2024-01-24 00:18:00
Click to see larger image. UAE coach Paulo Bento. AP News
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) bowed its head to Iran. However, they maintained second place in their group and advanced to the round of 16 of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asia Cup.
UAE, led by coach Paulo Bento, lost 1-2 to Iran in the final third match of the Asian Cup Group C held at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayan, Qatar, on the morning of the 24th (Korean time). The UAE attempted to take first place in the group by beating Iran, but might not overcome the barrier of Iran, the favorite. The UAE ranked second with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss (4 points), following first place Iran with 3 wins (9 points), and advanced to the round of 16.
The UAE dramatically secured second place in the group. UAE was down 0-2 until the end of the second half, and if it had ended like this, they would have fallen to third place in the group. However, in the 48th minute of the second half when they were behind 0-2, they made up for one goal and maintained second place in the group. UAE had 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss with 3rd place Palestine, and their record once morest them was also 1-1. In the end, goal difference was also considered, and the rankings were divided by 1 goal, with the UAE +1 and Palestine 0.
UAE maintained second place in the group and avoided strong teams in the round of 16. On the 29th, the UAE will compete once morest Tajikistan, which advanced to the round of 16 for the first time in history, to advance to the quarterfinals. If the UAE had advanced to the round of 16 by placing 3rd in the group, it would have had to face either Australia, the favorite for the championship, ranked 1st in Group B, or Qatar, the host nation and 1st in Group A. Coach Bento led Korea to the Asian Cup in 2019, but was blocked by Qatar and stayed in the quarterfinals.
China hoped to advance to the round of 16 as a miracle, but it failed. China, ranked 3rd in Group A with 2 draws and 1 loss (2 points), aimed for an additional ticket to the round of 16, which is given to the top four countries among the top 3 teams in the group. However, as the Group A, B, and C schedules were completed, they were pushed down to 5th place out of 3 groups. China is expected to fall to 6th place if it completes Group F.
Reporter Heo Jong-ho
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