Australia beats UAE to reach final
Print Edition
AUSTRALIA remained on course for its maiden Asian Cup title after defeating United Arab Emirates 2-0 in the semifinals at Newcastle Stadium yesterday.
Playing in Newcastle for the first time in almost 20 years, the Socceroos took a firm grip on the contest when defenders Trent Sainsbury and Jason Davidson punched in their first international goals inside the first 15 minutes.
Australia marches on to the final against South Korea at Sydney on Saturday, when the hosts hope to go one step better than its 2011 final loss to Japan. South Korea beat Australia 1-0 in the group stage 10 days ago.
UAE, which knocked out defending champion Japan 5-4 on penalties in the quarterfinals, couldn’t find a breakthrough to spark a fightback, despite another leading performance by star Omar Abdulrahman.
UAE faces Iraq in the third-place playoff on Friday.
Australia and the UAE had never met in a competitive match, and their last two friendlies ended in scoreless draws, but the host needed only three minutes to make a dream start.
Massimo Luongo’s corner was met by Sainsbury, who took advantage of some slack marking to guide in his header.
Australia’s eagerness to dominate midfield in the first half was best epitomized by Robbie Kruse, who dispossessed Abdulrahman while missing one of his boots.
Kruse created the next Australia chance when the winger’s dinked cross fell close to Tim Cahill. In the ensuing scramble, Mathew Leckie’s shot was blocked, but Davidson’s follow-up shot slid past goalkeeper Majed Naser to double their advantage in the 14th.
Davidson became Australia’s 10th different scorer of the tournament.
Ahmed Khalil, who was UAE’s most impressive player in the first half, fired a warning of UAE’s strength in attack when his shot from a low cross hit the outside of the post.
UAE started the second half better than the first, with Abdulrahman getting on to the ball increasingly more in threatening areas, but Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan was rarely tested.
Cahill, who was largely contained by the defense, was withdrawn for Tomi Juric just after the hour by coach Ange Postecoglou, who may have had thoughts of keeping his talisman fresh for the final.
A concern for Postecoglou, though, will be the fitness of left back Ivan Franjic, who appeared to injure his groin late, when Australia had already used its three substitutions.
Defender Matthew Spiranovic returned from suspension for Australia and Mark Milligan was selected ahead of 84-cap veteran Mark Bresciano.
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