Τα προγνωστικά δικαίωσε η Αυστραλία που νίκησε 2-0 την Κίνα στο 2ο προημιτελικό του Ασιατικού Κυπέλλου στο Μπρισμπέιν με τον Τιμ Κέιχιλ να κλέβει την παράσταση χάρη στα δύο του γκολ.
Η ομάδα του Άγγελου Ποστέκογλου αντιμετώπισε πάμπολλα προβλήματα κύρια στο πρώτο μέρος όταν οι Κινέζοι απείλησαν με τους Κε και Λέι αλλά ευτύχησε να προηγηθεί στο 49’ με το εκπληκτικό ανάποδο σουτ του έμπειρου της άσου που σημείωσε το μακράν ωραιότερο γκολ ως τώρα στη διοργάνωση.
Ο ίδιος παίκτης ήταν αυτός που έκανε στο 65’ το 2-0 για τους Socceroos με δυνατή κεφαλιά μετά από σέντρα του Ντάβιντσον.
Η νικήτρια θα αντιμετωπίσει την Τρίτη 27/01 στο Νιούκαστλ τα Ηνωμένα Αραβικά Εμιράτα.
Photo: The man of the moment… Tim Cahill is mobbed by team-mates after doubling Australia’s lead against China. (Getty
Millwall and Everton might beg to differ but Tim Cahill has always saved his best for Australia, as illustrated in Thursday’s 2-0 win over China in the Asian Cup quarter-final in Brisbane.
In an age when many players are torn between the loyalties to their club and country, Cahill has never wavered from his belief that his nation always comes first.
And time and time again, he has saved Australia, conjuring up goals from nothing when his team needed them most.
In 2006, he became the first Australian to score a goal at a World Cup, scoring twice against Japan as the Socceroos registered their first win in the tournament.
Four years later, he scored the Socceroos’ second goal in a 2-1 win over Serbia at the World Cup in South Africa. And at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, he netted a stunner against the Netherlands that was rated one of the best of the event.
In Brisbane on Thursday night he did it again, scoring twice in the triumph over China in the quarter-finals with the first coming from a bicycle kick few players his age would even contemplate, let alone pull off.
The Lang Park crowd roared with delirium, as the 35-year-old picked himself up and ran to the corner for his trademark celebration, punching out the flag.
“It was instinctive,” Cahill said. “The World Cup was probably a fluke and today was a probably a fluke again.”
Lucky or not, he did it again 16 minutes later, heading a cross from Mathew Leckie into the corner, taking his international goal tally to 39, the most by any Australian.
Cahill has long been a world-class finisher, scoring more than 50 goals for both Millwall and Everton during his time in England, but he says it is playing for his country that means the most.
“I still know I can change games, I still know I can write my own script and at the same time effect football in Australia in a big way,” he said.
“I’ve never ever once not believed in the national team jersey … and when I get my chance then I have to take it.”
Postecoglou praises Cahill rescue act
Cahill’s brace could not have come at a better time for Australia. The Asian Cup hosts had lost their last group match against South Korea and were struggling to get the ball past a well-organised Chinese defence, squandering a string of chances despite dominating possession.
“It was a tough game, we knew China would be a very difficult opponent,” Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou said.
“I’m really proud of the fact the boys stuck to the game plan … and once Timmy produced his magic, we never looked back.”
For China, it was a bittersweet ending to a tournament where it showed signs of shedding it tag as football’s sleeping giant.
China only just scraped into the tournament as the last qualifier but won all its group fixtures and came unstuck only a moment of magic from Cahill.
“If you lose your concentration even for one second it can cause terrible results,” China coach Alain Perrin said.
“Before Cahill scored one of his goals, one of our players fell in the penalty area and our players lost focus on the game.
“My team also tried their best. Of course, they are very disappointed, because it means our journey at the Asian Cup is finished.”
TIM Cahill has once again delivered when his country needed him most to secure the Socceroos a spot in the Asian Cup semi-finals.
Australia’s all-time leading scorer netted twice in the second-half at Suncorp Stadium to guide the Socceroos to a 2-0 quarter-final win over a plucky China.
Cahill’s first in the 49th minute was spectacular, with the former Everton star unleashing with a wonderful bicycle kick that was too good from close range for China goalkeeper Wang Dalei.
His second 17 minutes later was trademark Cahill.
Found by an excellent cross from recalled fullback Jason Davidson, Cahill buried a powerful header into the corner of the net, much to the delight of the crowd of more than 46,000.
The Socceroos will now meet either Japan or the United Arab Emirates, who meet tonight in Sydney, next Tuesday in Newcastle for a place in the Asian Cup final.
Cahill’s inclusion last night was one of seven changes Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou made to the team that started in the 1-0 loss to South Korea last Saturday night at the same venue.
Fit-again skipper Mile Jedinak returned after missing Australia’s past two matches with an ankle injury, with Mark Milligan dropping back to the bench.
It was that man again who made the difference for Australia.Source: News Corp Australia
Jedinak was noticeably rusty but will be better for the run going into the semi-finals.
Veteran playmaker Mark Bresciano made his first start of the tournament, coming in for Matt McKay.
As expected, attacking trio Cahill, Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse were recalled at the expense of Tomi Juric, Nathan Burns and James Troisi.
At left back, Davidson displaced Aziz Behich, while the other backline change was enforced, with Alex Wilkinson replacing the suspended Matthew Spiranovic.
China made life very tough for the Socceroos in the first half.Source: Getty Images
China coach Alain Perrin also wasn’t afraid to tinker with line-up, making four changes to the team that started in Team Dragon’s 2-1 win over North Korea last Sunday.
Coming into the line-up were defender Ren Hang, midfielder Wu Xi and forwards Wu Lei and Ji Xiang.
Lei, the man dubbed the “Chinese Maradona” was dangerous early as Perrin’s men threatened to spoil the Socceroos’ party.
It was only some desperate last ditch defending from Alex Wilkinson prevented Wu from opening the scoring in the 14th minute.
The Socceroos forced their way into the game in the second half.Source: Getty Images
The Socceroos eventually settled and forced their way into the contest.
Bresciano’s inclusion meant some quality set pieces. Twice the recalled playmaker delivered pinpoint free-kicks that created opportunities for Mile Jedinak and Mathew Leckie.
Jedinak’s 26th minute header was saved by China goalkeeper Wang Dalei, while an unmarked Leckie should have done better 10 minutes later but sent his header over the crossbar.
Leckie also had a great chance in the 29th minute after finding space in China’s penalty area with a weaving run.
Yet again, it was Tim Cahill to the rescue.Source: AP
But his goalbound shot was well saved by Dalei, who was excellent in a losing team.
However, Dalei was beaten four minutes after half-time in the moment of the match.
Left unmarked in the penalty area after China seemed to stop when their skipper Zheng Zhi fell to the ground clutching his head, Cahill, with his back to goal, showed great flexibility to produce a wonderful bicycle kick that not only gave Australia the lead, but the necessary impetus to end China’s gallant Asian Cup run.
Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan also made crucial saves in the second half as the Chinese team attempted to fight their way back into a contest they controlled early.
Another trademark header from Tim Cahill.Source: Getty Images
The quarter-finals of the Asian Cup get underway today (thurs). First up will be South Korea against Uzbekistan in Melbourne, with kickoff at 6.30 pm. Then at 8.30 pm, Australia will take on China in Brisbane.
Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak returns to the squad after missing the past two games due to an ankle injury.
Jedinak admits he’s unsure how his body will handle the match.
“Do I think I’ll be affected by maybe lack of game time the last couple of games? Probably not. But that’s just me. So, we’ll have to wait and see.”
China captain Zheng Zhi is set to overcome a back injury and line up in Thursday’s AFC Asian Cup quarter-final against Australia.
Zhi trained with his teammates on Tuesday evening at Perry Park in Brisbane and moved freely in the 15 minutes of the session open to the media.
The 34-year-old former Celtic and Charlton Athletic midfielder was withdrawn in the 53rd minute of Team Dragon’s 2-1 win over Korea DPR on Sunday after sustaining the injury.
But the overwhelming likelihood is that with so much at stake for one of Asian football’s biggest under-achievers, China coach Alain Perrin will roll the dice even if he is not 100 per cent fit.
Perrin admitted after the Korea match that his side clearly struggled without its leader.
“He is a good organiser in midfield and a very experienced player,” the Frenchman said.
“We realised after Zheng Zhi left that we had had some problems, we had some trouble organising the midfield.
“It’s obvious that if the key player’s not here we have difficulties during the game.”
In the other quarter-finals, Iran will play Iraq in Canberra; and the United Arab Emirates will play the defending champions, Japan, in Sydney.
Με γκολ του Λιονέλ Μέσι στο 85ο λεπτό, η Μπαρτσελόνα επιβλήθηκε 1-0 της Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης στα προημιτελικά του Κυπέλλου Ισπανίας και έκανε το πρώτο βήμα για την πρόκρισή στην τελική τετράδα.
Η ομάδα του Λουίς Ενρίκε σε ένα κάκιστο παιχνίδι στο «Καμπ Νου», ανέβασε την απόδοσή της στα τελευταία λεπτά, κέρδισε πέναλτι στο 84′ από την κλοτσιά του Χουάνφραν στον Μπούσκετς.
Ο Μέσι αρχικά νικήθηκε από τον Ομπλάκ, όμως, ο άσος των Καταλανών, πήρε το «ριμπάουντ» για να πανηγυρίσει ακόμη ένα γκολ στην καριέρα του και να έχει στο χέρι της την πρόκριση για την επόμενη φάση του θεσμού.
Με γκολ του Σοριάνο πέντε λεπτά πριν από το τέλος, η Βιγιαρεάλ επικράτησε 1-0 της Χετάφε, στον αγώνα με τον οποίο άνοιξε η αυλαία της προημιτελικής φάσης του κυπέλλου Ισπανίας.
Συνοπτικά το πρόγραμμα (σε παρένθεση η ημερομηνία της ρεβάνς):
Και ενώ τις τελευταίες ημέρες τα μετραγραφικά σενάρια στον Ολυμπιακό είχαν κοπάσει, αργά το βράδυ της Τετάρτης, προέκυψε εξέλιξη, η οποία φέρνει τους «ερυθρόλευκους» μια ανάσα από την απόκτηση του Φράνκο Ντανιέλ Χάρα.
Πρόκειται για τον 27χρονο Αργεντινό φορ της Μπενφίκα, με ικανότητα να αγωνίζεται και στα άκρα, ο οποίος σύμφωνα με τις πρώτες πληροφορίες αρχικά θα έρθει στην Ελλάδα υπό τη μορφή δανεισμού. Ο Χαρά αποτελεί υπόδειξη του Πορτογάλου τεχνικού Βίτορ Περέιρα, αλλά και εισήγηση του Λουτσιάνο Γκαλέτι.
Ο Ολυμπιακός αναζητούσε ποδοσφαιριστή με τα χαρακτηριστικά του Χάρα, ο οποίος μετράει τέσσερις συμμετοχές (τελευταία το 2011) και ένα γκολ με τη φανέλα της εθνική Αργεντινής, ενώ από το 2010 ανήκει στην Μπενφίκα.
Με τους Λουζιτανούς έπαιξε 43 φορές, τις περισσότερες στην πρώτη του χρονιά. Τότε είχε γεμάτη σεζόν στο πρωτάθλημα, στο Champions League και το Europa League, με 34 ματς και 8 γκολ. Τις επόμενες χρονιές τις πέρασε ως δανεικός στις Γρανάδα (35 ματς – 3 γκολ, 7 ασίστ), Σαν Λορέντσο (26 παιχνίδια – 2 γκολ) και Εστουδιάντες (23 συμμετοχές – 4 γκολ, 2 ασίστ).
Ο ποδοσφαιριστής αναμένεται μέσα στις επόμενες μέρες να έρθει στην Ελλάδα για τις τελικές επαφές με τη διοίκηση του Ολυμπιακού και την ολοκλήρωση της μεταγραφής.
Αξίζει να σημειωθεί πως η μεταγραφή του στην Μπενφίκα το 2010 στοίχισε στην ομάδα της Λισσαβόνας 5,5 εκ ευρώ, ενώ η σημερινή ποδοσφαιρική αξία του, σύμφωνα με το transfermarkt αγγίζει τα 1,2 εκ ευρώ.
A potential semi-final against Japan awaits the winners of Thursday’s clash in Brisbane, with the Chinese having won the last two encounters between the sides.
Australia midfielder Massimo Luongo believes Brisbane hosting Thursday’s Asia Cup quarter-final against China will work to his team’s advantage.
The Socceroos missed out on a Melbourne quarter-final against Uzbekistan after losing 1-0 to South Korea at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
That now pits the tournament hosts against a red-hot China side, who won all three Group B matches under the guidance of Alain Perrin.
And the Socceroos now know they will face reigning champions Japan in the semi-finals if both win their last-eight clashes, with Japan to play the United Arab Emirates on Friday.
But despite the Brisbane surface being condemned, largely for playing havoc with Australia’s possession-based style, Luongo was focusing on the positives of playing there again.
The Swindon Town midfielder has been the find of the tournament for Ange Postecoglou’s side and said: “Conditions [on Saturday]… they were obviously a bit hot and people say the pitch [was not good], but it’s nothing we haven’t experienced before.
“We’ve got an extra day [of rest] on China and we’re used to the climate here.
“We’re used to the pitch already, we’ve played there, and there’s no fuss [this week] about travelling or moving to a different hotel.
“Everything’s in our favour at the moment and hopefully we can show that.”
Australia beat Kuwait 4-1 and followed up with a 4-0 rout of Oman to open the tournament but struggled in the absence of several stars against South Korea.
While captain Mile Jedinak again missed with an ankle injury – the Crystal Palace man is set to return for this clash – attacking trio Tim Cahill, Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse all started on the bench.
And while all three were introduced, Australia lacked cutting edge, as Postecoglou’s selection gamble back-fired.
Cahill, Leckie and Kruse are likely to come straight back into the starting line-up, as is Jedinak, while Alex Wilkinson appears set to replace the suspended Matthew Spiranovic at the heart of the Australia defence.
The 100th-ranked Australia – who sit four places below China in the Fifa Ranking – will have the majority of support from a likely sell-out crowd in Brisbane.
Significant pockets of the crowd will be behind the Chinese, though, with momentum growing after their excellent campaign so far.
Of their three wins, two – a 2-1 success against Uzbekistan and a 1-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia – came in Brisbane, meaning they will also be accustomed to conditions.
Perrin slammed the state of the pitch earlier in the tournament, and interestingly, the six-yard boxes have been re-laid ahead of the match.
The rest of the pitch remains the same, though, meaning Australia may play slightly more direct than usual.
With three goals in two matches, China’s Sun Ke looms as their biggest threat, while captain Zheng Zhi will have a crucial role to play in midfield.
China have won their last two against Australia, including a 4-3 triumph in the 2013 East Asian Cup.
Χάρη σε γκολ του Καρέλη στο 88′, ο Παναθηναϊκός βγήκε… στεγνός στα Πηγάδια (Ξάνθη – Παναθηναϊκός 1-1) και πήρε προβάδισμα εν όψει του επαναληπτικού της Λεωφόρου, την επόμενη εβδομάδα.
Εύκολο απόγευμα είχε ο Ολυμπιακός απέναντι στον Τύρναβο, αφού οι «ερυθρόλευκοι» με αρκετές αλλαγές στην ενδεκάδα τους κέρδισαν εύκολα (Τύρναβος – Ολυμπιακός 0-3) και είναι με το ένα πόδι στην επόμενη φάση.
Με το ένα πόδι στη επόμενη φάση βρίσκεται ο ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα, ο οποίος πανηγύρισε το «διπλό» στα Χανιά (Χανιά – ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 1-2).
Ισοπαλία στην Κέρκυρα απέσπασε η ΑΕΚ (Κέρκυρα – ΑΕΚ 1-1). Αυτή την ώρα Απόλλων Σμύρνης – Λεβαδειακός.
Αναβλήθηκε λόγω δυνατής βροχής το ματς Πανθρακικός – ΟΦΗ.
Αναβλήθηκε λόγω δυνατής βροχής το ματς Πανθρακικός – ΟΦΗ.
Ο διαιτητής Γιώργος Κομίνης, συνοδευόμενος από τους βοηθούς του και τον 4ο διαιτητή, εξέτασαν τον αγωνιστικό χώρο και διαπίστωσαν ότι ο αγωνιστικός χώρος είναι ακατάλληλος για ποδοσφαιρικό αγώνα και ως εκ τούτου θα πρέπει να αναβληθεί.
Πλέον αναμένεται από την ΕΠΟ η απόφαση για τη νέα ημερομηνία διεξαγωγής της αναμέτρησης, της πρώτης ανάμεσα στις δύο ομάδες για τη φάση των «16» του θεσμού. Βάσει κανονισμού, το ματς πρέπει να διεξαχθεί αύριο, Πέμπτη, την ίδια ώρα, υπάρχει όμως το ζήτημα ότι οι δύο αντίπαλοι παίζουν το Σάββατο για το πρωτάθλημα.
Ισόπαλο 1-1 έληξε το παιχνίδι της Κέρκυρας με την ΑΕΚ στο νησί των «Φαιάκων» για τη φάση των «16» του κυπέλλου Ελλάδας και η ομάδα που θα πάρει την πρόκριση για τα προημιτελικά της διοργάνωσης θα αναδειχθεί στο 2ο μεταξύ τους αγώνα ο οποίος θα διεξαχθεί στο ΟΑΚΑ την Πέμπτη 29 Ιανουαρίου (17:00).
Οι γηπεδούχοι προηγήθηκαν στο 59΄ με τον Βενέτη, για να ισοφαρίσει στο 68΄η ΑΕΚ με αυτογκόλ του Φάμπιο.
Με το… ζόρι βγήκαν 2-3 φάσεις για τις δύο ομάδες στο πρώτο μέρος, αφού οι ευκαιρίες περιορίστηκαν σ΄ ενα σουτ του Καϊκούτ σε τετ-α-τετ με τον Ανέστη πάνω από το οριζόντιο δοκάρι στο 38΄, ενώ τρία λεπτά αργότερα (41΄) σκόραρε ο Μπρέσεβιτς για τους φιλοξενούμενους, όμως ο διαιτητής έδωσε οφσάιντ.
Οι δύο ομάδες μπήκαν πιο «ορεξάτες» στο β΄ μέρος και στο 47΄ το σουτ του Μάνταλου έφυγε άουτ, ενώ στο 59΄ οι γηπεδούχοι άνοιξαν το σκορ με τον Βενέτη, ο οποίος μετά από εκτέλεση κόρνερ με δυνατό σουτ έστειλε τη μπάλα στα δίχτυα του Ανέστη.
Η ΑΕΚ ισοφάρισε στο 68΄, όταν σε εκτέλεση φάουλ του Μάνταλου η μπάλα βρήκε στο γόνατο του Φάμπιο και κατέληξε στη δεξιά γωνία του Κουτζαβασίλη.
Στο υπόλοιπο διάστημα του αγώνα ξεχώρισε η προσπάθεια του Γιόχανσον, ο οποίος αφού έκλεψε την μπάλα έπιασε το μακρινό δυνατό σουτ, αλλά η μπάλα έφυγε άουτ.
Reports in the Greek press converge to OFI Crete soon becoming the second club in the Super League, after Niki Volou, to drop out of the championship for financial reasons.
The historic club from Iraklio has seen a total of 21 players depart in protest for not getting paid, leaving coach Nikos Anastopoulos with nine eligible players for the Cup game at Panthrakikos on Wednesday and the league match with Olympiakos this weekend.
OFI has already suffered this season from the departure of its previous coach, Gennaro Gattuso, and of its president Manthos Poulinakis, it has had six points deducted due to debts to a former player, and it is now facing a player crisis that will likely mean it will have to drop out of the league and the cup immediately.
The federation had issued a warning against OFI ahead of the game with Panetolikos last week on a no-pay-no-play basis, regarding debts to three other former players, but veteran OFI striker Nikos Machlas saw to it that some 140,000 euros were collected just in time for OFI not to forfeit that game at Agrinio.
Now, however, the situation appears irreversible, as no knight in shining armor is in sight to intervene in order to save OFI from a disgraceful relegation, probably to the third division just like in the cases of AEK and Aris.
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 