Well, as expected, Korea have won through to the final and once again they’ve kept a clean sheet. As Iraq struggled to find any kind of synchronicity Korea dominated possession and took their goals well. That said, there were a number of times they looked panicky in defence and that will give the UAE* hope that they can be the first team to find a way through them in the final.
* There’s no way the Socceroos will beat the UAE tomorrow night. But do join me here for the game. Until then, thanks for coming. Three cheers for Prince Philip on this Australia Day! Hip hip....
Full-time: South Korea 2-0 Iraq
Peeep! Peeeeeep!
And that’s fulltime. Korea break their semi-final hoodoo and will return to Stadium Australia in five days.
90 min + 6: Korea win a corner in an extra minute of time added on. They don’t look to cross it over, however, but rather take a touch and surround it like sentries.
90 min + 5: Korea harry Iraq into a backpass. Iraq, Robbie Slater says, “have a mountain to climb”. Does he mean to suggest they could still win it?
90 min + 3: Korea sub: Ki Sung-yueng goes off replaced by Han Kook Young. To waste time and protect him from any late injury.
90 min + 2: Adnan takes the corner from the left and though Ibrahim gets a head to it he was back-peddling when he did so and as a result couldn’t get enough purchase on it. Goalkick.
90 min + 1: Two minutes of added time? I meant five. Iraq push forward again and win a corner.
90 min: There will be two minutes of added time. Korea will surely be in the final now, for the first time in a long time.
Kalaf, meantime, races down field and delays his cross too long and, under pressure, his last ditch attempt to cross, or was it shoot?, loops over the goal.
89 min: But forget colours for a moment, as a Mahmood backheel in the area sits for Hussein but Kim Jin-su, on a yellow, dives in spectacularly to knock away before Hussein can shoot.
88 min: You can just about make out the ref in this pic, Mike:
72' Good spell of possession for Iraq results in a chance, but Ibrahim can't direct his header! #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/ntnxcySkHf
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
86 min: Need I say Iraq are running out of time? Mike Mackenzie, meantime, wants a photo of the ref. I’ll do my best, Mike.
Mahmood, meantime, tries to knock down a cross to a teammate, but there was no teammate within coo-ee. Korea win possession and in their upfield romp Son Heung-min is brought down somewhat roughly. Free kick in midfield. Korea are in no hurry to take it.
84 min: There’s an idiot on the field and security swarm him like bees on honey. It is Australia Day so he may have overindulged on the Iced Vo-Vos.
82 min: Kyle Greenwood joins us late for a compliment and, less importantly, a stab at the colour of the ref’s shirt: “Firstly, thanks for the MBM. Enjoying it immensely, especially in those moments when Iraq are displaying their dynamic lack of imagination with the ball. Secondly, I think describing the ref’s shirt as ‘pale mauve’ is unkind. I’m streaming it on my computer, so perhaps my colour settings are misleading, but I’d have described it as ‘blood lavender’. Somebody really ought to get the Pantone colour swatch out for this one.”
Blood lavender. Genius.
81 min: Sub Korea: Nam Tae-hee goes off to get out of the rain, Jang Hyun-soo comes on. Midfielder for a defender. As you’d expect at this stage.
79 min: Salim slides in for a tackle and has his leading ankle stood on, quite accidentally it seemed. Iraq have no more subs so he’ll just have to soldier on. And he does. Good man.
78 min: And still the rain falls... as Hassan has his shoelaces tied by his centre-half. Not, I assume, because he can’t tie shoelaces more that he can’t be stuffed taking off his gloves. Iraq, meanwhile, have lost a bit of zip. That epic quarterfinal could be catching up with them.
75 min: It’s become scrappy here, end to end stuff as Iraq push forward and Korea look to catch them on the break. But passes aren’t sticking and some of the challenges are getting more agricultural.
Iraq sub: Marwan Hussein on for Abdul Zahra. Striker for midfielder.
73 min: An email! On the game. Sort of. Michael O’Regan is trying to decide what colour the ref’s shirt is: “A rather natty outfit of a colour never seen before on a football pitch. While the shorts are the traditional black, I would describe the shirts, and their matching socks, as a sort of, um, pale mauve. Perhaps others with different television colour settings would like to comment on this so we can all agree.” That’s a much nicer description of the colour than my early attempt.
70 min: Sub Ali Adnan risks getting himself sent off when he and Son Heung-min clash and the Iraqi leans in like a tower in Pisa. Not sure if he made contact with the head but he was chastised by the ref who, in waving away interested onlookers, brushes his thumb into Adnan’s eye. Figuring that’s punishment enough Adnan is spared a card.
69 min: An Iraq corner is cleared but the Lions of Mesopotamia can’t get a shot away.
67 min: Some real urgency from Iraqi now. Might lead to a goal. To Korea. Iraq are pushing higher and higher.
64 min: Hassan is forced into action again, punching a high ball that Lee Jeong-Hyeop attempts to head with the back of his noggin.
A free-kick follows from the left and a lovely cross from Kim-Young-Gwon whips towards his teammates, lining up on near the far post, but a timely head from Iraqi sends it out for a corner. Nothing comes from it, however.
62 min: An Iraq goal, you feel, would really trouble Korea. They are pushing for it:
62' Iraq's average position, as they push high in an attempt to get a goal back #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/26rneKSaDa
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
60 min: Kalaf runs about 40m across field but Korea are content to shadow him, driving him towards the sideline like sheep dogs with diplomas. Kalaf is forced to turn and look inside and it all fizzles out.
58 min: More jitters from Korea at the back, and a poor clearance from the keeper put them under all sorts but Iraq can’t capitalise. Makes you wonder how Korea haven’t conceded so far this tournament. Iraq’s pressing has led to some mistakes. Take note Australia. I mean, UAE.
56 min: Two great chances to Korea! First Kim Sung-Yueng stings the hands of Hassan from range, before Son Heung-min gets an even better chance. But again Hassan is equal to it, pushing it away to his right.
55 min: Young-Gwon gets a vital touch to kick away a dangerous cross heading right for Mahmood standing in space in the Korean area.
53 min: Abdul Zahra finds space on the right, skips inside the defence and tries to find a teammate in space near the penalty spot, but Korea swarm on the cross and clear the ball, not without a tremor.
52 min: Iraq are looking long odds now, and remember they’ve had a day’s less rest than Korea. It will take some effort to pull this out of the fire.
50 min: From a deflected cross that looped high in the air Lee Jeong-Hyeop chested it down in order to take a snap right-foot shot from the edge of the D. But he didn’t drop it at his feet, rather at the feet of Kim Young-Gwon who propped on his right and put his left boot through it. It took a deflection en route and beat Hassan on his left. Nice strike.
GOAL! South Korea 2-0 Iraq (Kim Young-Gwon 50)
Korea take a mighty step towards the final!
Perfect strike from Kim Young-Gwon as he doubles @theKFA's lead! #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/2VKXJTWeWP
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
Updated
48 min: He’ll get roasted for that later but Korea keeper Kim Jin-Hyeon, in pursuit of a through-ball on the left, ends up marking Yasin, I think it was, on the left touchline. But Iraq couldn’t find a way to get a shot off sparing Jin-Hyeon’s blushes. That was the worst of Bruce Grobbelaar.
46 min: And already Korea have resumed their dominance of possession, helped when Mahmood gives away a free-kick by pushing his opponent over, playground style, as they contest a ball.
Peeeep!
Iraq get us underway as some Australia Day fireworks twinkle off in the distance.
Stats, you want ’em, you got ’em:
“@afcasiancup: Iraq Half time stats: Korea Republic 1-0 Iraq #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/dBEWprIHin”
— A.B.N.A ☪ (@AboodyB92) January 26, 2015
Half-time
Peeeeep! And that’s oranges. Korea have dominated on the whole but in the last 10 minutes of that half they’ve looked nervy and they might have conceded an equaliser had Iraq been more clinical. Back in a bit.
45 min + 1: A late chance for a Korean second before the break. Free-kick from just to the right of centre, 25 yards out. Son Heung-min lines it up and, using all his experience with Bayer Leverkusen, hits the wall. This tournament has lacked some spectacular dead ball goals, hasn’t it?
45 min: Mahmood and Park Joo-ho square up when a hefty Mahmood tackle leaves the Korean squished up against the advertising hoardings like a thrown tomato. No foul, says the ref. As you were lads.
44 min: Yes, Korea are shaky! A backward header to his keeper by Kwak Tae-Hwi fails to take into account Abdul Zahra lurking in behind him. The Iraqi should have taken a shot in hindsight but he looked to square to Mahmood. Mahmood couldn’t get on the end of it, however, so a great chance went begging.
43 min: And now Kalaf get off a shot from the edge of the box! But Kim Jin-Hyeon gets down low to his right and turns it away for a corner. Just as well, as Abdul Zahra was on the scene ready to tap in on the rebound.
42 min: A nice one-two on the right between Abdul Zahra and Kalaf falls to Mahmood but just as he tries to get a shot in it’s nipped away. Korea looking a tad shaky here before the break.
40 min: Korea with a corner now, Kim Jin-su putting in a devil of a ball that drops right on the edge of the six-yard-box. But there were no red shirts to meet it! Countering, Yasim storms down the left touchline and Park Joo-ho slides in to tackle him, in the process uses his arm to bat the ball away. His prize for such ingenuity? A yellow card.
40' Iraq break away from a corner but Park Joo-ho handles the ball & picks up a yellow #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/Fq2uy23QFW
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
Updated
38 min: Iraq are enjoying a little more of the play here so best not to waste it with a very low percentage long range shot. Wait, Yasin has just wasted possession with a very low percentage long range shot. You’d need to be Steven Gerrard in his prime to nail one of those. Yasin’s shot is now in the Parramatta River I expect.
36 min: Iraq win a corner on the right and Salim knocks it over well enough but Abdul Zahra has to duck to get his head on it and it hits a Korean shoulder and loops up kindly for keeper Kim Jin-Hyeon.
33 min: Shakir passes it over the sideline rather than risk being robbed by Han Kyo-won who was haring after the ball. Such is the pressure Korea are exerting.
But now Korea have been helped by the ref. Ismail stretches to win a ball but a Korean falls over it and Korea are awarded a free-kick much to the consternation of the Iraqis. No harm done, however. The free-kick is claimed by Hassan coming off his line.
31 min: Another Korea freekick, from Kim Jin-su, who delivered the assist for the goal. This one is from the right and while he does beat the first man he doesn’t beat the third one. A wasted chance.
29 min: Another Korea freekick. From the left, but it fails to beat the first man. How often do professional footballers fail to beat the first man from a deadball situation? Let me check my stats.... lots.
27 min: Son Heung-min is in the action again, cutting inside from the left this time, and unleashing a right-foot drive that Hassan saves at his toes. For all the backswing he didn’t quite hit it cleanly.
Possession? Korea 71%. Passes 197 to 78.
26 min: Breaking the trend, Iraq win possession and a long ball is lofted to Mahmood who, though facing the wrong way, tests the keeper with a backwards header. Ah, he was offside, it wouldn’t have counted. Nice improvisation, however.
23 min: And now Son Heung-min goes for a long gallop down the right flank but he can’t find support, somewhat tamely giving it away to Iraq as he wondered what his best option was.
21 min: After the corner Korea maintained pressure and in doing so won a free kick on the right. Kim Jin-Su took it, swung it over with a slight curl to the far edge of the six--yard box and Lee Jeong-Hyeop rose to beat Hassan low to his right. Perfect execution but he was afforded too much space.
GOAL! South Korea 1-0 Iraq (Lee Jeong-Hyeop 21)
And there’s the opener from a set piece!
20' GOALL!!! Lee Jeong-hyeop for @theKFA!! 1-0! #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/8SVttfZFfF
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
Updated
18 min: Kim Sung-yueng really is a presence and he’s everywhere at the moment. But as I type he turns it over and Iraq pour upfield. But a cheeky attempt by Mahmood to play in a teammate is foiled by Korea and they storm downfield. Son Heung-min fires off a cracker that Hassan is forced to tip over the bar! That was close. Corner.
16 min: Salim on the right wing crosses to Mahmood at the edge of the area but Kim Young-Gwon was standing on his toes (Mahmood’s toes, that is) and though Mahmood gets a head to it it flies harmlessly away.
13 min: Korea are running the game at the moment, Iraq content to respond to their lead like an acquiescent dance partner. Nam Tae-Hee, meantime, tries to turn in the penalty box and he falls to the deck. The crowd roars but he fell over his own feet and, to be fair, didn’t ask for a spot kick.
11 min: Nam Tae-hee worms into space in midfield, some 35m out, and he decides ‘what the heck’ and wellies it. It soars high and wide. Really high and wide. It’s all the rage to liken someone to Messi —the Iranian Messi, etc— but is Nam Tae-hee the Korean Bresciano?
9 min: Perfect conditions for football, says Robbie Slater. Playing it, that is. Not sure the spectators would agree. That said, they sound happy enough.
And here’s Korea trying to catch Iraq out with a chip over the top, but it skips off the wet grass and goalie Hassan claims it without any bother.
7 min: Kalaf is quite deliberately chopped down by Ki Sung-Yueng after knocking the ball ahead on him up the right sideline. The Korean captain knew he was about to get skinned so he brought him down. A yellow card.
5 min: Iraq decide to venture further up the pitch in defence, just to get a touch, and moments later they force a turnover but Mahmood can’t quite control a long ball to his feet in the final third.
3 min: Korea venture down the left, dipping a toe in the waters, before it’s shifted back to Ki Sung-yueng. Taking a quick peep he whips in a wicked curling cross to the far post but a diving Han Kyo-won just fails to get his head on it. Korea could have scored without Iraq getting touch!
2 min: Korea have been passing it about in their own half for almost 90 seconds now and Iraq haven’t had a touch. So their error stats will look good at this point.
Peeeeeeeep!
South Korea get us underway in the rain and a cacophony coming from the stands.
Updated
The officials, by the way, are wearing black shorts as well as shirts and socks of a colour I’m not confident to name. It’s as if they were white but put through the wash with a dead badger. Anyway, enough with the fashion, we’re away!
And here come the teams!
Korea in red shirts and socks, which starkly sets off the blue of their shorts, and the blue of my eyes. Iraq are green from collar to ankle, notwithstanding some white panels on the shoulders.
Anthems? Yes, anthems.
Korea:
Iraq:
It really does look grim out there at the stadium where plastic rain shrouds are all the go. I think the east coast is in the grip of a cold front. Perhaps it’s fitting considering today is Straya Day, but I’ve even had to pull the tracksuit pants out of storage. They look a treat beneath my red check flanno. It’s like I’m unintentionally wearing Australia’s national costume.
Anyway, I borrowed these stats from Opta and I promised to give them back after I’ve used them. So don’t you get your grubby fingers on them. Just look:
Tonight’s semi-final features the competition’s two most accurate shooting teams: 55% of South Korea’s shots have been on target, whilst Iraq are only just behind, hitting the target with 54% of their attempts.
The match is the Taeguk Warriors’ (South Korea’s) third successive appearance at the Asian Cup semi-finals, but they have a poor record in the fixture, not having reached a final since 1988.
This will be Iraq’s third semi-final appearance in the competition, after 1976 and 2007.
These sides have met twice before in this competition in 1972 and 2007 – both games ended 0-0.
Korea Republic have won all four of their games so far without conceding a goal.
Indeed, they have not lost any of their last 14 AFC Asian Cup games (W9 D5), though two of those draws saw them eliminated on penalties.
Iraq have received 12 yellow cards in the tournament so far – at least three more than any other side.
Yes, it’s wet. And wild. Like a Queensland theme park. Like a Logies after party. But the fans are out:
Not long until kick off in the first @afcasiancup semi-final. The Iraq fans are bringing the noise! #KORvIRQ #AC2015 pic.twitter.com/JWwu7fJWdJ
— Dan Ogunshakin (@DanOgunshakin) January 26, 2015
And this —courtesy of our very own Mike Ticher— from a Korea fan showing admirable honesty considering where he is:
Korean fan int. on big screen in Sydney @ANZStadium #KORvIRQ. "What's your fave Aus city?" "Gold Coast!" pic.twitter.com/3wlDuSfDeo
— Mike Ticher (@mikewsc1) January 26, 2015
Updated
How about a mood setter?
It's a wet & wild night of #AC2015 football in Sydney! The 1st Semi Final just 40mins away! #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/2Dm98PyiNL
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
Your starting teams:
Iraq:
Start list: @IRAQFA #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/4iMqYtWhU2
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
South Korea:
Start list: @theKFA #AC2015 #KORvIRQ pic.twitter.com/6YSy5zSfp5
— AFC Asian Cup (@afcasiancup) January 26, 2015
It is, of course, Australia Day, a day when we come together as a nation to honour British citizens who’ve lived their lives in the lap of luxury. Had Australia converted their chances against South Korea back in the group stages the Socceroos may well be here tonight (that’s what the organisers were hoping for) playing in the big stadium on ’Straya Day. That said, a good crowd is expected tonight because good crowds, vibrant and colourful crowds, have turned out all tournament. And they’re not all visiting from abroad. Which is all a long way of saying how truly multicultural Australia is, how well we can make that work, which is something worth remembering today. Aside from everything Prince Philip has done for us, that is.
As we await kick-off, I invite your correspondence. How do you see tonight panning out? Will Kim Sung-yueng deliver another midfield masterclass and get South Korea over the line? Will the ageless Younus Mahmood —a man with balls of steel forged in the fires of Iraq’s version of Marble Bar— deliver the goods one more time.
And will we see more panenkas? Good OR bad?
Drop me a line: paul.connolly@theguardian.com
Pre-ramble
Good evening, and welcome aboard. Please take a seat and remember there’s no need for pushing and shoving. We’re at Stadium Australia tonight and there’s plenty of room for everyone. So grab a drink, put your feet up and relax. Save your elbows for tomorrow night.
Tonight’s game, as I’m sure you know, is the first Asian Cup semi-final between South Korea and Iraq. If you’re not a supporter of tonight’s combatants then you may well be a Socceroos supporter wanting to assess the cut of both team’s jibs in the event the Socceroos beat the UAE tomorrow night and get through to Saturday’s decider.
Of course, the Socceroos don’t have a prayer tomorrow night and anyone who says otherwise —yes, we’re still shaking our heads at you, Trent Sainsbury— has no understanding of the power of the mocker. To be honest it’s a miracle the Socceroos have gotten this far.
So, given that, who will play the UAE in the final? Will it be South Korea; wily, dangerous, dextrous, well-groomed and yet to concede a goal this tournament? Or will it be surprise packets Iraq who must still be emotionally wrought having endured the toe-curling drama of their quarterfinal penalty-shootout win against Iran in Canberra on Friday? For what it’s worth —about $1.67 (to $6.50)— the bookies say South Korea.
Kick-off 8pm
It’s nearly time for Paul Connolly to strap himself into tonight’s liveblogging seat and bring you a blow-by-blow account of the first of this year’s Asian Cup semi-finals. South Korea play Iraq (yes, Iraq – they haven’t been thrown out of the tournament, after all) in Sydney with a ticket to the weekend’s final at stake (quite possibly against Australia UAE – let’s not tempt fate). But before he gets here, here’s what Trent Sainsbury has been saying about the Socceroos’ opponents tomorrow night (note to Trent: stop it!):
[Star of the tournament so far Omar Abdulrahman is] very tidy on the ball, not the hardest worker and I think we can exploit that. But at the same time, if we have got the ball, we have also got to keep one eye on him defensively. That is going to be the biggest thing for us as a defence ... I don’t think the UAE has got the legs and the stamina to go with us for 90 minutes.
Read the full story here.
