Australia scores at will to reach final
Source: Agencies |
January 27, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
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AUSTRALIA routed 10-man Uzbekistan 6-0 in the semifinals of the Asian Cup on Tuesday in Qatar, setting up a clash with growing rival Japan in the final.
Australia forward Harry Kewell scored inside five minutes, helping his team to a 3-0 lead by the time Uzbekistan went down to 10 men in the 65th minute. Australia scored three more in the most lopsided semifinal in the tournament's history, earning its first place in the final of Asia's premiere competition and silencing critics who felt they were too old and too slow.
"We had brilliant game today. The players put on a great performance," Australia coach Holger Osieck said. "What they did today is fantastic. ... It is the right present for the Australian public."
Australia's switch from the Oceania to the Asian confederation quickly ignited a rivalry with Japan. Australia beat the Blue Samurai in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup before Japan exacted revenge by knocking the Socceroos out of the previous Asian Cup.
Japan reached Saturday's final after defeating South Korea in a penalty shootout 3-0 after the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 after 120 minutes.
After Kewell's goal, the Uzbeks went 2-0 down in the 34th minute when Tim Cahill headed down a free kick; Sasa Ognenovski had time to take a touch before scoring his first international goal.
"It stunned them a little bit," captain Lucas Neill said of the early goals. "You get that first jab in a fight it kind of knocks them off their feet."
David Carney made it 3-0 in the 65th after being played in by Matt McKay, and Uzbekistan's slim chances of a comeback ended when Ulugbek Bakaev was sent off two minutes later for his second booking.
Substitute Brett Emerton scored the fourth in the 74th before Carl Valeri and Robbie Kruse - courtesy of a goalkeeper error - wrapped up the scoring with two goals in two minutes.
The Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov apologized to Uzbek fans and appeared stunned by his team's poor play.
"The way we played today, I cannot describe it," Abramov said. "We played badly, this is a big problem, we made too many mistakes."
Australia forward Harry Kewell scored inside five minutes, helping his team to a 3-0 lead by the time Uzbekistan went down to 10 men in the 65th minute. Australia scored three more in the most lopsided semifinal in the tournament's history, earning its first place in the final of Asia's premiere competition and silencing critics who felt they were too old and too slow.
"We had brilliant game today. The players put on a great performance," Australia coach Holger Osieck said. "What they did today is fantastic. ... It is the right present for the Australian public."
Australia's switch from the Oceania to the Asian confederation quickly ignited a rivalry with Japan. Australia beat the Blue Samurai in the group stage of the 2006 World Cup before Japan exacted revenge by knocking the Socceroos out of the previous Asian Cup.
Japan reached Saturday's final after defeating South Korea in a penalty shootout 3-0 after the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 after 120 minutes.
After Kewell's goal, the Uzbeks went 2-0 down in the 34th minute when Tim Cahill headed down a free kick; Sasa Ognenovski had time to take a touch before scoring his first international goal.
"It stunned them a little bit," captain Lucas Neill said of the early goals. "You get that first jab in a fight it kind of knocks them off their feet."
David Carney made it 3-0 in the 65th after being played in by Matt McKay, and Uzbekistan's slim chances of a comeback ended when Ulugbek Bakaev was sent off two minutes later for his second booking.
Substitute Brett Emerton scored the fourth in the 74th before Carl Valeri and Robbie Kruse - courtesy of a goalkeeper error - wrapped up the scoring with two goals in two minutes.
The Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov apologized to Uzbek fans and appeared stunned by his team's poor play.
"The way we played today, I cannot describe it," Abramov said. "We played badly, this is a big problem, we made too many mistakes."
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