The AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia is all set for the knockout stage following the conclusion of the Group Stage earlier tonight.
Australia and China were the final teams to confirm their spots from Group D, joining the six other sides who had sealed their places earlier.
Australia came from behind to defeat Iraq 2-1 in their Group D tie, Trailing to Ammori Faisal’s 63rd minute penalty, Australia hit back in added on time through Yaya Dukuly and Mathias Macallister to advance in stunning fashion, topping the group with six points and setting up a quarter-final encounter with Korea Republic on Saturday.
The match got off to a cagey start at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, with the first threatening moment coming in the 21st minute with Aymen Luay almost catching Australia off guard with an overlapping run while Dukuly’s cross at the other hand for James Overy stopped by the offside flag.
Australia had the first real look on goal in the 27th minute when Iraq could only clear Jaylan Pearman’s through ball as far as Overy, whose curling effort forced Layth Sajid into a fingertip save.
Iraq threatened in the 41st minute when Hameed Ali weaved past his marker but fired his low drive straight at Australia keeper Steven Hall as the teams went into the break on level terms.
The West Asian side were left scrambling almost immediately after the restart when Luka Jovanovic broke into the box following a fast break, freeing up space to set up Dukuly who, however, could only find the side netting.
Iraq almost got their act together in the 52nd minute when Luay laid the ball perfectly for Faisal inside the box but the Al Karma Sports Club midfielder sent his curling effort over the bar before Luay forced Hall to tip over his long range effort.
The duo continued to torment Australia and another counter-attacking move led to Hall conceding a penalty after tripping Luay, leaving Faisal to fire past the Australian keeper from the spot in the 63rd minute.
Australia pushed for the equaliser but Jed Drew saw his tame effort comfortably collected by Sajid a minute later, while Jovanovic and Nathan Paull failed to trouble the Iraq custodian from inside the area.
Australia thought they had been given a lifeline after the referee pointed to the spot in the 73rd minute following Adam Rasheed’s foul on Dukuly but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.
A lapse in concentration led to Australia equalising in the third minute of stoppage time after Joshua Rawlin floated a perfect cross to an unmarked Dukuly to power his header past Sajid.
With Iraq pushing forward, Australia took advantage four minutes later with a slick team move which saw Macallister turning in Jovanovic’s layoff from inside the six-yard-box to seal the win and progression into the quarter-finals.
China booked a long awaited-spot in the quarter-finals after playing out a goalless draw with Thailand in their Group D tie.
The East Asian side closed with five points to finish second behind Australia and advance for the first time in six appearances, with Group C winners Uzbekistan their opponents on Saturday.
China immediately went on the offensive but then had to fall back just as fast as Thailand began to assert themselves.
The Southeast Asian side, however, were unable to make any headway into the China PR penalty box, with Iklas Sanron, Oussama Thiangkham and Paripan Wongsa booting their attempts over the bar from distance.
China PR keeper Li Hao failed to hold a header from Sittha Boonlha in the 23rd minute but the 21-year-old, who has been in top form throughout, recovered before striker Chinngoen Phutonyong could reach the ball.
Mutalifu Yimingkari almost headed into his own net in the 39th minute following a Thailand corner, but Li Hao again showed lightning-quick reflexes to parry the ball out, with the keeper saving another header from Chinngoen in time added on to close out the half.
Thailand started the hungrier side after the break, with Iklas picking up a through ball from Oussama 12 minutes in and trying from an acute angle on the left, only for Li Hao to pull off another fine save.
Striker Wang Yudong and substitute Zhang Aihui both wasted chances to put China PR ahead within a span of five minutes, with Yudong again coming close in the 77th minute with an effort that swerved wide of the right post.
Thailand keeper Chommaphat Boonloet had his first taste of second-half action when he easily gathered a shot from Chen Zeshi in the 84th minute, which closed the match and saw China finish their group stage unbeaten.
