AFC Asian Cup: Kyrgyzstan Advances To Knockout Stage

Four games were played on Wednesday in the United Arab Emirates as group-stage play in the AFC Champions League continued.

GROUP C:

At Abu Dhabi:

Him Min-jae scored the winning goal in the 51st minute as South Korea defeated China 2-1 in a match of two knockout-stage-bound teams.

At Dubai:

Vitalij Lux produced a hat trick (24', 51', 77') as Kyrgyzstan locked up a berth in the knockout stage by eliminating the Philippines 3-1.

Final Group C Standings:

1. South Korea (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
2. China, Mainland (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
3. Kyrgyzstan (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
4. Philippines (GP: 3; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

South Korea, China, and Kyrgyzstan advanced to the knockout stage.



GROUP D:

At Al Ain:

Nguyen Quang Hai (38') and Que Ngoc Hai (PK-64') each scored once as Vietnam kept alive their hopes of advancing after blanking Yemen 2-0.

At Dubai:

Two knockout round-based teams, Iran and Iraq, battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

Group D Standings:

1. Iran (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 7)
2. Iraq (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
3. Vietnam (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Yemen (GP: 3; GD: -10; PTS: 0)

Iran and Iraq advanced to the knockout stage; Vietnam, pending the outcomes from Thursday, is still technically alive for advancement.