The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have rejected a protest against the eligibility of two Qatar players in the country’s Asian Cup squad.

The UAE Football Association had formally protested after Tuesday’s semi-final loss to Qatar that Almoez Ali, a 22-year-old striker born in Sudan, and Bassam Al Rawi, a 21-year-old defender born in Baghdad, did not qualify to play for their opponents on residency grounds because they have not lived continuously in the Gulf state for at least five years over the age of 18.

The AFC said in a statement on Friday: “The Asian Football Confederation Disciplinary and Ethics Committee on Friday dismissed the protest lodged by the United Arab Emirates Football Association over the eligibility of two Qatar players.”

Qatar take on Japan in the final of the competition at 6pm on Friday at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.

Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful crowd behavior on Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final.

The Qataris, whose national anthem was drowned by boos before the game, face Japan in Friday’s final after goals from Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Hasan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismaeil sealed victory for the 2022 World Cup hosts amid ugly scenes in Abu Dhabi.

As they celebrated victory and a record sixth clean sheet at a single Asian Cup, shoes were thrown at them and plastic bottles rained down from angry local fans — as they had for every Qatar goal, midfielder Salem Al-Hajri hit on the head after their third.

A clash bristling with simmering regional tension over the long-standing Gulf blockade of Qatar quickly burst into life as a meaty tackle from Bandar Al-Ahbabi on Akram Afif put the Qatari midfielder up in the air.

But Qatar drew first blood after 21 minutes when Khoukhi’s shot squirted under UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, to the horror of a hostile crowd of 38,000.

Afif was then targeted by bottle-throwing Emirati fans as he tried to take a corner, appealing desperately to the referee as he stepped away from the kick.

Qatar exacted swift retribution eight minutes before the break, Ali smashing home a right-footed shot from the edge of the box to equal Ali Daei’s 1996 record of eight goals in a single Asian Cup.

As the Sudan-born striker celebrated with his team mates, more bottles and shoes were flung at the players as the atmosphere began to turn sinister.

A half-time entertainer sang “Let’s bring Asia together” but there was little harmony as the crowd — boosted by mass giveaways exclusively to locals — continued to hurl abuse at the Qataris. Many political chants in Arabic were heard from the UAE fans on opposite side of the grandstand.

Qatar never looked seriously threatened and captain Al-Haydos coolly chipped in a third to spark more fury from the UAE fans, Al-Hajri knocked to the ground as more missiles streamed onto the pitch.

Defender Ismail Ahmed was then shown a red card in stoppage time for an elbow on Al-Hajri before Ismaeil added a fourth to compound UAE’s misery. At the end of the game, Ismael al Hammadi who was substituted out ran towards the Qatari players with the intent to attack and possible inflict bodily harm. It took several of his teammates to retrain him.

The disgraceful acts of the UAE fans has marred the reputation of the host and the effort of the Local Organizing committee. Despite hundreds of security personnel who cordoned the pitch, bottles , shoes and anything the fans could throw , reached the pitch. No fan was seen arrested and no attempt by the security to apprehend the culprits was recorded.

The Politically charged match, fueled by local media and bad blood between the politicians of the two countries , did not seem to affect the players, who were admittedly more focused on winning the match,  however the fans were something entirely different and the FAC has one bif decesion to make against this type of behaviur.

Yuya Osako’s double and a late strike from Genki Haraguchi mean Iran’s AFC Asian Cup-winning drought will extend for another four years after a 3-0 loss at Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium took the four-time winners into Friday’s final at Team Melli’s expense.

Queiroz has been at the helm of the Iran national team for eight years, but he suggested he will no longer continue a reign which has seen him lead the country to back-to-back appearances at the FIFA World Cup.

The most important thing for me today is to say I am so proud and this venture, this journey, of the Iranian players has been fantastic,” said Queiroz.

“They deserve to be in the final to be honest, but I think the most simple thing is to say, copying the famous song” ‘And now the end is here.’ And I’m very happy and very proud because I did it my way and it’s time to show my gratitude to the Iranian fans having coached these players and this team for eight years.

“I wish all of them the best of success that they deserve.”

Iran were making their first appearance in the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals since 2004 and shaded a competitive first half, but the game turned in the 56th minute when their defence switched off following a clash between Morteza Pouraliganji and Takumi Minamino.

While the Iranians protested to referee Christopher Beath, Minamino played on and delivered the cross from which Osako opened the scoring.

The Werder Bremen striker then doubled the lead from the penalty spot before Haraguchi put the result beyond any doubt in injury time with an emphatic strike as the Japanese advanced to a fifth AFC Asian Cup final since 1992.

“That moment created an emotional breakdown in my team and after that there was only one team on the pitch and that was Japan,” said Queiroz of the opening goal. “Just to say the best team won, the best team deserve to be in the final and congratulations to Japan.

“But special congratulations and a huge, huge, huge thank you to my players for everything they gave playing all these years, taking into consideration the difficulties, the adversity, the limits and the conditions they have. They are going to be in my heart for the rest of my life.”

The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has issued a communique after the elimination of Team Melli from the AFC Asian Cup 2019 praising the performance of Team Melli players and the coaching teams on its achievement in the FIFA World Cup 2018 and the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

The communique also appreciated the efforts of all government organs and ministries for its support for Team Melli during the competitions thanking them for their gestures and backing.

In the last part , it also wished Carlos Queiroz all the best in his future career.

Both FFIRI and Carlos Queiroz have talked about extension of his contract in case Iran won the AFC Asian Cup title, however, that did not materialize and it seems that Queiroz is on his way to Colombia.

Al Ain, UAE

teammelli.com reports

After what looked like a close and competitive match in the first half between Japan and Iran , the second half saw a total collapse of Team Melli resulting in the heaviest defeat in official matches that Team Melli has suffered in 26 years. The 3-0 loss to Japan today was only equalled by the same result against South Korea in the World Cup 1994 qualifiers in Doha when the Team Melli collapsed under the coaching of Ali Parvin.

Team Melli was soundly beaten by a better team in all departments, but there is no escape finding the biggest culprit in this defeat and that is one Carlos Queiroz. The Portuguese coach simply ran out of ideas in the second half. Instead of the neat football that we have enjoyed in the last few games especially against China in the last round, Queiroz resorted to route one football. Direct balls from defense to the attack.

Sending Hail Mary footballs in the hope that Sardar Azmoun could out-muscle the Japanese defenders by nicking the ball and heading for goal. It simply did not work today. Azmoun was closely marked, not by one but sometimes two defenders. He was obviously closely studied by Japan and they have cleverly neutralized him. Yet, Queiroz insisted on doing the same again and again!

Karim Ansarifard who was introduced on the hours to supplement Azmoun, was not even in the game most of the time,

There was hardly any balls fed from the half backs Milad Mohammadi and Ramin Rezaeian. No crosses, no runs that could be counted as productive. The latter had a miserable day defending too. Alireza Jahanbakhsh was not really anywhere near his best and Vahid Amiri was a poor imitation of what we have seen of him.

That meant that Askhan Dejagajh had to burden the heaviest of loads, Ashkan did not disappointed, but a football match in this level cannot be won single-handedly by one player. It is a teamwork that Iran did not execute and plans collapsed.

Team Melli faced a real stiff opposition in the Japan players who are tactically accomplished, mentally superior and physically as strong as any team in Asian. While emotions and hypertension was evident in Team Melli players after the penalty, the Japanese played professionally and calmly.

And in their young coach Hajime Moriyasu, Queiroz found a real competitor. The recently appointed Japan coach  out foxed and outmaneuvered his much more illustrious and experienced counterpart Carlos Queiroz. The man has done his homework on Iran perfectly while Queiroz and his Captain Shojaei always insisted during press conferences that Team Melli will always plays the same regardless to the competition. “We will always play the way we play”!!!

Japan has certainly taught Iran a lesson that needs to be reviewed comprehensively if Team Melli has aspirations to progress.

It was a sad end for a team that has showed so much promise to collapse in such a manner. Despite the very obvious shortfalls of Carlos Queiroz in this match and his inability to match the tactics of the Japanese, it is prudent to learn from the good legacy of Queiroz and build upon it.  What Team Melli does not need after Queiroz’s departure is to go a few step backward and opt for a local option to coach the team because of financial difficulties. What Iran requires for Team Melli is another Queiroz class coach

Al Ain

Teammelli.com reports

The first half of the match between Iran and Japan played in Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the semi finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 ended goal-less.

In front of near capacity stadium mostly consisting to Team Melli fans , the match started in a competitive and tense manner. Both teams started cautiously with each  aware of the threats the other team can create. Japan had the upper hand in the first 20 minutes by limiting the threats of Iran from the midfield. They succeeded to do so by populating the midfield and breaking the supply line from Dejagah mainly and from Jahanbaksh and Amiri. In the process the Japanese also created some pressure of their own on Iran back line but without any real threat.

After the 20 mints mark, the scenario changed with Iran having more of the ball and managing to get feed Azmoun who created the best chance of the match on 21st minute. From the left, Azmoun dribbled passed two of his markers inside the six yard box about his final shoot was blocked by the keeper and defender for a corner.

TM continued to excert pressure on Japanese and were the better side but not serious enough to dislodge the tough defense of Japan.

Vahid Amiri committed a clumsy foul to receive a yellow card in 25th minute. This is his 3rd card of the tournament. Amiri obviously requires a proper professional training  in tackling.

Unlike previous matches, the feeding and crosses from the flanks were scarce which forced Team Melli to route one football by utilizing long balls to Azmoun who was a constant threat to the Japan defense.

Iran players were committing needless fouls at times , Ebrahimi got a yellow card late in the half.

Half Time

IRAN  0  – 0  JAPAN

As expected, the semi final of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 between Iran and Japan is a sold out.

The match on Monday in Al Ain will be played in the new Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium which has a capacity of 25,000 seats. It is expected that the majority of the fans will be Iranians living in UAE and quite a few who will be coming from Iran for the match. The last match that was a sell out involved Team Melli in the match in Dubai’s Al Maktoum stadium vs. Iraq. Tickets were sold in black market for that match.

The second semi final will be played in the main Zayed Sport City stadium which twice as big as the one in Al Ain.