For the third time within the final 4 editions of the Asian Cup, Australia and South Korea will face one another within the quarter-finals on Friday at Al Janoub Stadium.
Within the earlier spherical, Australia had a convincing 4-0 victory over Indonesia, whereas South Korea superior after a penalty shootout in opposition to Saudi Arabia.
Match preview
Australia relied on compact and stable defending within the group stage, however they confirmed their attacking prowess within the final match.
They scored 4 objectives in opposition to Indonesia, which is identical variety of objectives they scored in your entire group part. This was their second-highest aim tally in an Asian Cup knockout match since their 6-0 win in opposition to Uzbekistan within the 2011 semi-finals.
Below coach Graham Arnold, Australia stays unbeaten in eight consecutive matches in all competitions, outscoring their opponents 20-1 throughout that interval.
This match was Arnold’s fiftieth sport as Socceroos boss, and he has solely suffered seven defeats in his two stints because the nationwide crew coach.
Since their Asian Cup debut in 2011, Australia has conceded solely three objectives in all of their knockout fixtures, by no means permitting a couple of aim in a single sport past the group stage.
The final time they defeated South Korea was within the 2015 Asian Cup ultimate, which ended 2-1 after additional time. That is the one time they’ve gained the event.
South Korea confirmed nice resilience within the earlier spherical, scoring within the ninth minute of stoppage time and profitable the penalty shootout.
Below Jurgen Klinsmann, they confronted a partisan crowd of their match in opposition to Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, they managed to attain eight photographs on track and ultimately break by means of.
This will likely be their second consecutive journey to the quarter-finals on this competitors. Their solely earlier defeat at this stage was a 1-0 loss to Qatar, who went on to win the event, 4 years in the past.
4 of South Korea’s six objectives within the Asian Cup this 12 months have come after the eightieth minute, with three of them scored in stoppage time.
Earlier than the beginning of this event, South Korea had stored seven consecutive clear sheets. Nevertheless, they’ve conceded seven objectives of their 4 Asian Cup matches.
Of their final 5 aggressive matches in opposition to Australia, South Korea has misplaced solely as soon as and stored three clear sheets.
Australia Asian Cup kind: W W D W
Australia kind (all competitions): W W W W D W
South Korea Asian Cup kind: W D D W
South Korea kind (all competitions): W W W D D W
Group Information
Gethin Jones sustained a groin pressure within the earlier spherical however has been cleared to play on this quarter-final fixture for Australia.
Lewis Miller and Thomas Deng are anticipated to get better from their diseases, and Mitchell Duke will likely be obtainable after lacking the final match as a consequence of a hamstring harm.
Coach Arnold made two adjustments to the beginning lineup within the knockout victory this week, with Jones and Bruno Fornaroli changing Nathaniel Atkinson and Kusini Yengi.
Elkan Baggott’s personal aim put Australia in entrance in opposition to Indonesia, with Martin Boyle and Craig Goodwin additionally discovering the online. Harry Souttar scored the fourth aim.
Coach Klinsmann made one change to the South Korean beginning lineup of their match in opposition to Saudi Arabia, bringing in Jung Seung-hyun to exchange Cho Gue-sung.
Son Heung-min reached his 121st look for South Korea within the earlier match. On Friday, he can equal Yoo Sang-chul’s sixth-most all-time caps report. Jeong Woo-yeong now has 20 caps, whereas Kim Jin-su reached 70.
Gue-sung equalized for South Korea late within the spherical of 16 match, Jo Hyeon-woo saved two Saudi penalties, and Hwang Hee-chan scored the profitable penalty.
Australia doable beginning lineup:
Ryan;
Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich;
Metcalfe, Irvine, Bos, Goodwin;
McGree;
Boyle
South Korea doable beginning lineup:
Hyeon-woo;
Seung-hyun, Min-jae, Younger-gwon;
Tae-hwan, Jae-sung, In-beom, Hyun-seok;
Kang-in, Woo-yeong;
Heung-min
Prediction: Australia 1-1 South Korea (Australia advances on penalties)
South Korea has proven nice resilience all through the event, however we imagine their luck will run out in opposition to a disciplined and constant Socceroos facet. Subsequently, we lean in direction of Australia narrowly advancing.