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DOHA: Group C at the Asian Cup was finely poised on Friday after Australia and South Korea played out a high-quality 1-1 draw and Bahrain demolished whipping boys India 5-2 in an entertaining goalfest.
Australia and South Korea, two of the pre-tournament favourites, are in the driving seat with four points each with one more game to go, with Bahrain just behind them on three points. India are out of the competition.
In what looks like being an evening of high drama, the Socceroos take on Bahrain in the last round of matches on Tuesday, while South Korea go up against a hapless India who have conceded nine goals in just two games.
There was little to choose between Australia and South Korea at a three-quarters full Al-Gharafa Stadium, and a draw was a fair result.
Exciting 21-year-old Koo Ja-Cheol, who has attracted interest from overseas clubs, got the breakthrough for the Koreans on 24 minutes, striking his third goal of the competition.
But a second-half equaliser from Mile Jedinak pulled the Australians level.
Both sides had plenty of opportunities to settle an enjoyable game, with Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer pulling off a fine one-handed save from Ki Sung-Yueng four minutes from time to prevent a Korean victory.
Socceroos coach Holger Osieck said it was a quality game and he was happy with the result.
“I think we have seen a very high standard from both teams who have great potential.
They displayed it time and again. At times it was end-to-end stuff,”said the German.
“My team, I'm very happy with their performance. Our game plan was to close them down in midfield and that was mostly achieved.
“What I found encouraging was we created a lot of chances.”
In contrast, his Korean counterpart Cho Kwang-Rae considered it two points lost.
“We could have won the game. If you look at the general performance of our team, then we should have won,” he said.
“We controlled the game mostly so in that aspect we have improved a lot. I am pleased about that and if we can continue to develop that part of our game then it will be much better for us as we move forward.”
Ismaeel Abdulatif was the hero for Bahrain, netting a 19-minute hat-trick to keep his side in contention for a last-eight berth, after Faouzi Aaish's penalty had been cancelled out by India midfielder Gouramangi Singh.
Sunil Chhetri pulled another goal back for India early in the second half, but after Aaish had been sent off, Abdulatif rammed home his fourth goal with 13 minutes remaining to kill off any hopes of an Indian comeback.
Salman Sharida's side must beat heavyweights Australia to reach the quarter-finals, but the Socceroos require just a point to go through at Bahrain's expense.
India were roared on by a near-capacity crowd at an Al Sadd Stadium packed with excitable expats from their homeland, but they become the second team to exit the tournament after Saudi Arabia were dumped out a day earlier.
