![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWO6U2KWE6GSYPSOIMHJ44IG4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=001fa6a9d57f29aaa016965928c90339378ee694aa62e82df60b3695785b23fb&width=400&height=225)
A UAE fan celebrates after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KJMJ2G3DR6ETCSP7XC62YKNRVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3849c17e64dbd88b3ec872dc1003f43a66539bc6eaef116b64fd2ce285c9bd83&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout al Hajeri celebrates with his teammate Bandar al Ahbabi after scoring his side's opening goal during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXME4CLTHPQKS4UG5QRKTGWB6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=e08dd2a60d6ad60e5a819e9cf34f5e0cec8c5d59c1b33d5c9e5839c6c0b31bfa&width=400&height=225)
UAE players greet the fans after their victory during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TQ6L7OA6OC2Y3CERSJOQPYSX3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffd8978559410003606ff4f43a954aa84b0e59553c6b267f940d6401b859724c&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout scores during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z3UTUGP463BGYQF6HLLKSC5KCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd2083da14d54b3856800d8b5f5109d65ee047b5b6d80be41fa70edb34fba1bc&width=400&height=225)
UAE's players celebrate their opening goal during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDOVJHB7WMYGX6XO4Z5DCCGDAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ca0a9253ba671b6ff0925ad3b71a0afdd5b9530bab59c9b2d4deaf3b0ce4117&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout scores during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LM7NQDQYJ3QGRWDD6TO2RGUHJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1bc05b7d2105a5e94e0af1ea226a3cc701c4df7f78f141576e7f88fefb0bd6c5&width=400&height=225)
Young Emirati fans cheer during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXI5VEBHMM3FZF6LD3Y445IBIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d7c738b28dccc4e1ad151df8650259165d1c945d7a7fbd91cc8962630743dc45&width=400&height=225)
Emirati supporters wave the national flag during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HKEOT3STAYLSSJKGY4LPT7A64.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc131bd6fa4f6be4000e01c4cf323217bdf3da29a6a49210a2e21ce1a4508056&width=400&height=225)
Japanese referee Ryuji Sato whistles for full time as players celebrate during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NGTPQBAEXOAAIMHICB2HNDUDQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1e6ffcf4bad46a80d794c81184c716ae7b8cae4c77992126e5009555df9d795&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout scores during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/STDMRCXLZLBAL3XJGVQXVZI5BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=20e8612632ab940f6cf843454ce2e861b56955273d5ecd3ef2fe6135b57dd697&width=400&height=225)
Players of UAE celebrate after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O2TYSNXT772GHJEKYZNWVZNBB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7039d59e45b7a01db4ff64e75b633ac5b85429d67078f8fb4974a78f38a35ff&width=400&height=225)
Players of Australia react after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6DMH3OIITS6ASXNCQW5TG2GYJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e58d53b9e5d82248cfd933c8064b860291bff325389379a6776f081f941eb09&width=400&height=225)
Players of UAE greet their fans after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWO6U2KWE6GSYPSOIMHJ44IG4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=001fa6a9d57f29aaa016965928c90339378ee694aa62e82df60b3695785b23fb&width=400&height=225)
A UAE fan celebrates after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KJMJ2G3DR6ETCSP7XC62YKNRVU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3849c17e64dbd88b3ec872dc1003f43a66539bc6eaef116b64fd2ce285c9bd83&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout al Hajeri celebrates with his teammate Bandar al Ahbabi after scoring his side's opening goal during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXME4CLTHPQKS4UG5QRKTGWB6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=e08dd2a60d6ad60e5a819e9cf34f5e0cec8c5d59c1b33d5c9e5839c6c0b31bfa&width=400&height=225)
UAE players greet the fans after their victory during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TQ6L7OA6OC2Y3CERSJOQPYSX3A.jpg?smart=true&auth=ffd8978559410003606ff4f43a954aa84b0e59553c6b267f940d6401b859724c&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout scores during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z3UTUGP463BGYQF6HLLKSC5KCE.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd2083da14d54b3856800d8b5f5109d65ee047b5b6d80be41fa70edb34fba1bc&width=400&height=225)
UAE's players celebrate their opening goal during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RDOVJHB7WMYGX6XO4Z5DCCGDAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ca0a9253ba671b6ff0925ad3b71a0afdd5b9530bab59c9b2d4deaf3b0ce4117&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout scores during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LM7NQDQYJ3QGRWDD6TO2RGUHJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=1bc05b7d2105a5e94e0af1ea226a3cc701c4df7f78f141576e7f88fefb0bd6c5&width=400&height=225)
Young Emirati fans cheer during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXI5VEBHMM3FZF6LD3Y445IBIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=d7c738b28dccc4e1ad151df8650259165d1c945d7a7fbd91cc8962630743dc45&width=400&height=225)
Emirati supporters wave the national flag during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4HKEOT3STAYLSSJKGY4LPT7A64.jpg?smart=true&auth=dc131bd6fa4f6be4000e01c4cf323217bdf3da29a6a49210a2e21ce1a4508056&width=400&height=225)
Japanese referee Ryuji Sato whistles for full time as players celebrate during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NGTPQBAEXOAAIMHICB2HNDUDQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1e6ffcf4bad46a80d794c81184c716ae7b8cae4c77992126e5009555df9d795&width=400&height=225)
UAE forward Ali Mabkhout scores during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between UAE and Australia at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/STDMRCXLZLBAL3XJGVQXVZI5BU.jpg?smart=true&auth=20e8612632ab940f6cf843454ce2e861b56955273d5ecd3ef2fe6135b57dd697&width=400&height=225)
Players of UAE celebrate after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O2TYSNXT772GHJEKYZNWVZNBB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e7039d59e45b7a01db4ff64e75b633ac5b85429d67078f8fb4974a78f38a35ff&width=400&height=225)
Players of Australia react after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6DMH3OIITS6ASXNCQW5TG2GYJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e58d53b9e5d82248cfd933c8064b860291bff325389379a6776f081f941eb09&width=400&height=225)
Players of UAE greet their fans after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RWO6U2KWE6GSYPSOIMHJ44IG4A.jpg?smart=true&auth=001fa6a9d57f29aaa016965928c90339378ee694aa62e82df60b3695785b23fb&width=400&height=225)
A UAE fan celebrates after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter final match between Australia and UAE in Al Ain. EPA
UAE seek another heroic performance as history beckons for Asian Cup hosts
National team put on a warrior-like display in the quarter-finals to eliminate defending champions Australia - now another is needed to reach the final on home soil
![John McAuley](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F42fdb821-a1ba-456f-980a-444e78c14d20.png?smart=true&auth=e06a33d0c3a9b91f69d2f6f0423c3e38ec6692b751de87539e969acaa5c3893f&width=70&height=70)
John McAuley
29 January, 2019
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic