S. Korea, China seal knockout spots
Al-Ain (United Arab Emirates), Jan. 12: South Korea and China ensured their places in the Asian Cup last 16 on Friday after continuing their perfect starts, as Australia reignited their title defence with a vital win over Palestine.
The Koreans, runners-up in 2015, squeezed past Kyrgyzstan 1-0 thanks to Kim Min-jae’s strike just before half-time, while a Wu Lei-inspired China comfortably beat the Philippines 3-0.
South Korea and China are level on six points at the top of Group C ahead of their group decider on Wednesday and join Jordan in the knockout stages of the Asian showpiece, which features 24 teams for the first time.
South Korea were made to sweat once again by minor opposition following their opening single-goal win over Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Philippines.
But they will be glad to be safely through without the services of Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heungmin, who sat out the first two games under a deal with the Premier League club.
Earlier in Abu Dhabi, Wu Lei fired the first of his brace for Marcello Lippi’s China five minutes before half-time, turning on the edge of the box and whipping a right-foot shot into the far corner.
Substitute Yu Dabao added a third with his first touch 10 minutes from time for China, who are hoping to improve on their quarterfinal finish in Australia four years ago. “If we can continue to play like that we have nothing to fear from any team at this Asian Cup,” said Lippi, who led Italy to the 2006 World Cup and sparred with Eriksson in his Serie A days.
In Dubai, coach Graham Arnold warned Australia would only improve as the defending champions saw off Palestine 3-0 to move within sight of the knockouts.
Goals from Hibernian striker Jamie Maclaren, Awer Mabil and substitute Apostolos Giannou banished memories of the shock opening defeat to Jordan as Australia went second in Group B.