Australia 2015’s Record Run Extended
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The record number of consecutive games without a draw at a major tournament set at the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 was extended to 22 on Monday as Group C reached its conclusion with wins for Iran and Bahrain.
The extension of the record run went down to the wire however, with Reza Ghoochannejhad's stoppage-time header ensuring that Team Melli’s top-of-the-table clash with the United Arab Emirates in Brisbane didn’t end in a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, the other Group C match which kicked-off simultaneously in Sydney also avoided a stalemate as goals from Sayed Ahmed Jaafar and Sayed Dhiya Shubbar either side of Hasan Al Haydos' second half free-kick saw Bahrain finish third ahead of Gulf Cup winners Qatar.
The 16th edition of Asia’s premier tournament etched itself into the record books on Sunday when the run of winning games reached 20 with victories for Korea Republic and Oman beating the previous mark of 18 that Australia 2015 shared with the 1930 FIFA World Cup.
No major tournament, including FIFA World Cups, European Championships, Copa Americas and Africa Cup of Nations, in the ensuing eight decades saw the number of games without a draw set at the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay equalled, until the AFC Asian Cup matched and then surpassed that milestone over the past three days as the competition continues to showcase entertaining and exciting football.
Other memorable moments during the Group Stage, which continues on Tuesday with the climax of Group D, have been of Ali Mabkhout’s 14-second opener in the UAE’s 2-1 win over Bahrain – the fastest ever in the tournament – Jaka Hbaisha’s historic first Asian Cup goal for Palestine and Yasuhito Endo’s 150th appearance for Japan.