Day seven in brief
- Iran advance to the knockout stages with a 1-0 win against Qatar
- An own goal by their captain sees Bahrain exit, losing 2-1 to UAE
Star of the day
Sardar Azmoun – he may have left the field injured but the 20-year-old boy wonder of Iranian football offered plenty before he left, including delivering the all-important winning goal. An absolutely sublime spin-and-shoot effort to bamboozle his marker, beat the keeper and send Iran through. He even managed a cheeky Totti-esque “celebration selfie” with his adoring fans in the corner. Coach Carlos Queiroz has likened the young striker to Ruud van Nistelrooy – no pressure from here on, kid. It’s believed his injury wasn’t too serious, Azmoun should be back for Iran’s next game.
Photo of the day
Something to cheer
The phenomenal Iranian support. As they did in Melbourne for Iran’s opening game, the Persian community has come out in droves to support Team Meli in Sydney. Sitting in the stadium you’d be mistaken for thinking this was an Iranian home game – the crowd of 22,672 is the tournament’s best for a non-Socceroos game; there may have been four goals scored at this venue in front of more than 50,000 Aussie fans on Tuesday night, but the decibel level following Azmoun’s winner was even higher.
What we learned
The A-League has made great strides in terms of “active support” over recent seasons, but if last night was anything to go by, there’s a long way to go. The Western Sydney Wanderers and their supporter group the RBB may have thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the league, but even Central Coast Mariners’ brass band had nothing on Iran’s all-singing, all-dancing fans. FFA and clubs have a challenge now to tap into this amazing football-loving community and get them along to A-League games.
What’s on today
Call it Palestine A v Palestine B, but there will be no solidarity on the pitch as Palestine faces Jordan in a must win Group D clash. It’s a remarkable narrative, with many in the Jordanian squad hailing from Palestinian refugee camps or at least boasting Palestinian heritage. Whoever emerges with regional bragging rights, it’s still a massive step forward for the tiny nation that’s not even formally recognised as a country.
What’s happening in the Socceroos camp
The unluckiest man in green and gold, Chris Herd, has been ruled out of the Asian Cup with an Achilles tendon injury. It’s the latest injury curse to strike the young defender who has missed a series of call-ups over the past few years. Herd will return to Aston Villa to continue his rehabilitation and the Socceroos will be reduced to a squad of 22. Meanwhile, skipper Mile Jedinak is touch and go to return against South Korea, and will undergo a last-minute fitness test on his injured ankle.
Player to watch
He’s been without a club side for almost a year, but Iraqi captain Younis Mahmood just bleeds for the national side. Victorious in a key 1-0 clash over Jordan, the Lions of Mesopotamia face Japan to determine who goes top of Group D, and look to the experienced striker to impose himself for the cause.
Fact of the day
#GulfCup curse continues. Winner always knocked out of group stage @afcasiancup 2004:KSA 2007:UAE 2011:Kuwait 2015:Qatar #AC2015
— Wael Jabir (@waeljabir) January 15, 2015
Quote of the day
When asked about today's atmosphere at @ANZStadium Dejagah said "It was fantastic, it was is if I was playing in Tehran."
— Team Meli (@Team_Meli_Iran) January 15, 2015
Find of the day
Seated next to one of the UAE’s scouts who was casting an eye over next opponents Iran, I was eager to glean an insight as to his thinking. In conversation he was tight-lipped, but upon departure I discovered the potential goldmine that was about six-pages of torn up notes (and no, I wasn’t riffling through bins to find this).
After hours of painstaking recreation, CSI style, I discovered the notes were in German. And after hours of painstaking translation, I discovered they were from Qatar’s friendly against Estonia last December.
Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I’m still hoping assistant national team coach Ante Milicic might buy them off me as an insight into how the enemy might think.
Must read this
Pete Smith’s interview with Socceroos defender Alex Wilkinson about a more physically robust South Korean side, and his fifteen-year relationship with the gaffer Ange Postecoglou.
Today’s games
Group D: Palestine v Jordan, Melbourne – 6pm
Group D: Iraq v Japan, Brisbane – 8pm
