S. Korea set up Australia clash, Uzbeks to face Qatar
South Korea came back from the dead to beat Saudi Arabia 4-2 on penalties on Tuesday and join dark horses Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup quarter-finals. South Korea will face Australia in the last eight while the Uzbeks play hosts and holders Qatar after beating Thailand 2-1. Second-choice goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo was the hero for South Korea in Doha, saving penalties from Sami Al-Najei and Abdulrahman Ghareeb in the shootout. Jo was only playing because of a serious knee injury to regular stopper Kim Seung-gyu in training earlier in the tournament. After a nail-biting game had ended 1-1, Hwang Hee-chan scored the decisive penalty for Jurgen Klinsmann's side, who are aiming to end a 64-year Asian Cup title drought. Saudi Pro League sides have shelled out to lure big-name players while Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup, all part of a broader move into global sport. But they are out of the Asian Cup in the last 16 and their wait for a fourth continental crown – and first since 1996 – goes on. Srecko Katanec said that his Uzbekistan side can "surprise" Qatar in the quarter-finals despite being depleted by injury and illness. The Uzbeks took the lead against Thailand in the first half with a cool Azizbek Turgunboev finish through the legs of the goalkeeper. Thailand were the lowest-ranked team left at the tournament but they hit back just before the hour with an even better goal, from distance, by substitute Supachok Sarachat. Uzbekistan went ahead again midway through the second half when highly rated 20-year-old CSKA Moscow attacker Abbosbek Fayzullaev struck from outside the box. Despite being short of his best side Katanec struck a defiant tone, saying: "We can surprise Qatar, why not?" (AFP)