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UAE and Iraq look to second best finish in Asian Cup

Xinhua, January 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

United Arab Emirates and Iraq will look to bounce back from semifinal defeats by winning the Asian Cup third-place match on Friday.

UAE went down 2-0 to the host Australia and Iraq lost by the same score to South Korea in the semifinals.

A third place in the 2015 Asian Cup will confirm Iraq's status as a force as they had won the title in 2007.

"I know they (South Korea) won and went to the final but we won also, we won 20 (experienced) players," said Iraq's coach Younis Mahmoud. "They will benefit the national team for the next 10 years."

A third place will be UAE's second best finish in their history of the competition.

Midfielder Omar Abdulrahman has been one of the most eye-catching players in the tournament. Forward Ali Mabkhout is currently tied for the tournament's top scorer with four goals - another strike against Iraq will probably earn him that honor alone.

UAE and Iraq have met twice before in the Asian Cup, with each team wining one match. Endi