2023 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage
The knockout stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 28 January with the round of 16 and will end on 10 February with the final match, to be held at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail. A total of 16 teams (the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.[1]
All times are local, AST (UTC+3).[2]
Format
In the knockout stage, if a match is level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time will be played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This is the second time there is no third place play-off after the 2019 edition.
The AFC set out the following schedule for the round of 16:[1]
- R16-1: Runners-up Group A v Runners-up Group C
- R16-2: Winners Group D v 3rd Group B/E/F
- R16-3: Winners Group B v 3rd Group A/C/D
- R16-4: Winners Group F v Runners-up Group E
- R16-5: Winners Group C v 3rd Group A/B/F
- R16-6: Winners Group E v Runners-up Group D
- R16-7: Winners Group A v 3rd Group C/D/E
- R16-8: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group F
Combinations of matches in the round of 16
The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depended on which four third-placed teams qualified for the round of 16:
Third-placed teams qualify from groups |
1A vs |
1B vs |
1C vs |
1D vs | ||||||
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A | B | C | D | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3B | |||
A | B | C | E | 3C | 3A | 3B | 3E | |||
A | B | C | F | 3C | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
A | B | D | E | 3D | 3A | 3B | 3E | |||
A | B | D | F | 3D | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
A | B | E | F | 3E | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
A | C | D | E | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3E | |||
A | C | D | F | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3F | |||
A | C | E | F | 3C | 3A | 3F | 3E | |||
A | D | E | F | 3D | 3A | 3F | 3E | |||
B | C | D | E | 3C | 3D | 3B | 3E | |||
B | C | D | F | 3C | 3D | 3B | 3F | |||
B | C | E | F | 3E | 3C | 3B | 3F | |||
B | D | E | F | 3E | 3D | 3B | 3F | |||
C | D | E | F | 3C | 3D | 3F | 3E |
Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
Group | Winners | Runners-up | Third-placed teams (Best four qualify) |
---|---|---|---|
A | Qatar | Tajikistan | — |
B | Australia | Uzbekistan | Syria |
C | Iran | United Arab Emirates | Palestine |
D | Iraq | Japan | Indonesia |
E | Bahrain | South Korea | Jordan |
F | Saudi Arabia | Thailand | — |
The following teams will make their debut in the knockout stage:
Bracket
Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
28 January – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
Tajikistan (p) | 1 (5) | |||||||||||||
2 February – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
United Arab Emirates | 1 (3) | |||||||||||||
Tajikistan | ||||||||||||||
29 January – Al Rayyan (Khalifa) | ||||||||||||||
Jordan | ||||||||||||||
Iraq | 2 | |||||||||||||
6 February – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
Jordan | 3 | |||||||||||||
28 January – Al Rayyan (Jassim bin Hamad) | ||||||||||||||
Australia | 4 | |||||||||||||
2 February – Al Wakrah | ||||||||||||||
Indonesia | 0 | |||||||||||||
Australia | ||||||||||||||
30 January – Al Rayyan (Education) | ||||||||||||||
Saudi Arabia | ||||||||||||||
10 February – Lusail | ||||||||||||||
South Korea | ||||||||||||||
31 January – Doha (Abdullah bin Khalifa) | ||||||||||||||
Iran | ||||||||||||||
3 February – Al Rayyan (Education) | ||||||||||||||
Syria | ||||||||||||||
31 January – Doha (Al Thumama) | ||||||||||||||
Bahrain | ||||||||||||||
7 February – Doha (Al Thumama) | ||||||||||||||
Japan | ||||||||||||||
29 January – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
Qatar | ||||||||||||||
3 February – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
Palestine | ||||||||||||||
30 January – Al Wakrah | ||||||||||||||
Uzbekistan | ||||||||||||||
Thailand | ||||||||||||||
All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
Round of 16
Australia vs Indonesia
This was the first time Australia and Indonesia face each other at the Asian Cup, having last met back in 2010 during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which Australia triumphed. It was also the first time Australia faces a fellow AFF member in the same competition since becoming AFF member in 2013. It was also the first time since 2007 (4–0 win against Thailand) that Australia faced a Southeast Asian opponent.
Indonesia quickly applied pressure at the first minutes trying to exploit from Australia's rather clumsy organisation, but, as Indonesia were riding high, they were brutally punished at the 12th minute when Jackson Irvine produced a run that saw him overcome three Indonesian players before his shot caused Elkan Baggott to unintentionally deflect own home to give Australia the lead. Despite Indonesia later produced more shots, it was Australia who once again struck a goal when, from a rare Australian counterattack, the ball was delivered high by Gethin Jones from Indonesia's left flank, causing the Indonesians by surprise as Martin Boyle quickly headed home for the second. Although Australia reduced the tempo at the second half and even allowed Indonesia some space, the Indonesians not just failed to score, but they were again punished at the 89th minute when from another run in the left flank, Nathaniel Atkinson's cut piece was followed with Irvine's header; despite Ernando Ari managed to save it, but he couldn't prevent Craig Goodwin from scoring after his save deflected to Goodwin, allowing Goodwin to volley. Australia completed the game in style at the first minute of added time when Harry Souttar capitalised from a set-piece by Goodwin to head home.
Since joining the AFC in 2006, Australia had never lost against fellow Southeast Asian opponents, which was later extended following their win over Indonesia (10W, 3D). This result equalled Australia's second biggest win in their AFC Asian Cup history, all 4–0, which happened against Thailand in 2007, India in 2011 and Oman in 2015. This also secured Australia's ongoing streak of making to every quarter-finals in their AFC Asian Cup history that began in 2007.
Australia
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Indonesia
|
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Tajikistan vs United Arab Emirates
This was their first ever competitive meeting, having met just twice, both in friendlies, which the United Arab Emirates won one and drew one.
Despite the Emiratis were the ones to have better command of the match in the first minutes, it was Tajikistan to struck the first goal in the game after Vahdat Hanonov, thanked to a curl onto the penalty area by Zoir Dzhuraboyev, grabbed a header over two Emirati players. The Tajiks then put up a fierce and effective defence to neutralise Emirati attacks, but it went in vain at the fifth minute of second half's added time when, from a set-piece by Ali Saleh, Khalifa Al Hammadi produced a brilliant reverse header to equalise for the United Arab Emirates at death. Neither wanted to take risks in the next thirty minutes of extra time, forcing both to go for penalties. While Tajikistan ended up successfully converted all five penalties, Caio Canedo's second shot was denied by Rustam Yatimov as Tajikistan sealed a historic win.
With this win, Tajikistan became the first knockout stage debutant in the Asian Cup since Japan in 1992 to advance further. Meanwhile, this was the worst performance for the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Asian Cup since 2011, after being eliminated at the round of sixteen.
Tajikistan | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | United Arab Emirates |
---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Penalties | ||
5–3 |
Tajikistan
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United Arab Emirates
|
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Iraq vs Jordan
This was the two neighbouring rivals' second AFC Asian Cup meeting in their history, with their only encounter dating back to 2015 and also their most recent competitive encounter, which Iraq triumphed in a hard-fought match.
Iraq were the team to make the brighter start, but after just the first ten minutes, it was Jordan who shockingly reclaimed control and, in fact, it was the Jordanians who eventually got the first blood of the match when, from a misjudged pass by Saad Natiq, Yazan Al-Naimat intercepted in the midfield before making his sprint to face Jalal Hassan then bounced the ball up into the net at the first minute of added time of the first half. However, from a corner kick at the 68th minute, Natiq redeemed with a header too hard for Yazid Abu Layla to deny. This only became better for Iraq at the 76th minute when, from a brilliant left flank cross by Merchas Doski, combined with a misjudged header by Yazan Al-Arab, Aymen Hussein skilfully held the ball before delivered a thunderous low shot to the right bottom corner of the net. However, Hussein's unsportsmanlike conduct resulted in his dismissal right after scoring, which proved to be a disaster for the Iraqis when at the fifth minute of added time, when from a chaotic ball fight on Iraqi penalty area followed with a failed Jordanian corner kick saw Musa Al-Taamari curl into the net; despite being denied initially by Jalal Hassan, but Al-Arab soon redeemed by quickly rebound home to equalise. As the match was thought to have gone to extra time, when from a Jordanian siege followed by earlier mistake of Jalal Hassan, ball was given to Nizar Al-Rashdan from Al-Taamari, who then put a long-range fire that proved to be the final goal of the game as Jordan sealed a historic victory.
This result meant Iraq had failed to win a single knockout stage game since becoming Asian Cup champions in 2007, with their penalty win over Iran back in 2015 courted as a draw. Meanwhile, this was the first time ever Jordan come out victorious in a knockout stage match in their Asian Cup history.
Iraq
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Jordan
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Qatar vs Palestine
This will be the first time ever the two countries will face each other in an Asian Cup finals, with their most recent competitive fixtures happening during the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which Qatar got the better with a win and a draw.
Qatar
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Palestine
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Uzbekistan vs Thailand
This is the first ever meeting in an Asian Cup finals between Uzbekistan and Thailand. In their most recent competitive meeting, which happened in the earlier 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Uzbekistan claimed the win.
Uzbekistan | Match 41 | Thailand |
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Report |
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Saudi Arabia vs South Korea
It will be their first meeting at the Asian Cup since 2007, when both teams were held to a 1–1 draw; while their most recent competitive meetings dated back to the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, where South Korea won 2–0 on aggregate. In personal records, this will mark the first time Roberto Mancini and Jürgen Klinsmann face each other as coaches in a competitive tournament, having met each others as players back in the UEFA Euro 1988, which also ended in a 1–1 draw, in which Mancini scored the opening goal in the match.
Saudi Arabia | Match 42 | South Korea |
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Report |
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Bahrain vs Japan
The two will meet each other for the first time in any AFC Asian Cup since 2004, where Japan won in a thrilling encounter. In terms of other competitive fixtures, this will be the first time since the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, that they met each other with each claiming a win.
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Iran vs Syria
This will be the two teams' first ever Asian Cup encounter in 44 years, with Iran held to a goalless draw in Syria's debut at the Asian Cup. However, they had met in the recent fixture during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, which Iran won 4–0 on aggregate.
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Quarter-finals
Tajikistan vs Jordan
Tajikistan | Match 45 | Jordan |
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Australia vs Winner Match 42
Australia | Match 46 | Winner Match 42 |
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Winner Match 44 vs Winner Match 43
Winner Match 44 | Match 47 | Winner Match 43 |
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Winner Match 40 vs Winner Match 41
Winner Match 40 | Match 48 | Winner Match 41 |
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Semi-finals
Winner Match 45 vs Winner Match 46
Winner Match 45 | Match 49 | Winner Match 46 |
---|---|---|
Winner Match 47 vs Winner Match 48
Winner Match 47 | Match 50 | Winner Match 48 |
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Final
The match was originally scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. However, the AFC confirmed in 21 August 2023 that the match would be moved to Lusail Stadium, Lusail, due to significant interest for fans.[3]
Winner Match 49 | Match 51 | Winner Match 50 |
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Notes
- ^ Hamza Al-Dardour, who didn't play in the match, received a red card due to his unsportsmanlike conduct on the bench.
References
- ^ a b "AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
- ^ "Match Schedule" (PDF). AFC. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "#AsianCup2023 adds world-class Lusail Stadium to elevate fan experience". the-afc. Asian Football Confederation. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.