Asia

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup kicked off on Saturday, and we’ve already seen some pretty remarkable things from the United Arab Emirates — India won its first match at the competition since 1964, Jordan shocked Australia and today featured three spectacular goals from the two matches.

We’ll start with two from Saudi Arabia’s 4-0 beatdown of North Korea (who played the entire second half down a man). The second goal of the match for the Green Falcons was scored by Al-Ahli defender Mohammed Al-Fatil, who applied an instinctive backheel to a free kick for the finish.  

A Japanese club going on a preseason tour of California wouldn’t usually set the pulse racing, but Vissel Kobe is no ordinary J1 League side. After signing former NYCFC striker David Villa back on Dec. 1, the Ushi (Cows) now boast a lineup that also includes former Barcelona star Andres Iniesta and German legend Lukas Podolski.

Chivas Guadalajara blew an early lead by allowing three straight goals in a loss to Kashima Antlers in the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals. Then the Japanese club ran into Real Madrid. Namely, it ran into Gareth Bale. 

Chivas Guadalajara got off to a dream start at the Club World Cup on Saturday.

Then it all fell apart. And with it, perhaps Mexico’s best chance to win the Club World Cup. 

Asian champion Kashima Antlers rallied from an early deficit and held off a late charge to defeat Chivas 3-2 in the Club World Cup on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Kashima will now play Real Madrid in the semifinals on Wednesday.

On Friday, Andres Iniesta’s first season in Japan will come to a close following Vissel Kobe’s home match against Vegalta Sendai. Given Kobe’s mid-table standing, it’s certainly been a new experience for the Barcelona legend, but attendance is up 17.4 percent at the club and Iniesta has contributed two goals and three assists in 13 appearances.

The stadium applause was deafening and presumably thousands of kangaroos and koalas bowed their heads in respect Tuesday as Tim Cahill came on for his last international cap. The 38-year-old made his 108th and final appearance in his side’s 3-0 win over Lebanon in Sydney.

Iceland and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar played to a 2-2 friendly draw on Monday in Belgium, and the match was highlighted by an exchange of exquisite free kicks between the two nations.

In the third minute, Qatar captain Hassan Al-Haydos (currently number four all-time in goals for his country), hammered a free kick from an acute angle across the face of goal and just inside the far post — a despairing, sprawling Rúnar Rúnarsson could do nothing to keep it out.

With a 2-1 victory over Beijing Renhe on Wednesday, Shanghai SIPG — the home of Brazilian trio Hulk, Oscar and Elkeson — captured the 2018 Chinese Super League title, bringing an end to Guangzhou Evergrande’s seven-year title reign.