Oman keeper Ali Al-Habsi hugs his opposite number Kim Jin-hyeon of South Korea. Photograph: Tim Wimborne/REUTERS
China, South Korea and Uzbekistan all won on day two of the Asian Cup – here’s how it happened and what’s coming up on day three:
Day two in brief
- China impress in victory over Saudi Arabia
- South Korea start with a win – but it comes at a cost with injuries to key players
- Uzbekistan survive late scare to get their campaign off to winning start
Stars of the day
Margins in football, they say, are fine. The difference between glory and ignominy can be determined by standalone moments of individual brilliance and on Saturday the Asian Cup served up three such instances, all from goalkeepers. South Korea’s Kim Jin-hyeon, Uzbekistan’s Ignatiy Nesterov and Wang Delai of China each made crucial saves that effectively handed their respective sides all three points, the former two at the death and the latter from a penalty. Goalkeepers aren’t natural choices for stardom – there’s a reason it’s always the worst player in the playground who’s told to go in goal – yet this trio deserve any plaudits coming their way today.
Quote of the day
I am not really interested in what other people think about me. They have no idea how I play football, how I’ve lived my life and what I want to accomplish. I only want to do my best to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning the Asian Cup.
South Korea midfielder Koo Ja-cheol after picking up his man-of-the-match award. Single minded.
Photo of the day
Something to cheer
Not only did Wang save Saudi striker Hazazi’s penalty – keeping the scores goalless and providing the platform for Yu Hai’s winner in Brisbane – in a man-of-the-match performance, he did it on his 26th birthday.
What we learned
Three games yesterday and three narrow 1-0 wins (two expected, one not) indicate what a tight tournament this could pan out to be. The Socceroos on the opening night aside (and even they were made to work), each game could easily have gone either way. So far, it bodes well for an entertaining tournament.
What’s happening today
Plenty of Gulf-based action as Group C opens with a double-header: the UAE play near neighbours Qatar in a glitzy derby dripping in wealth, while Iran meet Bahrain later in the day.
What will happen
On paper, Iran should open their campaign with victory over Bahrain, a side listed 59 places lower on Fifa’s rankings, and with the likes of Javad Nekounam and Ashkan Dejagah in their squad, Carlos Queiroz’s side certainly has the quality to do so – and go far this year. Then again, tournament football doesn’t play out on paper.
What won’t happen
Canberrans were told to “put up or shut up” by the head of Australia’s Asian Cup organising committee Michael Brown in an ingenious psychological ploy to urge capital dwellers to buy more tickets for games to be held in the city. Sales had already been brisk for the opener at Canberra Stadium, 12,500 eventually turning out, but less are expected for the remaining games. Despite Brown’s motivational speech (“You can’t blame cost, it’ll just be the fact that you’re too lazy to be there”), the figures for tonight’s UAE-Qatar clash are unlikely to get close to matching that.
Player to watch
From ‘the Beckham of Central Asia’ to ‘the People’s Rooney’ and ‘the Korean Messi’, Asia loves nothing more than a good old intercontinental comparison. If you’re any good, rest assured you’ll be likened to a far better player from another part of the world. So it is for Khalfan Ibrahim, dubbed ‘the Maradona of Qatar’, which is perhaps the ultimate accolade – but also a huge millstone around his neck. Since exploding onto the scene as an 18-year-old – becoming Asian Player of the Year in 2006 – his career trajectory has tailed off slightly but now 26 he still has the potential to excite and should pose the UAE all sorts of problems.
Today’s games
Group C: UAE v Qatar, Canberra – 6pm
Group C: Iran v Bahrain, Melbourne – 8pm
source: theguardian.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 