Asian Cup quarter-finals: four matches and a video ref

Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates) (AFP) – AFP Sport’s guide to the Asian Cup quarter-finals, which begin on Thursday and will see the video assistant referee (VAR) system used in the tournament for the first time.

– Vietnam v Japan –

Japan should brush Vietnam aside but the four-time champions have been so unconvincing that a defeat would not be a major surprise. 

Hajime Moriyasu’s side have stumbled through the tournament, winning by a single-goal margin in each of their four games and conceding twice in their 3-2 Group F victory over Turkmenistan, ranked 127th in the world.

They allowed more than 75 percent possession to Saudi Arabia in a dire last-16 outing that was settled by Takehiro Tomiyasu’s header from a corner against the run of play.

Meanwhile Vietnam, fresh from winning the Southeast Asian title last month, beat a well-organised Jordan side on penalties and could prove a handful for the stuttering Japanese.

– China v Iran –

The end looks nigh for Marcello Lippi’s China as they run into the tournament’s only consistently dangerous team. 

Iran are Asia’s top-ranked side and have yet to concede at the tournament, rattling in nine goals their four matches as they moved confidently into the quarters and only being stopped in a goalless Group D draw with arch rivals Iraq.

It’s the sort of form that has made them the team to avoid — which is bad luck for China, an ageing team with injury problems and few options in attack. 

In their favour, however, is the acumen of Lippi, who won the World Cup for Italy in 2006 and may have a few more cards to play before his expected departure post-tournament.

– South Korea v Qatar –

Son Heung-min’s belated arrival gave South Korea a significant boost in their final group game, a 2-0 win over China, but needed extra time to beat Bahrain’s part-timers 2-1 in the first knockout round.

Injuries could prove critical for the Taeguk Warriors, who in recent days have lost Newcastle midfielder Ki Sung-yeung to a hamstring problem. 

Meanwhile 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar have gone from strength to strength, upsetting political foes Saudi Arabia in the group phase thanks to a brace from the tournament’s top scorer Almoez Ali — who has seven goals to his name — and knocking out Iraq in the 1-0 win that took them to the quarters.

With Qataris largely banned from UAE thanks to the ongoing Gulf blockade, and boos greeting their anthem, it’s been a quietly defiant tournament for Felix Sanchez Bas’ team.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2FJU8Za