Lets discuss about Asia's biggest footballing event which will kick off tomorrow (7/7/07)
Group A
Australia
Iraq
Oman
Thailand
Group B
Japan
Qatar
UAE
Vietnam
Group C
China
Iran
Malaysia
Uzbekistan
Group D
Bahrain
Indonesia
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia
Hosts: Malaysia,Indonesia,Vietnam and Thailand
Format
The matches in the qualifying round are to be played in groups according to a double round-robin league system, with each team playing all opponents in its group in home and away matches. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a defeat.
The winners and runners-up of each of the six groups at the conclusion of the qualifying round will go through to the final rounds of the AFC Asian Cup 2007.
Tiebreakers
If two or more teams in a group are equal on points on completion of the group matches, their places shall be determined as follows:
a) Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned.
b) Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned.
c) Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (Away Goals do not apply in this stage of the competition).
d) Goal difference in all the group matches.
e) Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play.
f) Drawing of lots.
FINAL ROUNDS
Sixteen teams will qualify for the final rounds – the six winners and runners-up of the qualifying round groups, and the host associations Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The tournament from July 7 to 29, 2007 will be split into two stages with a round-robin group stage and a knockout stage.
GROUP STAGE
The 16 finalists will be seeded and divided into four groups of four teams each during the final round draw. Each team plays each of the other teams in the same group according to a league system (three points for a win, one point for a draw, no points for a defeat). The winners and runners-up in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
KNOCKOUT STAGE
Quarter-finals
The winners of each of the four groups will meet a runner-up from another group in the quarter-finals. All four quarter-finals will take place over one match with the winner progressing to the semi-finals. If the score is tied at the end of the regulation playing time, an extra two periods of 15 minutes each will be played. If the score is still level after extra time, the winners will be determined by kicks from the penalty mark.
Semi-finals
The four winners of the quarter-finals play the semi-finals over one match with the winners progressing to the final. As with the quarter-finals, extra-time and penalties will be utilised in the event of a draw between two sides.
Final
The winners of the semi-finals play in the final to determine the AFC Asian Cup 2007 champions. As with the quarter-finals and semi-finals, extra-time and penalties will be utilised in the event of a draw between the two sides.
Official site: http://www.afcasiancup.com
ASIA CUP FOOTBALL 2007
Responses:
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From: Sanguine Sridhar on 6th July 2007 10:48 PM [Full View]
So India is not playing?
... How come Australia is playing in the Asia Cup? 
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From: ThalaNass on 7th July 2007 08:09 AM [Full View]
No, India's not qualified..
Originally Posted by Sanguine Sridhar
So India is not playing? ... How come Australia is playing in the Asia Cup? Even, Malaysia only qualify as a host.. if not, they wont be there.. 
No anna, Australia's football body had transfered to AFC (asian football confedaration) coz they wanna qualify with ease to the future world cups..
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From: ThalaNass on 7th July 2007 05:25 PM [Full View]
No one is interested??
summa vote aachum podungappa 
Nyway, todays match - Thailand vs Iraq
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From: ThalaNass on 8th July 2007 04:23 PM [Full View]
Yesterdays match :
Thailand 1- 1 Iraq
BANGKOK - Coach Chanvit Polchovin declared himself satisfied with Thailand's 1-1 draw with Iraq in the opening game of the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday.
Unrelenting rain over the Rajamangala Stadium, which included a pre-match torrential downpour that led to doubts over the game itself and the official opening ceremony, failed to put a dampener on proceedings as both teams produced a hugely entertaining first-half with play that belied the difficult underfoot conditions.
The co-hosts attacked from the start and took the lead through a controversial Sutee Suksomkit penalty in the first half but Iraq battled back and skipper Younis Mahmoud headed home just before the break.
After the re-start, Thailand had chances to snatch victory after a flurry of corners late on but Iraq held on to earn a share of the spoils.
But Chanvit felt he saw plenty of positives from his team's performance to give optimism for the rest of the Group stage.
"I am pleased with the result because the conditions of the pitch made it difficult for us to play a more fluid game,” he said.
"The difference in the second half was because we played with more intensity. In the first half we were too tense but we played better after the break.
"The one disappointing aspect of our play today was that we did play too well defensively. We lost a goal to the long ball from Iraq and it was disappointing.
"We were playing a very strong team and we made some very good chances, scoring one goal and we could have scored more. The team should be satisfied with the way they played."
Due to the adverse weather conditions, the crowd was smaller than anticipated but Chanvit was happy with the support shown by the Thai fans.
He added: "I am not disappointed with the crowd tonight because the rain made it difficult for many fans to come, I am sure that it was watched by 60 million fans on the television."
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From: ThalaNass on 8th July 2007 04:24 PM [Full View]
Todays match
Australia vs Oman
Vietnam vs UAE
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From: Sanguine Sridhar on 8th July 2007 05:39 PM [Full View]
I think match between Australia and Oman will be interesting.Both the team are equally strong. No idea about Vietnam and UAE may be UAE!
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From: ThalaNass on 9th July 2007 09:25 AM [Full View]
Sri, ungga 1st prediction is correct.. Aussie 1-1 Oman Originally Posted by Sanguine Sridhar
I think match between Australia and Oman will be interesting.Both the team are equally strong. No idea about Vietnam and UAE may be UAE!
Vietnam beat UAE 2-0..
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From: ThalaNass on 9th July 2007 09:27 AM [Full View]
Todays match
Japan vs Qatar
must be Japan..
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From: Sanguine Sridhar on 9th July 2007 10:37 AM [Full View]
I think it will be a draw again Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Todays match
Japan vs Qatar
must be Japan..
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From: ThalaNass on 10th July 2007 10:46 AM [Full View]
Originally Posted by Sanguine Sridhar
I think it will be a draw again Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Todays match
Japan vs Qatar
must be Japan..
super prediction again 
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From: ThalaNass on 10th July 2007 10:47 AM [Full View]
Japan 1-1 Qatar
HANOI - Japan coach Ivica Osim remained upbeat over the defending champions’ chances of landing a third straight AFC Asian Cup after Qatar grabbed a later equaliser to claim a 1-1 draw in Group B on Monday.
Naohiro Takahara had lifted a below-par Japan side with a 62nd minute opener after Yasuyuki Konno had latched on to a through ball from Kengo Nakamura to cross for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker to make no mistake with a neat close range finish.
But Sebastian Quintana grabbed an equaliser for Dzemaludin Musovic’s Asian Games gold medallists with an 88th minute deflected free-kick after the Uruguay-born forward had been upended on the edge of the area.
Qatar were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time as Hussein Yasser was sent-off after lunging at substitute Hideo Hashimoto, but Japan were unable to take advantage to leave co-hosts Vietnam sitting alone at the top of Group B after their stunning 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
“The late goal was a little bit of a shock, but that is part of football. I will have to decide at the end of the group how significant his result is,” said Osim.
Japan must now re-group for Friday’s meeting with the United Arab Emirates as Osim’s side look to follow-up their AFC Asian Cup victories in Lebanon in 2000 and China three years ago.
“It would have been easier to lift the team if we had won,” added Osim. “Today we could not show our true potential, we did not play very well. I was surprised how my players played. They played good football; the problem is that Japan has not reached our true level of playing beautiful and efficient football.
“We must learn how to take our chances when we create them in front of goal.
“There is not just one reason for this, if we had just two reasons like mentality and performance, it would be a lot easier.
“Winning is not easy, but each game is different. We must now concentrate on the next game.
“Vietnam now have the best chance to qualify mathematically, they know what they want and they have a special motivation go through. We are still challengers, but Vietnam are top at the moment and they are a very dangerous team, we must be careful against them.”
Osim also played down concerns over the fitness of Satoru Yamagishi, who was replaced with 17 minutes remaining by Naotake Hanyu, insisting the midfielder was just feeling the affects of the humid Hanoi conditions.
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From: ThalaNass on 10th July 2007 10:49 AM [Full View]
Todays match:
Indonesia vs Bahrain
Malaysia vs China
1st one shud be draw and 2nd one of course China..
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From: Sanguine Sridhar on 10th July 2007 11:48 AM [Full View]
Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Originally Posted by Sanguine Sridhar
I think it will be a draw again Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Todays match
Japan vs Qatar
must be Japan.. super prediction again 
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From: Sanguine Sridhar on 10th July 2007 11:49 AM [Full View]
Bahrain and China Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Todays match:
Indonesia vs Bahrain
Malaysia vs China
1st one shud be draw and 2nd one of course China..
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From: ThalaNass on 13th July 2007 01:46 PM [Full View]
July 10th result
Malaysia 1-5 China
Indonesia 2-1 Bahrain
July 11th result
Iran 2-1 Uzbekistan
Korea 1- 1 Saudi Arabia
July 12th result
Oman 0-2 Thailand
Qatar 1-1 Vietnam
__________________________________________________ ___
so Malaysia is the worst host ever..
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From: ThalaNass on 14th July 2007 09:03 PM [Full View]
JULY 13th RESULT
Iraq 3- 1Australia
UAE 1-3 Japan
JULY 14th RESULT
Malaysia 0- 5 Uzbekistan
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From: ThalaNass on 15th July 2007 08:14 PM [Full View]
July 14th result
Saudi 2-1 Indonesia
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From: ThalaNass on 15th July 2007 08:30 PM [Full View]
Just saw the match between Iran and China on tv.. wow.. what a match.. without any doubt, the best match of this tournament so far..
The fact that it was a rainy day in Kuala Lumpur help both team a lot and they use it fully.. The young Chinese side stars the match aggressively and they lead Iran 2-0 in the early minutes.. Then just before half time Iran pull one back through smashing free kick by their midfield player.. (dunno his name tho)
The second half was much closer and Iran looks more dangerous in attack then their opponents.. German born Iran striker, Vahid Hashemian did a lot of trouble at the front and with that kind of pressure, China defence cant do anything but watch Iran score the equaliser..
After that goal, both teams play more safer and nothing much attacks beyond that.. Overall a good game by enthusiast Chinese side and experienced Iran side.. A pleasure to watch actually..
Expecting more match of this standard in this tournament!!!
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From: Raikkonen on 16th July 2007 03:25 PM [Full View]
Inime host-kellam qualifying tournament vachatan right..
Malaysia have just simply reduced the quality of the tournament.. sigh
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From: ThalaNass on 16th July 2007 08:13 PM [Full View]
Originally Posted by Raikkonen
//raiko anna, long time no see//
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From: ThalaNass on 16th July 2007 08:16 PM [Full View]
Results
Iran 2-2 China
Bahrain 2-1 Korea
Japan 4-1 Vietnam
Qatar 1-2 UAE
____________________
Aussie 1-0 Thailand (first half)
Oman 0-0 Iraq (first half)
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From: ThalaNass on 16th July 2007 08:19 PM [Full View]
Tomorrow's Match
Indonesia vs Korea
Saudi Arabia vs Bahrain
Malaysia vs Iran
Uzbekistan vs China
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From: Raikkonen on 18th July 2007 12:10 PM [Full View]
Ya, i was on vacation.. Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Originally Posted by Raikkonen
//raiko anna, long time no see//
Australia's result againt Thailand was mindblowing.. they didnt play particularly well, but they have the team spirit.. kudos should be given to them
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From: ThalaNass on 18th July 2007 01:24 PM [Full View]
oh i see.. Originally Posted by Raikkonen
Ya, i was on vacation.. Originally Posted by ThalaNass
Originally Posted by Raikkonen
//raiko anna, long time no see//
Australia's result againt Thailand was mindblowing.. they didnt play particularly well, but they have the team spirit.. kudos should be given to them
ya ofcourse.. i think now after two weeks in thailand, they are familiar with the hot condition there.. that is a big plus point 4 them..
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From: ThalaNass on 19th July 2007 03:55 PM [Full View]
Yesterday's Result
Indonesia 0-1 Korea
Saudi Arabia 4-0 Bahrain
Malaysia 0-2 Iran
Uzbekistan 3-0 China
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From: ThalaNass on 21st July 2007 04:30 PM [Full View]
Todays Quarter Finals
Australia vs Japan
Vietnam vs Iraq
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From: ThalaNass on 23rd July 2007 10:05 AM [Full View]
Quarter Final Results
Japan 1- 1 Australia
(Jpn won 4-3 on penalties)
Iraq 2-0 Vietnam
Iran 0-0 South Korea
(Korea won 4-2 on penalties)
Saudi Arabia 2-1 Uzbekistan
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From: ThalaNass on 23rd July 2007 10:06 AM [Full View]
25/07/07
Semi Final 1
Iraq vs Korea
Semi Final 2
Japan vs Saudi Arabia
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From: ThalaNass on 23rd July 2007 10:07 AM [Full View]
I thinks its gonna be Iraq vs Japan final..
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From: Raikkonen on 23rd July 2007 10:22 AM [Full View]
The Open was better than Iran/Korea OF match.. I'm not joking,seriousluy ..It was boring,slow, podding and both teams have no motive to finish the match in normal time... Atleast the keeper made two good saves..
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From: ThalaNass on 23rd July 2007 10:31 AM [Full View]
nalla velai naa parkale.. Originally Posted by Raikkonen
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From: Raikkonen on 23rd July 2007 10:34 AM [Full View]
I only watched the extra time and penalties....
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From: ThalaNass on 26th July 2007 06:54 AM [Full View]
Semi Final Results
Iraq 0-0 South Korea
(Iraq won 4-3 on penalties)
Saudi Arabia 3-2 Japan
__________________________________________________ __
woww.. all Arabic final..
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From: ThalaNass on 26th July 2007 06:55 AM [Full View]
Iraq through to final
Jul 25, 2007
PA Sport
KUALA LUMPUR – Iraq claimed a place in the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time ever after outlasting Korea Republic 4-3 in a penalty shootout at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday evening.
After a physical encounter which finished goalless, the Middle Eastern side prevailed in the spot kick lottery as goalkeeper Noor Sabri tipped aside Yeom Ki-hun’s spot kick and Kim Jung-woo hit the post with his side’s final attempt.
The Iraqis will face either Japan or Saudi Arabia in the final in Jakarta on Sunday, while the Koreans will be left to rue yet another missed opportunity as their title drought of 47 years continues.
Korea coach Pim Verbeek made two changes from his side’s quarter-final win against Iran with Cho Jae-jin replacing Lee Dong-gook at centre forward and Choi Sung-kuk coming in for Kim Jung-woo on the left of midfield, while Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira made only one alteration from the 2-0 win over Vietnam as Qusai Munir replaced Haitham Kadhim in midfield.
The heavy conditions caused by incessant rain didn’t make for good football in a scrappy and goalless first half.
The first real chance fell to the Iraqis on 16 minutes as the ball broke in the Korean box to Younis Mahmoud, who arrived late yard box and fired a half-volley into the side netting.
The Koreans should have been awarded a free kick on the edge of the Iraq box midway through the half after Jassim Mohammed pulled down Lee Chun-soo but Kuwaiti referee Saad Al Fadhli allowed play to go on and Cho Jae-jin fired in a weak shot that gave goalkeeper Noor Sabri no problems
Iraq then went close when Haidar Abdul Amer’s cross from the right on 28 minutes flew just in front of a completely unmarked Karrar Jassim.
Mahmoud then had another chance to increase his tally for the tournament in the 39th minute when he controlled Hawar Mohammed’s through pass on the turn and fired a left-footed shot across the body of goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, just wide of the far post.
Two minutes before the break, Choi Sung-kuk’s free-kick from the right of the Iraq box was punched away by Sabri just in front of a flying Cho Jae-jin.
The action picked up after the break with the best of the early chances falling to Lee Chun-soo whose shot on the turn in the 48th minute flew just wide
Basem Abbas was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 59th minute for a sliding challenge on Yeom Ki-hun and from the resulting free-kick, taken by Yeom, Kim Jin-kyu headed over.
The Iraqis received a gilt-edge opportunity on 62 minutes when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Korean box after Karrar Jassim tumbled over under a challenge from Kim Jung-woo. Nashat Akram fired in a low shot that ricocheted off the foot of Hawar Mohammed but flew straight into the grateful arms of Lee Woon-jae.
Yeom’s left-footed free kick on 66 minutes forced Sabri to scramble the ball off his goalline, and the left winger’s corner kick two minutes later was met by Kim Jin-kyu, whose goal-bound header was deflected wide.
At the other end, Mahdi Karim’s low shot from the right of the Korean box crept between the legs of Younis Mahmoud and rolled just wide of the far post.
As both teams continued to create chances, Lee Chun-soo fired a volley wide while Hawar Mohammed rose in the Korean box to send a header just off target.
Deep into stoppage time, the Koreans were awarded a free-kick 30 metres from goal but with everyone anticipating a shot by Lee Chun-soo, it was Yeom Ki-hun instead who fired the ball into the wall before putting the rebound straight at Noor Sabri.
Extra time was called for Once again at Bukit Jalil and after a cagey opening, the Koreans nearly broke the deadlock in the 95th minute when Lee Dong-gook’s flick on released Lee Chun-soo who rifled in a low shot from 20 metres which forced a good diving save out of Sabri.
Only the width of the post prevented the Iraqis from going ahead near the end of the first extra period of extra time as Mahdi Karim’s cross from the right was misjudged by Lee Woon-jae and was met by Hawar Mohammed whose shot hit the left upright before being hacked off the line by Kim Jin-kyu.
In the second period of extra time, Lee Chun-soo sent a free kick from the right edge of the box just over the crossbar while Hawar Mohammed fired a shot across the face of goal with the Korean defence standing and watching.
As penalties loomed, a header off a Mahdi Karim corner flew straight at Lee Woon-jae before Lee Dong-gook squandered the final attempt of the game, firing high over the crossbar from 20 metres.
The first six penalties of the shootout were converted before Sabri tipped Yeom’s poorly-taken attempt around the post.
Ahmed Mnajed then converted before Kim Jung-woo’s final attempt for the Koreans hit the right post, sending the Iraqis through to their first ever Asian Cup final.
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From: ThalaNass on 26th July 2007 06:57 AM [Full View]
Saudis down defending champions
Jul 25, 2007
PA Sport
HANOI - Malek Maaz helped end Japan hopes of a hat-trick of AFC Asian Cups with the livewire striker bagging a double as Saudi Arabia defeated the defending champions 3-2 in a see-saw semi-final at the My Dinh Stadium on Wednesday.
The Al Ahli forward scored the decisive goal in the 57th minute after the Saudis had twice squandered the lead. Yuji Nakazawa cancelled out Yasser Al Qahtani opener and Yuki Abe acrobatically drew Japan level after his defensive lapse allowed Malek Maaz to regain the Gulf side's advantage.
Japan and Saudi Arabia, both looking to win the competition for a fourth time, stuck with the same starting 11 that began their respective quarter-final victories over Australia and Uzbekistan and it was the defending champions who created the first chance of the match.
Yasuhito Endo and Shunsuke Nakamura exchanged passes at an eighth minute corner before the latter swung the ball into the six-yard area but the Celtic midfielder's cross was punched clear by Yaser Al Mosailem before it could reach the head of Yuji Nakazawa.
The Saudi keeper was called into action again seven minutes later when he blocked at the feet of Seiichiro Maki after Keita Suzuki had threaded the ball through to the JEF United striker.
Saudi Arabia, who had been distinctly second best in the opening exchanges, soon settled and in the 25th minute a shot from skipper Yasser Al Qahtani almost looped in after deflecting off the out-stretched leg of Nakazawa before Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi palmed away the resulting corner from Abdulrahman Al Qahtani.
The Al Qahtanis were both involved as the Saudis took a 35th minute lead, with Taiseer Al Jassam knocking down Abdulrahman free-kick in to the path of Yasser, who hooked the ball past Kawaguchi.
The Saudis had barely finished celebrating the sniper's fourth goal of the tournament when Japan levelled two minutes later as Nakazawa charged in front of Al Mosailem to head home an Endo corner.
Japan almost stole a second going into the break when Al Mosailem flapped at a Nakamura free-kick but the ball bounced just past the Al Ahli keeper right hand post.
Just two minutes into the second half the Saudis went ahead when Malek Maaz ghosted in between Nakazawa and Yuki Abe to nod in Ahmed Al Bahari pinpoint cross from the right.
But for a second time Japan hit back soon after and for a second time the equaliser came from an Endo corner.
The Gamba Osaka midfielder's 53rd minute flag kick was headed back across the penalty area by Seiichiro Maki and dispatched past Al Mosailem via an acrobatic scissors kick from Abe.
Abe had appeared to atone for his earlier defensive lapse but the Urawa Reds midfielder and Nakazawa were again culpable as the Saudis made it 3-2 four minutes later.
Malek Maaz took possession on the left side of the penalty box and easily skipped past the Japanese duo before unleashing a powerful drive beyond Kawaguchi.
Japan struggled to break down the Saudis but came within a lick of paint to drawing level with nine minutes left to play as substitute Naotake Hanyu, a 75th minute replacement for Endo, sending a thunderous long range drive crashing off the cross bar.
The victory helped the Saudis avenge their 1-0 defeat to the Japanese in the 1992 and 2000 Asian Cup finals and set-up a showdown in Jakarta with Iraq after Jorvan Vieira's side defeated Korea Republic 4-3 on penalties following their goalless draw in the other semi-final played earlier in Kuala Lumpur.
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From: ThalaNass on 26th July 2007 08:34 AM [Full View]
Iraq bombs strike football fans
Fans have been celebrating the victory across Baghdad
Two bomb attacks have killed at least 50 people and injured 135 in Baghdad as crowds celebrated the Iraqi national football team's win over South Korea.
The first strike killed 30 people in the Mansour district, where fans were marking Iraq's victory, which takes the side into the final of the Asian Cup.
Twenty died in the next blast, at an army checkpoint in east Baghdad.
Thousands had filled the streets of the capital, dancing and waving flags in a rare moment of national unity.
Police said the two attacks deliberately targeted the jubilant supporters.
The first explosion occurred about 1830 local time (1430GMT) in the western neighbourhood of Mansour, where a car exploded in a crowd of cheering fans.
"I was in a car with my friends, people all around were celebrating and then there was a huge explosion and a lot of fire," an anonymous eyewitness told the AFP news agency.
Death and joy
Less than an hour later a suspected suicide car bomber struck in the midst of dozens of cars filled with supporters near a military checkpoint in the eastern district of Ghadeer.
Policemen and soldiers join in the celebration
The BBC's Nicholas Witchell in Baghdad says the win was a genuine moment of national pride and pleasure, which crossed the sectarian divisions between Iraq's different communities.
Just as the Iraqi team has Sunni and Shia Muslims and Kurds playing alongside each other, the celebrations brought members of all those communities out onto the streets, he adds.
They cheered and waved Iraqi flags, sharing, perhaps, the first such moment of national pride in recent years, our correspondents says.
The team beat South Korea 4-3 on penalties in the semi-final match in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Iraq will now face Saudi Arabia in the final.
There were celebrations across Iraq. "I am nearly crying for joy," 30-year-old fan Nuri Najjar told Reuters in the southern city of Basra.
"Iraq's victory with this harmonious team represents the way we should all live together."
Separately, at least one person was reported to have died after being hit by stray bullets fired in celebration, an Arab tradition popular in a city awash with guns.
How evil the militans can be..
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From: ThalaNass on 30th July 2007 07:21 AM [Full View]
Iraq secure historic triumph
Jul 29, 2007
PA Sport
IRAQ 1-0 SAUDI ARABIA
JAKARTA – Younis Mahmoud headed home his fourth goal of the tournament as Iraq secured a memorable 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday to win the AFC Asian Cup.
The Iraqi skipper capitalised on a poor piece of goalkeeping by Yaser Al Mosailem to turn in Hawar Mohammed’s corner 19 minutes from time, giving the Middle Eastern side their first ever AFC Asian Cup crown.
The Saudis had scored 12 goals on their run to the final but rarely threatened the well-marshalled Iraqi defence which maintained its fourth consecutive clean sheet of the tournament.
Jorvan Vieira and Helio dos Anjos kept faith with the players that had got them to the final with both Brazilian coaches making no changes from their starting line-ups from the semi-finals.
The first half was a robust affair with Australian referee Mark Shield showing a total of five yellow cards.
Qusay Munir fired the first shot in anger for Iraq, volleying wide from the edge of the box after six minutes, while Mahmoud’s acrobatic overhead kick from eight metres out flew wide two minutes later.
Munir was the first player into the referee’s notebook for a sliding two-footed challenge on Abdulrahman Al Qahtani after nine minutes while Saudi midfielder Saud Khariri was also booked six minutes later for a body check on Mahdi Karim.
Karrar Jassim was also shown a yellow card midway through the half after tugging back Khariri but the Iraqi midfielder showed his class in the 28th minute when he weaved his way between Ahmed Al Bahari and Khaled Aziz on the left byline before firing in a stinging shot that was turned aside by goalkeeper Yaser Al Mosailem at his near post
The match threatened to boil over on 37 minutes when Mahmoud went down in the Saudi box clutching his face after an altercation with Waleed Jahdali. Referee Shield managed to take the sting out of the situation and booked both players.
The Saudis had few chances in the opening half but proved dangerous on the counterattack with their best opportunity coming a minutes before the break when Yasser Al Qahtani surged into the Saudi box and stepped past Jassim Ghloam before a sliding challenge by Bassim Abbas deflected the Saudi skipper’s shot over the crossbar.
The second half began quietly but sparked back into life on 57 minutes when Nashat Akram played an excellent pass into Mahmoud, only for the Iraqi captain to be denied by Waleed Jahdali’s sliding challenge.
Taiseer Al Jassam went close for the Saudis on the hour with a shot on the turn that forced an excellent flying save from Noor Sabri but it was the Iraqis who were looking the more dangerous team.
A quick counter-attack in the 62nd minute saw Mahdi Karim release Mahmoud on the right side of the box but Al Mosailem stopped the initial shot and also turned aside Akram’s follow attempt.
Karrar Jassim just failed to make contact with a Mahdi Karim flick-on following a Hawar Mohammed corner while a bullet header by Mahmoud flew within inches of the target on 66 minutes.
However Iraq’s pressure would finally be rewarded in the 71st minute when Hawar Mohammed’s corner from the right was badly misjudged by Al Mosailem, who allowed the ball to sail over his outstretched glove and right onto the head of a lurking Mahmoud, who headed home at the far post.
Mahmoud could have sealed it on 77 minutes when he was sent clear by man of the match Akram’s great through ball but Al Mosailed was off his line quickly to deny the Iraq captain with his feet.
But with the Saudis unable to muster a shot on goal in the closing minutes, the Iraqis were able to hold on to complete a historic triumph.
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