The Asian Cup quarterfinals pit regional giants towards one another but additionally see underdogs tackle the holders.
The AFC Asian Cup has been a match is into the quarterfinal stage and the titans of the continent have made it comparatively unscathed to this point. They’re all about to be pitted towards one another although.
Right hereโs our run down of the matchโs last-eight stage, which is ready to happen throughout Friday and Saturday:
1. Tajikistan vs Jordan: Friday, February 2 at 11:30 GMT
Two underrated groups face off within the first quarterfinal. Jordan scrambled to 3rd sport of their group after Bahrain beat them 1-0 within the last spherical of fixtures within the opening stage, after having overcome Malaysia of their first fixture with a powerful 4-0 win and drawing with South Korea of their second match. Jordan produced an unbelievable comeback, scoring twice in stoppage time to beat Iraq 3-2 of their spherical of 16 fixture.
Tajikistan beat Thailand 2-1 of their last-16 tie, having certified from the group stage for the primary time with a second-place end forward of China, with whom they drew their opening match, earlier than being overwhelmed by Qatar, however overcoming Lebanon to safe their progress.
Itโs not going to be straightforward to choose a winner on this one.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐-๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐’๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!โฃ
4๏ธโฃ4๏ธโฃ matches finished. The hunt in the direction of etching their names in historical past intensifies! ๐ชโฃ#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/gl8q3ULLJc
โ #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) February 1, 2024
2. Australia vs South Korea: Friday, February 2 at 15:30 GMT
One of many two stand-out ties of the quarterfinals pits one of many type groups towards one of many favourites. Australia brushed apart their group with opening wins towards India and Syria to make sure their progress earlier than a draw with Uzbekistan within the final recreation. Their round-of-16 tie was one other dominant show as they beat Indonesia 4-0.
South Korea have been tightly tucked behind Japan as second-favourites for the competitors however have been made to work laborious to achieve this stage. A second-place end within the group pitted them towards Saudi Arabia within the tie of the final spherical and the Koreans have been second greatest for essentially the most half, requiring an injury-time header from Cho Gue-sung to take the sport to additional time after Abdullah Radif gave the Saudis a deserved lead simply after the break. It was a titanic tussle by means of to penalties which the Koreans can depend themselves fortunate to have come out on prime of. How a lot the exploits may have taken out of their legs stays to be seen.
Will South Korea start to peak within the match on this recreation?
Ayman Hussein ๐ฎ๐ถ nonetheless on the prime โฝโฝโฝโฝโฝโฝ#AsianCup2023 #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/9mr6w75aRS
โ AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 31, 2024
3. Iran vs Japan: Saturday, February 2 at 11:30 GMT
The opposite assembly of Asian giants within the quarterfinals is a large battle of east and west. Iran are three-time winners of the Asian Cup, however have been extra famend for his or her efforts at World Cups in latest a long time. Japan are the document winners with 5 trophies to their identify and are the favourites to increase that run.
A snug 3-1 win towards Bahrain within the final 16 has set Japan up effectively for this match. Nonetheless, they have been made to sweat considerably within the group by Iranโs neighbours Iraq, who downed the Japanese 2-1. An injury-time comfort purpose was registered by Waturo Endo after Aymen Hussein scored a first-half brace. Iranโs travails have been in reverse to that of their opponents after topping a comparatively easy group stage with a clear sweep whereas racking up seven targets. The Iranians have been then made to work all the best way to penalties by a spirited Syrian facet. Iran can even be with out their main scorer, Mehdi Tarmei, who was despatched off for a second yellow card in that recreation.
Will Group Melli have sufficient in them to see off the Blue Samurai?
#AsianCup2023 LAST 8!
๐ฆ๐บ๐น๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ด๐ถ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฏ๐ต๐ฎ๐ท#HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/qvpqo3nnkU
โ AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 31, 2024
4. Qatar vs Uzbekistan: Saturday, February 3 at 15:30 GMT
The hosts and defending champions are sturdy favourites to progress to the semifinals on this tie. After an underwhelming World Cup on residence soil two years in the past, Qatar have picked up the place they left off within the 2019 Asian Cup last victory towards Japan. Akram Afif, who scored the third purpose from the spot in that match, has been irresistible at this match and appears to supply infinite choices in addition to an inspirational ignition to his facetโs endeavours.
Captain Hassan al-Haydos has additionally been on the core of all the things Qatar have finished and he and Afif are on their very own private journey to battle for the golden boat with both one or the opposite scoring in each recreation to this point together with each discovering the web to see off Palestine within the final spherical.
Uzbekistan beat Thailand 2-1 within the final 16 to proceed their very own unbelievable story and are unbeaten on the competitors to this point having drawn their last group stage match with Australia to safe the second spot forward of the spectacular Syria and the sleeping giants, who have been anticipated to awaken, India.
Will the underdogs dethrone the holders?