Australia and South Korea have emerged from Group A and qualified for the last eight of the 2015 Asian Cup.
Both teams maintained their 100 percent record on Tuesday as Australia thumped Oman 4-0, while an under-strength South Korea edged past Kuwait 1-0.
Australia 4-0 Oman
The Socceroos will now face South Korea in the Group A finale on Saturday in Brisbane, as the winner will top Group A and secure an easier path in the knockout stages.
[ ASIAN CUP: Saturday | Sunday | Monday ]
Australia were cheered on by another partisan crowd on home soil, as they surged into a 3-0 lead at half time — thanks to goals from Matt McKay, Robbie Kruse and Mark Milligan — in Sydney. Tomi Juric added another after the break as the Aussies have now scored eight goals in their opening two games of the tournament and are staking their claim as the favorites alongside Japan to lift the trophy.
Kuwait 0-1 South Korea
As for South Korea, they lost star man Lee Chung-yong with a fractured shin after their opening game plus several other starters were missing through injury and illness but they regrouped to qualify from Group A with an uninspiring yet professional victory. The only goal of the game arrived in the first half as Nam Tae-hee headed home in the 36th minute. Kuwait hit the post and had a real go late in the game but along with Oman, they crash out of the tournament after two defeats from two.
PL player watch: Australia’s captain Mile Jedinak was rested for Australia. Crystal Palace’s fans will be happy about that.
MLS player watch: Tim Cahill captained Australia in Jedinak’s absence, but the New York Red Bulls man was taken off after 51 minutes to save his legs.
Wednesday’s games
Group B
Midnight, ET – North Korea vs. Saudi Arabia
2 a.m. ET – China vs. Uzbekistan
