extra time. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Ryan denied Islom Tukhtakhujaev and Dostonbek Khamdamov to leave Mathew Leckie to score the winning spot kick and take the Socceroos into the last eight. Australia will next face hosts the United Arab Emirates .

Australia deserved to progress after dominating the second half and most of extra time in the 0-0 stalemate as they kept their hopes of retaining the title on track. It was Uzbekistan, however, who had made the early running and Ryan was called into action after just 10 minutes as Eldor Shomurodov burst past Trent Sainsbury to force the Premier League keeper to block his close-range shot. Australia carried little threat, with Aziz Behich registering their only goal attempt in the opening 45 minutes when he tried his luck from outside the area, and Uzbek keeper Ignatiy Nesterov had few problems.

Javokhir Sidikov flashed a long-range effort narrowly wide of Ryan’s goal and Khamdamov should have done better when he was found by Shomurodov with time and space. The Socceroos pressed in the second half, with Rhyan Grant heading over from an acute angle when Milos Degenek’s diagonal ball found him unmarked behind the Uzbekistan defence having moments earlier sent another header into the hands of Nesterov. Uzbekistan’s keeper was now seeing all the action, and he was forced to deny Leckie nine minutes after the Hertha Berlin winger came off the bench before pushing Tom Rogic’s deflected strike from outside the area wide for a corner.

Australia continued to be frustrated when the game went into extra time with Chris Ikonomidis, Leckie and Rogic all going close before the extra period drifted towards penalties. In the shootout, Behich saw his penalty saved by Nesterov before Tukhtakhujaev’s attempt was kept out by Ryan, and the Australia keeper then denied Khamdamov in the penultimate round to leave Leckie to wrap up the win.

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