Adam Bailey
DeanoHarmoAsian Cup - Where were you when the lights went out?
July 12th 2007 12:38
Category: No Category
The Asian Cup football tournament descended into chaos at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, when at the 85th minute of the match between Korean Republic and Saudi Arabia the lights went out and the stadium was cast into darkness. Referee Matthew Breeze immediately blew time-out, and the match was delayed for 25 minutes before the lights came back on and play resumed.
At the time the lights went out the score was 1-1, and that's how it finished. After a scoreless first half, it was Korea who went ahead after 66 minutes when Choi Sung-kuk headed home a score that gave the Koreans a reward for their superior play to that point in time. But 11 minutes later, Saudi Arabia's striker Malek Maaz was brought down inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Yasser Al Qahtani slotted home the penalty to give the Saudis a point they barely deserved.
Earlier in the evening, Iran took the honours in their tournament opener when they defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur. Iran, the tormentors of Australia in 1997, had some nervous moments after a defensive mixup saw defender Rahman Rezaei head the ball over his keeper's head for an own-goal. But it was a different story in the second half, with the Iranians dominating possession for Seyed Jalal Hosseini to head home an equaliser and Javed Kazemian banging home a low shot under the Uzbek goalkeeper for the winner.
Iran 2 (Seyed Jalal Hosseini 55, Javed Kazemian 78) d Uzbekistan 1 (Rahman Rezaei 16 og).
Korea Republic 1 (Choi Sung-kuk 66) drew Saudi Arabia 1 (Yasser Al Qahtani 77 pen).
Group C Standings - China 3 ( 4), Iran 3 ( 1), Uzbekistan 0 (-1), Malaysia 0 (-4).
Group D Standings - Indonesia 3 ( 1), Korean Republic 1 (0), Saudi Arabia 1 (0), Bahrain 0 (-1).
Pic from AFCAsianCup.com
At the time the lights went out the score was 1-1, and that's how it finished. After a scoreless first half, it was Korea who went ahead after 66 minutes when Choi Sung-kuk headed home a score that gave the Koreans a reward for their superior play to that point in time. But 11 minutes later, Saudi Arabia's striker Malek Maaz was brought down inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Yasser Al Qahtani slotted home the penalty to give the Saudis a point they barely deserved.
Earlier in the evening, Iran took the honours in their tournament opener when they defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 in Kuala Lumpur. Iran, the tormentors of Australia in 1997, had some nervous moments after a defensive mixup saw defender Rahman Rezaei head the ball over his keeper's head for an own-goal. But it was a different story in the second half, with the Iranians dominating possession for Seyed Jalal Hosseini to head home an equaliser and Javed Kazemian banging home a low shot under the Uzbek goalkeeper for the winner.
Iran 2 (Seyed Jalal Hosseini 55, Javed Kazemian 78) d Uzbekistan 1 (Rahman Rezaei 16 og).
Korea Republic 1 (Choi Sung-kuk 66) drew Saudi Arabia 1 (Yasser Al Qahtani 77 pen).
Group C Standings - China 3 ( 4), Iran 3 ( 1), Uzbekistan 0 (-1), Malaysia 0 (-4).
Group D Standings - Indonesia 3 ( 1), Korean Republic 1 (0), Saudi Arabia 1 (0), Bahrain 0 (-1).
Pic from AFCAsianCup.com
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Comment by Stanley
i am actually rather impressed with the level of play in the tournament so far. just the finishing hasn't been world class but some of the touches in the midfield have been rather good.
Comment by Michael Shillito
Nozzin' Aroun'
Must-win game for the Socceroos tonight.