China, Iran qualify for Asian Cup 2011
CHINA and Iran qualified for the 2011 Asian Cup finals yesterday, but Indonesia and Vietnam crashed out of contention.
They join Uzbekistan and Syria who had already booked their places at the showpiece in Qatar, along with the host nation and Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, the top three in the 2007 tournament.
Perennial underachievers China secured their berth with a hard-fought goalless draw in Zhejiang against Syria in Group D.
But Gao Hongbo’s team had to wait an agonising 40 minutes to hear the result from Beirut, where minnows Lebanon held Vietnam to a 1-1 draw which sent the Chinese through.
It was sweet revenge for China who lost 3-2 to Syria at the start of the qualifying campaign almost a year ago under caretaker coach Yin Tiesheng, but since then have recorded three straight wins before Wednesday’s draw.
Iran, a traditional Asian powerhouse still recovering from its failure to make next year’s World Cup in South Africa, ensured they will kick-off in Doha in January 2011 with a convincing 3-1 victory in Singapore.
While they progressed, there were tears for Indonesia, who slumped out of the running with a 2-1 defeat to Oman in Jakarta.
Despite losing, Singapore can still reach their first Asian Cup finals since hosting the competition back in 1984 after Bryan Robson’s Thailand failed to dispatch Jordan.
Their 0-0 draw in Bangkok draw means Singapore and Thailand both have six points with Jordan on five and a game to play.
Jordan would appear to have the advantage with a home tie against Singapore on March 3 while Thailand must travel to Iran.
Meanwhile, World Cup qualifiers Japan will progress if they pick up a point against Yemen in Sana’a, a match that was under threat of being called off following the attempted bombing on Christmas Day of a US-bound airliner.
Pim Verbeek’s Australia are in Kuwait with a win needed to see them safely through, while Bahrain take on the already-eliminated Hong Kong at home, with victory enough to secure their berth.
In a Group C match, United Arab Emirates, who only needed one point to qualify, took full points beating Malaysia 1-0 at home yesterday. — AFP
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