Asian Cup holders Australia knocked out by hosts UAE

ByReuters

Published 25/01/2019 at 18:05 GMT

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Australia's defence of the Asian Cup ended in disappointment in the quarter-finals on Friday when an Ali Mabkhout goal gave hosts the United Arab Emirates a 1-0 victory.

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Mabkhout scored the winner in the 68th minute after an error by defender Milos Degenek put him through on goal. The striker took the ball past goalkeeper Mat Ryan and found the net for the ninth time in two editions of the continental championship.

The UAE, who lost to Australia in the last four in 2015, progress to a potentially politically sensitive semi-final against Qatar after their Arabian Gulf neighbours stunned South Korea 1-0 earlier on Friday.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt launched a diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar in June 2017. The countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies. (Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Abu Dhabi, editing by Christian Radnedge)

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