25/1/2011 Asian Cup SF: Australia - Uzbekistan

teams like uzbekistan and iraq have always been one level lower. they might make life extremely difficult for us, and even go further 1 out of 10 tournaments, but they are still one level below and it is stupidity to claim they are better or even on the same level.

 

India put up a way better fight than this. They should be proud for not losing embarrasingly. Uzbekistan lost its composure so easily.

 

Yet Qatar (and Jordan, it could be said) gave Japan a run for their money, so to speak

 

thats the difference between 1st tier asian sides and 2nd tier ones. a 1st tier side would never lose like this. only saudi arabia but they constantly go from 1st tier to 2nd back to 1st to 2nd, etc...

 

That wouldn't justify such a huge difference. It's 6-0 we are talking about here. Surely Uzbekistan falling downhill is playing a big part.

Maybe so, but this Cup has been more or less balanced all the way till now.

 

Congrats Aussis! Hope you take first place so I can say that we lost against the champions

 

australia got the easiest possible path to the final but this doesnt take anything away from them because i still think they have an equal chance to beat japan and they have beaten japan before.. BUT for some reason i just think Iran and south korea would have beaten australia if we met in the knockouts.

 

Good to see Kruse get a goal

 

Unexpected from Uzbekistan,should blame their coach for making unnecessary changes in starting line-up

Nonetheless they did a good Job by reaching their first Semi-Finals.

 

I am hoping for Australia to win the cup now.

 

Hmm.

Clinical performance from us but I think Japan played a much better game tonight.

Uzbekistan didn't have any intensity, they played much too high and predictable and we were able to capitalise constantly the acres of space we were given. I want to pay tribute to Tibor Jurayev, he had a great game and kept the score out of double figures.

For us, great performance from McKay tonight - great passing, always moving forward while still dropping back to help Carney. Keeping him on when Emmo was available was a masterstroke and a huge stride for the A-League.

This was so comfortable for us we were able to rest our key front men and give the kids a run. We couldn't ask for better preparation for the Japan game.

 

Thanks, and commiserations to you guys. Hope you bounce back a bit in the future (though not when/if you play against us in WC qualifiers!)

 

Finally, the sleeping giant has awoken. Good to see us put a few away for a change but Uzbeks just didn't turn up tonight. Intimidated?? Poorly prepared?? I don't know.

 

Happy with that!

Comiserations Uzbekistan. Good luck for the 3rd place playoff.

 

Kilkenny was born in England, grew up in Australia though.

Great game from the Aussie perspective. The Uzbeks have a fair bit of individual talent, they just need to get things right as a team and they could give any team in Asia a run for their money.

 

Uzbekistan wanted to play like Barcelona by holding the possesion but failed miserably.But Australia still have to face the bigger teams in Asia.It was too easy for them for the way to finals.Anyways I want AUS to win the title as i dont want Japan to surpass the title holdings by them

 

Japan is one win away from becoming the most succesful team in Asia. All that in less than two decades time.

 

LOL...why would you think that?? The Socceroos have played well enough to beat ANY team in this tournament!

I'll be surprised if they don't win on Saturday even if they have to take it penalties but I suspect they may even win in regulation.

 

So you want them to get revenge for Korea?

 

We've only conceded 1 goal all tournament despite supposedly having an aging, slow and useless defence, that was a really good performance, but to be fair, we probably would of beaten Iran 8 or 9-0.

Hope we can do it all again against Japan.

 

Wow, what a great start to Australia Day!! this ought to be huge in the media(who have been known to ignore the sport in the past!) but from the get-go we were on the front foot. we could have scored in the 3rd minute, I think after the Uzbek player got marched for his 2nd yellow, the White Wolves just dropped their heads(Like NQ Fury did in the A-League the week before once Adelaide went 6 up)
The final is whole nother level though. Japan are a great football side who will be a worthy opponent to beat if we wish to call ourselves the best in Asia. its 5 in the morning, I think I'm still dreaming yet again proud to be an Aussie!! C'mon you 'roos!

 

Yep great start to Australia Day indeed...to bad i have to work in an hour...

 

Japan won't let us play like that on Saturday. However, I'm hoping we won't let Japan play to their potential either, which in my opinion is greater than Australia's.