Australia to face South Korea in final
January 27, 2015
Hosts Australia will face South Korea in the Asian Cup final following its 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in Newcastle.
The UAE, inspired by diminutive attacker Omar Abdulrahman, pulled off the unthinkable in knocking out Japan in the quarterfinals, but it was unable to muster up the same mixture of good fortune and the attacking football which has served it so well.
Australia's goal-hungry defenders were in on the act to extinguish any hopes of UAE reaching the Asian Cup final on Sunday. Inside three minutes, the Socceroos were already firmly in the driving seat with central defender Trent Sainsbury heading home from close range.
When Ahmed Khalil's shot in the 13th minute cannoned against the woodwork, a rapid counter-attack enable the Socceroos to double its advantage.
Mathew Leckie of FC Ingolstadt in Germany's 2.Bundesliga saw his shot ricochet against an opponent, falling in the path of the left-back Jason Davidson who rifled home from the edge of the box.
As UAE enjoyed a stronger second period, Abdulrahman dazzled in the middle of the park with his vast array of tricks and flicks. He is alerting some of Europe's biggest clubs, who have traveled across the globe to keep tabs on the attacking-midfielder.
But despite his craft and ingenuity, the 23-year-old from Al-Ain was on the losing side as Australia secured the win that takes it one step closer to winning the championship for the first time.