India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday.&nbsp;

Khalfan Mubarak (41') Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88') scored for the home team, entering the game in some desperation after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain in the tournament opener.&nbsp;

UAE moved top of the table in Group A with four points from two matches while second-placed India still remained in the hunt for a knockout berth with three points from two outings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India had drubbed Thailand 4-1 in their opening encounter Sunday but the Thais got their campaign back on a track with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the evening fixture.&nbsp;

India made a positive start in both the halves and created many chances, but paid dearly for lacking the finishing touch.&nbsp;

The Blue Tigers missed three big chances in the first half and while they created opportunities after the break too, India were denied on two occasions by the framework.&nbsp;

On expected lines, the United Arab Emirates enjoyed possession initially but, to the surprise of many, India had more shots at goal and dominated proceedings by keeping the opposition defence busy.&nbsp;

Sandesh Jhingan's free header off a corner by Anirudh Thapa, which was won by Pritam Kotal, went off target. India could have been 1-0 up as early as the seventh minute at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.&nbsp;

Then, unmarked at the far post, Sunil Chhetri's header after Thapa squared it for the second highest active goal-scorer in international football, was brilliantly saved by UAE custodian Khalid Eisa.&nbsp;

If those misses in the eighth and 23rd minute gave India the belief that they will be able to fight their fancied opponents, in coach Stephen Constantine's words, toe-to-toe, they also may have made the Blue Tigers a bit restless.&nbsp;

And UAE, positioned 18 places above the 97th ranked India in the FIFA chart, used that to their advantage when Mubarak charged forward and latched on to a ball by Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, who ran in from the right.&nbsp;

It was not that the Indian defence was in disarray but they would have done well to clear the ball at first instance. Thapa, the team's youngest member at 20, could not get there in time while Anas Edathodika and Jhingan also could not come in the way of Mubarak, who scored his first international goal.&nbsp;

Entering the game after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain, UAE required full points full points, and the relief was palpable in their camp when Mubarak broke the deadlock.&nbsp;

The joy would have been short-lived for the home team had the talismanic Chhetri's attempt not missed the target by a whisker in the 43rd minute, this after the Indian captain had the UAE defenders in splits and managed to cut one through one of the gaps with Eisa noweher in the picture.&nbsp;

Down by a goal at the break, India were not to be disheartened and made their intentions clear in the second half.&nbsp;

Constantine brought in Jeje Lalpekhlua in place of Halicharan Narzary and the Mizo forward, who scored two minutes after coming off the bench in the 4-1 mauling of Thailand, nearly did an encore in the 53rd minute. Jeje's volley went inches off the post.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three minutes later, India again experienced the so-near-yet-so-far moment when Udanta Singh's shot ricochets off the bar.&nbsp;

UAE got their act together and troubled the Indians occasionally and they also had one of their attempts blocked by the bar.

India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday.

India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday. Khalfan Mubarak (41') Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88') scored for the home team, entering the game in some desperation after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain in the tournament opener. UAE moved top of the table in Group A with four points from two matches while second-placed India still remained in the hunt for a knockout berth with three points from two outings. India had drubbed Thailand 4-1 in their opening encounter Sunday but the Thais got their campaign back on a track with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the evening fixture. India made a positive start in both the halves and created many chances, but paid dearly for lacking the finishing touch. The Blue Tigers missed three big chances in the first half and while they created opportunities after the break too, India were denied on two occasions by the framework. On expected lines, the United Arab Emirates enjoyed possession initially but, to the surprise of many, India had more shots at goal and dominated proceedings by keeping the opposition defence busy. Sandesh Jhingan's free header off a corner by Anirudh Thapa, which was won by Pritam Kotal, went off target. India could have been 1-0 up as early as the seventh minute at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. Then, unmarked at the far post, Sunil Chhetri's header after Thapa squared it for the second highest active goal-scorer in international football, was brilliantly saved by UAE custodian Khalid Eisa. If those misses in the eighth and 23rd minute gave India the belief that they will be able to fight their fancied opponents, in coach Stephen Constantine's words, toe-to-toe, they also may have made the Blue Tigers a bit restless. And UAE, positioned 18 places above the 97th ranked India in the FIFA chart, used that to their advantage when Mubarak charged forward and latched on to a ball by Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, who ran in from the right. It was not that the Indian defence was in disarray but they would have done well to clear the ball at first instance. Thapa, the team's youngest member at 20, could not get there in time while Anas Edathodika and Jhingan also could not come in the way of Mubarak, who scored his first international goal. Entering the game after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain, UAE required full points full points, and the relief was palpable in their camp when Mubarak broke the deadlock. The joy would have been short-lived for the home team had the talismanic Chhetri's attempt not missed the target by a whisker in the 43rd minute, this after the Indian captain had the UAE defenders in splits and managed to cut one through one of the gaps with Eisa noweher in the picture. Down by a goal at the break, India were not to be disheartened and made their intentions clear in the second half. Constantine brought in Jeje Lalpekhlua in place of Halicharan Narzary and the Mizo forward, who scored two minutes after coming off the bench in the 4-1 mauling of Thailand, nearly did an encore in the 53rd minute. Jeje's volley went inches off the post. Three minutes later, India again experienced the so-near-yet-so-far moment when Udanta Singh's shot ricochets off the bar. UAE got their act together and troubled the Indians occasionally and they also had one of their attempts blocked by the bar.

Asian Cup 2019: UAE defeat India 2-0

By Krishnan Iyer

India's football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh&nbsp;Sandhu will lead the team in the next Pool A clash against the United Arab Emirates, to be held on January 10 (Thursday) in the ongoing Asian Cup 2019.&nbsp;

In an exclusive conversation with WION, Gurpreet talked about India's participation in the tournament and preparations for the games ahead. &nbsp;

In the campaign opener, India stunned Thailand 4-1 with veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring a brace. Chhetri drew the first blood after he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes.&nbsp;

Speaking about Chhetri's presence in the&nbsp;team, Gurpreet said his game against Thailand "rubbed off on everyone else", especially the forwards. Chhetri plays the "role of a guide and mentor to the younger strikers".&nbsp;

"Scoring two goals in an Asian Cup match is the stuff of dreams for any player anywhere in Asia. I credit Sunil for leading us out there and giving us the crucial three points," Gurpreet stressed.&nbsp;

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The interview further went on as:&nbsp;

WION: Has getting three points and doing so this emphatically created more belief that you can progress from this group.&nbsp;

Gurpreet Singh: It was a very important game for us. We have come to the Asian Cup to win and not just participate. We are taking it one game at a time. The Thailand challenge was huge, they are a very good side and credit goes to the boys who got stuck in and gave everything. Three points in the bag and looking ahead now to a bigger challenge when we face the UAE on Thursday.&nbsp;

WION: We know that this is a very young Indian squad that is in the UAE, the third youngest in the tournament in terms of age. What impact have the youngsters made on the team dynamic?&nbsp;

Gurpreet Singh: The young players hold a very important aspect of the game and the plan in the team. The quality they have shown, not just with the national team but also in the league is good. They are hungry and will give us a huge service in the coming years hopefully. We need to ensure we enjoy every single time we step on to the pitch as a team.&nbsp;

WION: let's look ahead to your next match now - big challenge against the highest ranked team in your group - the UAE - India has not beaten them in the last five meetings. Is there confidence now that you could spring another surprise? How has the team prepared for this match?

Gurpreet Singh: It is a huge challenge for us but we need to make sure that we are a difficult team to play against. It has been our principle always and we know that the UAE are a quality team. We have to play to our strengths. Yes, we got a good result in our first game but we need to forget it and start afresh. The aim is simple, go into the UAE games, give our best and aim to get a result there.&nbsp;

WION: You face Bahrain in your final group game - so I'd like to get a quick word on them as well - India are ranked higher than them, but they are dangerous opposition especially in a tournament in the middle east, what lessons have you learned from their draw against the UAE?&nbsp;

Gurpreet Singh: Bahrain are a very strong team and they like to defend in numbers and play on the counterattacks. They are not a team we will take lightly. Right now rankings do not matter once the tournament is underway. All teams are equal now and a good example was Jordan beating Australia in a Pool B match. We have to see every team as equal opponents from now on and make sure we perform the way we perform every single game.&nbsp;

(Krishnan Iyer is a Sports Correspondent with WION)&nbsp;

By Krishnan Iyer India's football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will lead the team in the next Pool A clash against the United Arab Emirates, to be held on January 10 (Thursday) in the ongoing Asian Cup 2019.

By Krishnan Iyer India's football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will lead the team in the next Pool A clash against the United Arab Emirates, to be held on January 10 (Thursday) in the ongoing Asian Cup 2019. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Gurpreet talked about India's participation in the tournament and preparations for the games ahead. In the campaign opener, India stunned Thailand 4-1 with veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring a brace. Chhetri drew the first blood after he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes. Speaking about Chhetri's presence in the team, Gurpreet said his game against Thailand "rubbed off on everyone else", especially the forwards. Chhetri plays the "role of a guide and mentor to the younger strikers". "Scoring two goals in an Asian Cup match is the stuff of dreams for any player anywhere in Asia. I credit Sunil for leading us out there and giving us the crucial three points," Gurpreet stressed. × The interview further went on as: WION: Has getting three points and doing so this emphatically created more belief that you can progress from this group. Gurpreet Singh: It was a very important game for us. We have come to the Asian Cup to win and not just participate. We are taking it one game at a time. The Thailand challenge was huge, they are a very good side and credit goes to the boys who got stuck in and gave everything. Three points in the bag and looking ahead now to a bigger challenge when we face the UAE on Thursday. WION: We know that this is a very young Indian squad that is in the UAE, the third youngest in the tournament in terms of age. What impact have the youngsters made on the team dynamic? Gurpreet Singh: The young players hold a very important aspect of the game and the plan in the team. The quality they have shown, not just with the national team but also in the league is good. They are hungry and will give us a huge service in the coming years hopefully. We need to ensure we enjoy every single time we step on to the pitch as a team. WION: let's look ahead to your next match now - big challenge against the highest ranked team in your group - the UAE - India has not beaten them in the last five meetings. Is there confidence now that you could spring another surprise? How has the team prepared for this match? Gurpreet Singh: It is a huge challenge for us but we need to make sure that we are a difficult team to play against. It has been our principle always and we know that the UAE are a quality team. We have to play to our strengths. Yes, we got a good result in our first game but we need to forget it and start afresh. The aim is simple, go into the UAE games, give our best and aim to get a result there. WION: You face Bahrain in your final group game - so I'd like to get a quick word on them as well - India are ranked higher than them, but they are dangerous opposition especially in a tournament in the middle east, what lessons have you learned from their draw against the UAE? Gurpreet Singh: Bahrain are a very strong team and they like to defend in numbers and play on the counterattacks. They are not a team we will take lightly. Right now rankings do not matter once the tournament is underway. All teams are equal now and a good example was Jordan beating Australia in a Pool B match. We have to see every team as equal opponents from now on and make sure we perform the way we perform every single game. (Krishnan Iyer is a Sports Correspondent with WION)

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu reflects on India's historic win against Thailand in campaign opener

India registered their first victory in the Asian Cup&nbsp;since 1964 on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium&nbsp;in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

India's star player Sunil Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, scored twice as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-sunil-chhetri-strikes-twice-as-india-defeat-thailand-4-1-188580">India defeated Thailand 4-1</a>.

Midfielder Anirudha Thapa and second-half substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua were the other scorers.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">All you need to know about </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">Asian</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242"> Cup 2019</a>

Besides winning the match, Chhetri went past Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has so far scored 65 goals from 128 matches.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scorer with 85 from 154 matches.&nbsp;

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🆕 Biggest ever Asian Cup win for the Indians! 
 
What an achievement to KO the Blue Tigers’ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsianCup2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianCup2019</a> campaign! 🐯 <a href="https://t.co/fsXo4QB586">pic.twitter.com/fsXo4QB586</a>
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The 34-year-old Chhetri, who was playing his 105th match, also become the highest Indian scorer in the Asian Cup, surpassing former player Inder Singh.&nbsp;

Inder Singh scored twice in the 1964 edition when the country had finished runners-up. &nbsp;

This is India's fourth participation in the Asian Cup and the win against Thailand was Blue Tigers' third win in 11 matches.&nbsp;

The country won two matches and lost one in the 1964 edition in Israel, competed by just four countries, then lost three and drawn one in 1984 and were beaten in all their three group matches in 2011.&nbsp;

A draw in either of the two coming matches against UAE and Bahrain could see India through to the knockout round.&nbsp;

The match was watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks.&nbsp;

India registered their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964 on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. India's star player Sunil Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, scored twice as India defeated Thailand 4-1.

India registered their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964 on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. India's star player Sunil Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, scored twice as India defeated Thailand 4-1. Midfielder Anirudha Thapa and second-half substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua were the other scorers. Also Read: All you need to know about Asian Cup 2019 Besides winning the match, Chhetri went past Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has so far scored 65 goals from 128 matches. Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scorer with 85 from 154 matches. 🆕 Biggest ever Asian Cup win for the Indians! What an achievement to KO the Blue Tigers’ #AsianCup2019 campaign! 🐯 pic.twitter.com/fsXo4QB586 — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2019 × The 34-year-old Chhetri, who was playing his 105th match, also become the highest Indian scorer in the Asian Cup, surpassing former player Inder Singh. Inder Singh scored twice in the 1964 edition when the country had finished runners-up. This is India's fourth participation in the Asian Cup and the win against Thailand was Blue Tigers' third win in 11 matches. The country won two matches and lost one in the 1964 edition in Israel, competed by just four countries, then lost three and drawn one in 1984 and were beaten in all their three group matches in 2011. A draw in either of the two coming matches against UAE and Bahrain could see India through to the knockout round. The match was watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks.

Asian Cup 2019: India's win over Thailand is their first victory in 55 years

India cruised past Thailand 4-1 in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup to register their first victory in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-india-register-first-win-in-55-years-188584">Asian Cup since 1964</a>.&nbsp;

Sunil Chhetri and co. celebrated the win with the fans at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans and doing the famous Viking clap.

The video was posted via Twitter with a caption, "Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans."

India captain Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, made no mistake from the penalty spot after Theerathon Bunmathan's handball in the 26th minute.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">All you need to know about&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">Asian</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">&nbsp;Cup 2019</a>

Chhetri found the net again in the 46th minute, Anirudh Thapa added a third on 68 minutes and substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua rounded off a perfect start to the tournament for India 10 minutes from time.

The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans.

Watch the video here:&nbsp;

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Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans 👏🇮🇳! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsianCup2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianCup2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/JFbAxuHKTS">pic.twitter.com/JFbAxuHKTS</a>
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Chhetri went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964.&nbsp;

He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers.&nbsp;

"Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks.

India cruised past Thailand 4-1 in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup to register their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964. Sunil Chhetri and co. celebrated the win with the fans at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

India cruised past Thailand 4-1 in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup to register their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964. Sunil Chhetri and co. celebrated the win with the fans at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans and doing the famous Viking clap. The video was posted via Twitter with a caption, "Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans." India captain Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, made no mistake from the penalty spot after Theerathon Bunmathan's handball in the 26th minute. Also Read: All you need to know about Asian Cup 2019 Chhetri found the net again in the 46th minute, Anirudh Thapa added a third on 68 minutes and substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua rounded off a perfect start to the tournament for India 10 minutes from time. The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans. Watch the video here: Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans 👏🇮🇳! #AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/JFbAxuHKTS — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2019 × Chhetri went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964. He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers. "Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks.

Watch: Sunil Chhetri-led team celebrates with fan after historic Asian Cup win

Cricket-mad India stunned Thailand 4-1 at the Asian Cup football tournament on Sunday, veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring twice in their Group A opener.

Watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks, the War Elephants had little answer to India's brimming energy in Abu Dhabi.

Chhetri opened the scoring when he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes.

The Blue Tigers were in front for just seven minutes, Thai captain Teerasil Dangda restoring parity by bravely heading home a Theerathon Bunmathan free kick.

But Chhetri drilled his second of the game moments into the second half following a lung-bursting run down the right from Udanta Singh.

Things got worse for Thailand when Anirudh Thapa chipped in a third in the 68th minute before substitute Lalpekhlua Jeje completed the rout to leave India as unlikely group leaders.

Hosts United Arab Emirates were held 1-1 by Bahrain in Saturday's curtain-raiser.

Cricket-mad India stunned Thailand 4-1 at the Asian Cup football tournament on Sunday, veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring twice in their Group A opener. Watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks, the War Elephants had little answer to India's brimming energy in Abu Dhabi.

Cricket-mad India stunned Thailand 4-1 at the Asian Cup football tournament on Sunday, veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring twice in their Group A opener. Watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks, the War Elephants had little answer to India's brimming energy in Abu Dhabi. Chhetri opened the scoring when he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes. The Blue Tigers were in front for just seven minutes, Thai captain Teerasil Dangda restoring parity by bravely heading home a Theerathon Bunmathan free kick. But Chhetri drilled his second of the game moments into the second half following a lung-bursting run down the right from Udanta Singh. Things got worse for Thailand when Anirudh Thapa chipped in a third in the 68th minute before substitute Lalpekhlua Jeje completed the rout to leave India as unlikely group leaders. Hosts United Arab Emirates were held 1-1 by Bahrain in Saturday's curtain-raiser.

Asian Cup 2019: Sunil Chhetri strikes twice as India beat Thailand 4-1

Australia's Asian Cup title defence suffered a huge blow on Sunday when they were stunned 1-0 by&nbsp;Jordan&nbsp;in their worst ever start to the competition.

Graham Arnold's youthful side had confidently predicted victory in their Group B opener but they were undone by Anas Bani-Yaseen's powerful first-half header.

Australia, who had 76 percent of possession but only six shots on target, were thwarted by a brilliant double save from&nbsp;Jordan's Amir Shafi in the game's dying moments.

It left the injury-hit Aussies with much to ponder ahead of Friday's game against Palestine, when they will need a win to get their campaign up and running.

Arnold, who led Australia to the 2007 quarter-finals in his first stint as Socceroos boss, called the goal "sloppy" and rued a slow start at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium.

"It was one of those days, a frustrating day when the ball just didn't seem to bounce," he said, adding: "If you're going to lose a game, it's better to lose your first game.&nbsp;

"It's a wake-up call... it's all about where we can improve. We'll get over it very quickly."

Jordan&nbsp;coach Vital Borkelmans, who said he targeted Australia's midfielders Massimo Luongo and Mark Milligan, and exploited the space left by their advancing backs, hailed his hard-running team.

"I told them today, 'God gave you something', and today they were playing for the people of&nbsp;Jordan," said Borkelmans.&nbsp;

"They were running like they had three lungs," he added.

Finger-tip save

Australia bossed the opening exchanges but their Brighton 'keeper Mat Ryan made the first save&nbsp;when he kept out Yousef Rawashdeh at his near post after Luongo was dispossessed.

Shortly afterwards, Australia's former South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil, in his first competitive international, saw a close-range shot blocked by Shafi.

The youthful Socceroos had plenty of possession in the opposition half but rarely threatened, while&nbsp;Jordan&nbsp;were intent on breaking Australia's flow and seeking chances on the break.

Their goal came from a corner on 26 minutes, when defender Bani-Yaseen escaped Luongo's marking and put a thumping header into the top corner, prompting jubilation in the strongly pro-Jordan&nbsp;crowd of just under 5,000.

Suddenly Australia were rocking and three minutes later, they were grateful for Ryan's finger-tip save as he pushed Baha Abdelrahman's free kick onto the bar.

In the second half, Arnold brought on Rhyan Grant and then Chris Ikonomidis to find a way through&nbsp;Jordan's defence.

Celtic forward Tom Rogic's stinging shot was kept out by Shafi, before Ikonomidis's attempt at a follow-up was smothered by the defence.

Rogic passed up an opportunity for the equaliser on 72 minutes, when he was free in the box but scooped his shot well over from Aziz Behich's cross.

Six minutes later, the lively Mabil smashed one off the upright with Shafi beaten, before Ikonomidis's header was scrambled off the line.

Jamie Maclaren had a goal chalked off for offside and with the last action of the game, Shafi denied both Ikonomidis and Jackson Irvine, capping Australia's misery and triggering joyful celebrations among the Jordanians.

Australia's Asian Cup title defence suffered a huge blow on Sunday when they were stunned 1-0 by Jordan in their worst ever start to the competition. Graham Arnold's youthful side had confidently predicted victory in their Group B opener but they were undone by Anas Bani-Yaseen's powerful first-half header.

Australia's Asian Cup title defence suffered a huge blow on Sunday when they were stunned 1-0 by Jordan in their worst ever start to the competition. Graham Arnold's youthful side had confidently predicted victory in their Group B opener but they were undone by Anas Bani-Yaseen's powerful first-half header. Australia, who had 76 percent of possession but only six shots on target, were thwarted by a brilliant double save from Jordan's Amir Shafi in the game's dying moments. It left the injury-hit Aussies with much to ponder ahead of Friday's game against Palestine, when they will need a win to get their campaign up and running. Arnold, who led Australia to the 2007 quarter-finals in his first stint as Socceroos boss, called the goal "sloppy" and rued a slow start at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium. "It was one of those days, a frustrating day when the ball just didn't seem to bounce," he said, adding: "If you're going to lose a game, it's better to lose your first game. "It's a wake-up call... it's all about where we can improve. We'll get over it very quickly." Jordan coach Vital Borkelmans, who said he targeted Australia's midfielders Massimo Luongo and Mark Milligan, and exploited the space left by their advancing backs, hailed his hard-running team. "I told them today, 'God gave you something', and today they were playing for the people of Jordan," said Borkelmans. "They were running like they had three lungs," he added. Finger-tip save Australia bossed the opening exchanges but their Brighton 'keeper Mat Ryan made the first save when he kept out Yousef Rawashdeh at his near post after Luongo was dispossessed. Shortly afterwards, Australia's former South Sudanese refugee Awer Mabil, in his first competitive international, saw a close-range shot blocked by Shafi. The youthful Socceroos had plenty of possession in the opposition half but rarely threatened, while Jordan were intent on breaking Australia's flow and seeking chances on the break. Their goal came from a corner on 26 minutes, when defender Bani-Yaseen escaped Luongo's marking and put a thumping header into the top corner, prompting jubilation in the strongly pro-Jordan crowd of just under 5,000. Suddenly Australia were rocking and three minutes later, they were grateful for Ryan's finger-tip save as he pushed Baha Abdelrahman's free kick onto the bar. In the second half, Arnold brought on Rhyan Grant and then Chris Ikonomidis to find a way through Jordan's defence. Celtic forward Tom Rogic's stinging shot was kept out by Shafi, before Ikonomidis's attempt at a follow-up was smothered by the defence. Rogic passed up an opportunity for the equaliser on 72 minutes, when he was free in the box but scooped his shot well over from Aziz Behich's cross. Six minutes later, the lively Mabil smashed one off the upright with Shafi beaten, before Ikonomidis's header was scrambled off the line. Jamie Maclaren had a goal chalked off for offside and with the last action of the game, Shafi denied both Ikonomidis and Jackson Irvine, capping Australia's misery and triggering joyful celebrations among the Jordanians.

Asian Cup 2019: Holders Australia fall to shock Jordan loss

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup, the 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, will be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1, 2019. The 16-team format, which was used from 2004 to 2015, has been expanded and now, for the first time, the Asian Cup tournament will be contested by 24 teams.

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Schedule, Time and Venue

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup.&nbsp;

The Asian Football Confederation's continental showpiece, which has seen an increase in the number of finalists from 16 to 24, kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in a Group A fixture at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.

India, placed in the same group as the host nation, will begin their campaign with a game against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, the home ground of Al Wahda club, on Sunday.

The Blue Tigers last participated in the tournament eight years ago, which ended with a forgettable group stage exit following heavy defeats at the hands regional powerhouses Australia, South Korea and Bahrain.

The 17th edition of the quadrennial event will be India's fourth-ever appearance. While they brought to an end a 24-year wait by making the 2011 edition, India missed qualification to the 2015 tournament, which was won by hosts Australia.

Though not as dominant as the Koreans or the Australians, India will still have their task cut out against well-oiled teams such as Bahrain, Thailand and UAE.

While speculation can be a futile exercise, an unbeaten run of 13 matches, during which the country qualified for the tournament and achieved its second best ranking in the FIFA chart, gives chief coach Stephen Constantine reasons to be optimistic.

India are currently ranked 97th, a far cry from the day a few years ago when they slipped to their worst-ever 173rd position.

India also endured the humiliation of losing to Guam, a tiny Pacific island with a population of 1.5 lakh, in a World Cup Qualifier.

The revival began after that as India, under Constantine and the talismanic Sunil Chhetri's prolific form in front of the goal learned to win matches.

India were the first among 23 visiting teams to arrive in the UAE capital on December 20. A 28-member squad had been practicing in an effort to acclimatise themselves to the conditions.

The Asian Cup will be a different ball game, and the team is aware of that.

"We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," Constantine said ahead of the tournament.

Bidding to defend the title won on home soil in 2015, Australia come into the tournament as one of the contenders after head coach Graham Arnold put his players through the grind.

They will be entering a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak.

Neighbours South Korea and Japan will resume their rivalry with both teams having their eyes trained at the trophy. Led by free-scoring Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, favourites South Korea will fancy their chances of ending more than 50 years of wait.

Japan, having given the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Belgium a run for their money in a Round of 16 games in Russia, have the team to go all the way in the UAE.

Iraq, who won the tournament in 2007 and finished among the last four years ago, will be another to watch out for.

Apart from their impressive results in recent times, including against Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman, raising India's hopes is the provision of the four best third-placed teams also making it to the next round.

Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup triumph in 2006, has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the tournament.&nbsp;

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup.

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation's continental showpiece, which has seen an increase in the number of finalists from 16 to 24, kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in a Group A fixture at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. India, placed in the same group as the host nation, will begin their campaign with a game against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, the home ground of Al Wahda club, on Sunday. The Blue Tigers last participated in the tournament eight years ago, which ended with a forgettable group stage exit following heavy defeats at the hands regional powerhouses Australia, South Korea and Bahrain. The 17th edition of the quadrennial event will be India's fourth-ever appearance. While they brought to an end a 24-year wait by making the 2011 edition, India missed qualification to the 2015 tournament, which was won by hosts Australia. Though not as dominant as the Koreans or the Australians, India will still have their task cut out against well-oiled teams such as Bahrain, Thailand and UAE. While speculation can be a futile exercise, an unbeaten run of 13 matches, during which the country qualified for the tournament and achieved its second best ranking in the FIFA chart, gives chief coach Stephen Constantine reasons to be optimistic. India are currently ranked 97th, a far cry from the day a few years ago when they slipped to their worst-ever 173rd position. India also endured the humiliation of losing to Guam, a tiny Pacific island with a population of 1.5 lakh, in a World Cup Qualifier. The revival began after that as India, under Constantine and the talismanic Sunil Chhetri's prolific form in front of the goal learned to win matches. India were the first among 23 visiting teams to arrive in the UAE capital on December 20. A 28-member squad had been practicing in an effort to acclimatise themselves to the conditions. The Asian Cup will be a different ball game, and the team is aware of that. "We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," Constantine said ahead of the tournament. Bidding to defend the title won on home soil in 2015, Australia come into the tournament as one of the contenders after head coach Graham Arnold put his players through the grind. They will be entering a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak. Neighbours South Korea and Japan will resume their rivalry with both teams having their eyes trained at the trophy. Led by free-scoring Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, favourites South Korea will fancy their chances of ending more than 50 years of wait. Japan, having given the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Belgium a run for their money in a Round of 16 games in Russia, have the team to go all the way in the UAE. Iraq, who won the tournament in 2007 and finished among the last four years ago, will be another to watch out for. Apart from their impressive results in recent times, including against Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman, raising India's hopes is the provision of the four best third-placed teams also making it to the next round. Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup triumph in 2006, has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the tournament.

Asian Cup 2019: Tournament starts today, India begin campaign on Day 2

The Palestinian football team are taking part in their second-ever&nbsp;AsianCup&nbsp;in the coming days, and team members born in various parts of the world are hoping to spring a few surprises.

The team qualified four years ago for the first time but crashed out in ignominious fashion, losing all three games to an aggregate score of 11-1.

This year, with the help of several players from the Palestinian diaspora, they hope to do better.

Around five million Palestinians live in the blockaded Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, but&nbsp;around another six million are estimated to live elsewhere.

Chilean defender Alexis Norambuena said the players speak in a mix of languages to understand each other.

"Football is a way to give some joy to the people and for us to represent them in this&nbsp;cup&nbsp;that is quite important for the country," he said.

"We aim to represent them and give them enough joy so the people can be entertained a bit."

The tournament begins in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

Back home in the West Bank, football lovers are also willing their players on to new heights.

At a recent second division league game, player Sameh Sheikha told AFP that the team's participation "represents a country at a time when we are still living under occupation."

"We hope the team achieves good results this time, because the team has become stronger than before," he said.

There are perhaps cautious reasons for optimism.&nbsp;

Despite being made up of mostly amateurs, the team beat Bhutan 10-0 on aggregate to qualify for the tournament.&nbsp;

This and other good results saw them rise to a record high 75th in the FIFA world rankings, though they have since slipped back to 99th.

'Surprise them'

Palestinians say that Israeli restrictions on players' movements limit potential, whether that means checkpoints in the West Bank or the blockade on Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

Sport is also an area where Palestinians seek to advance their cause.

Their football federation has been a member of FIFA since 1998 and plays in the&nbsp;Asian&nbsp;Football Confederation.

The Palestinians were also granted the status of UN non-member observer state in 2012.

This year's&nbsp;Asian&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;side has a little more of an international feel.

They are led by an Algerian coach and among those donning the red jersey in the Emirates is Yashir Pinto, a Chilean who qualifies for the team due to his Palestinian ancestors.

Another Chilean with Palestinian roots on the team, Jonathan Zorrilla Cantillana, said "I think we are preparing in a very good way and we will try to create a surprise, to surprise them with the training we got here, and I think we will arrive well prepared at the&nbsp;cup."

The bookkeepers still see Palestine as very much outside shots.

While regional giants Japan, South Korea and Iran are again among the favourites, Palestine have odds as high as 2,000 to one.

Their group is also a little daunting, with a game against Jordan followed by matches against group favourites Australia and Syria.

Yet while few expect them to have any chance of coming home with the&nbsp;cup, in the Palestinian territories there is optimism.

"The national team is a source of pride, and it is competing at the&nbsp;Asianlevel. This confirms the progress of the level of our sport," said Mohamed Sulaiman, a football coach in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"Our team is strong and we hope we can achieve something."

In Qatar, Norambuena said "it's very nice to have these days to get to know each other more and we hope this will help us do good in this&nbsp;cup."

The Palestinian football team are taking part in their second-ever AsianCup in the coming days, and team members born in various parts of the world are hoping to spring a few surprises.

The Palestinian football team are taking part in their second-ever AsianCup in the coming days, and team members born in various parts of the world are hoping to spring a few surprises. The team qualified four years ago for the first time but crashed out in ignominious fashion, losing all three games to an aggregate score of 11-1. This year, with the help of several players from the Palestinian diaspora, they hope to do better. Around five million Palestinians live in the blockaded Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, but around another six million are estimated to live elsewhere. Chilean defender Alexis Norambuena said the players speak in a mix of languages to understand each other. "Football is a way to give some joy to the people and for us to represent them in this cup that is quite important for the country," he said. "We aim to represent them and give them enough joy so the people can be entertained a bit." The tournament begins in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Back home in the West Bank, football lovers are also willing their players on to new heights. At a recent second division league game, player Sameh Sheikha told AFP that the team's participation "represents a country at a time when we are still living under occupation." "We hope the team achieves good results this time, because the team has become stronger than before," he said. There are perhaps cautious reasons for optimism. Despite being made up of mostly amateurs, the team beat Bhutan 10-0 on aggregate to qualify for the tournament. This and other good results saw them rise to a record high 75th in the FIFA world rankings, though they have since slipped back to 99th. 'Surprise them' Palestinians say that Israeli restrictions on players' movements limit potential, whether that means checkpoints in the West Bank or the blockade on Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. Sport is also an area where Palestinians seek to advance their cause. Their football federation has been a member of FIFA since 1998 and plays in the Asian Football Confederation. The Palestinians were also granted the status of UN non-member observer state in 2012. This year's Asian Cup side has a little more of an international feel. They are led by an Algerian coach and among those donning the red jersey in the Emirates is Yashir Pinto, a Chilean who qualifies for the team due to his Palestinian ancestors. Another Chilean with Palestinian roots on the team, Jonathan Zorrilla Cantillana, said "I think we are preparing in a very good way and we will try to create a surprise, to surprise them with the training we got here, and I think we will arrive well prepared at the cup." The bookkeepers still see Palestine as very much outside shots. While regional giants Japan, South Korea and Iran are again among the favourites, Palestine have odds as high as 2,000 to one. Their group is also a little daunting, with a game against Jordan followed by matches against group favourites Australia and Syria. Yet while few expect them to have any chance of coming home with the cup, in the Palestinian territories there is optimism. "The national team is a source of pride, and it is competing at the Asianlevel. This confirms the progress of the level of our sport," said Mohamed Sulaiman, a football coach in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Our team is strong and we hope we can achieve something." In Qatar, Norambuena said "it's very nice to have these days to get to know each other more and we hope this will help us do good in this cup."

With help from diaspora, Palestinians hope for Asian Cup surprise

India captain Sunil Chhetri backs the squad's young core to play out of their skins and test their Asian Cup opponents when they kick-start their campaign on Sunday.

Coach Stephen Constantine has selected a 23-man squad whose average age is below 25 as India look to improve on their last appearance in 2011 when they were knocked out in the group stage.

"Apart from me and Gurpreet (Singh), it's a first-time experience for all else," Chhetri told the All India Football Federation website. "Everyone is ready to grab this opportunity.

"I can assure you that it won't be an easy job for other teams to face us.

"We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven it in recent times. We are working as per the plan."

India face Thailand in their Group A opener in Abu Dhabi on Sunday before taking on hosts United Arab Emirates (Jan. 10) and Bahrain (Jan. 14).

"At the moment, our sole focus is on our opening fixture, the game against Thailand," Chhetri said. "We know that Thailand will be a very tough opponent and we are concentrating only on them.

"We are not looking (at) anything beyond that. There are matches against UAE and Bahrain lined up but we will think about them only when they come."

India captain Sunil Chhetri backs the squad's young core to play out of their skins and test their Asian Cup opponents when they kick-start their campaign on Sunday.

India captain Sunil Chhetri backs the squad's young core to play out of their skins and test their Asian Cup opponents when they kick-start their campaign on Sunday. Coach Stephen Constantine has selected a 23-man squad whose average age is below 25 as India look to improve on their last appearance in 2011 when they were knocked out in the group stage. "Apart from me and Gurpreet (Singh), it's a first-time experience for all else," Chhetri told the All India Football Federation website. "Everyone is ready to grab this opportunity. "I can assure you that it won't be an easy job for other teams to face us. "We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven it in recent times. We are working as per the plan." India face Thailand in their Group A opener in Abu Dhabi on Sunday before taking on hosts United Arab Emirates (Jan. 10) and Bahrain (Jan. 14). "At the moment, our sole focus is on our opening fixture, the game against Thailand," Chhetri said. "We know that Thailand will be a very tough opponent and we are concentrating only on them. "We are not looking (at) anything beyond that. There are matches against UAE and Bahrain lined up but we will think about them only when they come."

Asian Cup 2019: Youthful India will prove handful in Asian Cup, says Sunil Chhetri

India must have regular competition against the continent`s top sides if they are to have any hope of taking their game to another level, captain Sunil Chhetri has said ahead of next month's Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Since their last appearance at the finals in Qatar in 2011, India have played twice against a top-six Asian side when they were grouped with Iran for the Russia World Cup qualifiers.

Chhetri, who will lead India in just their fourth appearance at the finals, said they had to be given the chance to stretch themselves more.&nbsp;

"It's very, very important for us to keep playing against the big giants – the UAEs, the Australias, the Korea Republics," Chhetri told FIFA.com.

"It`s one thing to do well against your neighbours, and without demeaning any one of them, it`s a different thing when you go out and play the giants of Asia."

Cricket-loving India has a population of 1.3 billion but it is a massive underachiever as far as football is concerned. The national side is 97th in the FIFA rankings and yet to make an appearance at the World Cup finals.

The Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision to increase the number of finalists at the Asian Cup to 24 teams from 16 has helped the country return to the tournament.

"I was really dejected when we missed out on the last edition," Chhetri said of the 2015 tournament in Australia.&nbsp;

"I think it's very, very important for a country like us to keep qualifying for this big tournament, because that tells you where you are and if you're doing well.

"It also gives you a chance to rub shoulders with the biggest teams in Asia. If you do well, other teams take notice of you."

India, managed by English coach Stephen Constantine, are in Group A alongside hosts United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Thailand for the Jan. 5-Feb. 1 tournament and Chhetri is under no illusions about the task facing them.

"Without putting ourselves down, when you're India and you qualify for the Asian Cup any team that you face are going to be difficult," said Chhetri, India's record scorer with 65 goals and their most experienced player with 103 caps.

"In UAE and Thailand we have two teams who are very, very technically gifted. I think even Bahrain are going to be very physical.

"I'm just looking at it as one game at a time. I don`t think we will be thinking about the mathematics of the group from the moment go."

India must have regular competition against the continent`s top sides if they are to have any hope of taking their game to another level, captain Sunil Chhetri has said ahead of next month's Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

India must have regular competition against the continent`s top sides if they are to have any hope of taking their game to another level, captain Sunil Chhetri has said ahead of next month's Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Since their last appearance at the finals in Qatar in 2011, India have played twice against a top-six Asian side when they were grouped with Iran for the Russia World Cup qualifiers. Chhetri, who will lead India in just their fourth appearance at the finals, said they had to be given the chance to stretch themselves more. "It's very, very important for us to keep playing against the big giants – the UAEs, the Australias, the Korea Republics," Chhetri told FIFA.com. "It`s one thing to do well against your neighbours, and without demeaning any one of them, it`s a different thing when you go out and play the giants of Asia." Cricket-loving India has a population of 1.3 billion but it is a massive underachiever as far as football is concerned. The national side is 97th in the FIFA rankings and yet to make an appearance at the World Cup finals. The Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) decision to increase the number of finalists at the Asian Cup to 24 teams from 16 has helped the country return to the tournament. "I was really dejected when we missed out on the last edition," Chhetri said of the 2015 tournament in Australia. "I think it's very, very important for a country like us to keep qualifying for this big tournament, because that tells you where you are and if you're doing well. "It also gives you a chance to rub shoulders with the biggest teams in Asia. If you do well, other teams take notice of you." India, managed by English coach Stephen Constantine, are in Group A alongside hosts United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Thailand for the Jan. 5-Feb. 1 tournament and Chhetri is under no illusions about the task facing them. "Without putting ourselves down, when you're India and you qualify for the Asian Cup any team that you face are going to be difficult," said Chhetri, India's record scorer with 65 goals and their most experienced player with 103 caps. "In UAE and Thailand we have two teams who are very, very technically gifted. I think even Bahrain are going to be very physical. "I'm just looking at it as one game at a time. I don`t think we will be thinking about the mathematics of the group from the moment go."

Playing top Asian sides key for India, says captain Sunil Chhetri

Australia forward Daniel Arzani has suffered a knee ligament injury and will miss the Socceroos' Asian Cup title defence in the United Arab Emirates in January.

The 19-year-old suffered the injury after falling awkwardly 20 minutes into his Celtic first team debut against Dundee last week.

Arzani, the youngest player at the World Cup in Russia, confirmed the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury via Instagram after meeting with a knee specialist in Europe earlier this week.

"I received (sic) the bad news today that I will indeed need an ACL Op ruling me out until next season. Apologies to the Celtic fans for my 20 minute cameo," Arzani wrote.

Australia forward Daniel Arzani has suffered a knee ligament injury and will miss the Socceroos' Asian Cup title defence in the United Arab Emirates in January. The 19-year-old suffered the injury after falling awkwardly 20 minutes into his Celtic first team debut against Dundee last week.

Australia forward Daniel Arzani has suffered a knee ligament injury and will miss the Socceroos' Asian Cup title defence in the United Arab Emirates in January. The 19-year-old suffered the injury after falling awkwardly 20 minutes into his Celtic first team debut against Dundee last week. Arzani, the youngest player at the World Cup in Russia, confirmed the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury via Instagram after meeting with a knee specialist in Europe earlier this week. "I received (sic) the bad news today that I will indeed need an ACL Op ruling me out until next season. Apologies to the Celtic fans for my 20 minute cameo," Arzani wrote.

Australia forward Arzani ruled out of Asian Cup with knee injury

&nbsp;Marcello&nbsp;Lippi&nbsp;will remain as China coach until at least the 2019 Asian Cup finals, the Chinese Football Association said on Thursday.

The Italian, who replaced Gao Hongbo last October, has kept China&#39;s slim hopes of qualifying for the next year&#39;s World Cup finals alive since taking over.

China take&nbsp;on Uzbekistan and Qatar in their final two qualifiers over the coming weeks, withLippi&#39;s team needing to win both and hope other results go their way to have any hope of progressing into the playoffs for a place in Russia.

&quot;We will strictly carry out our contract with&nbsp;Lippi, which expires after the 2019 Asian Cup,&quot; the CFA said in an article posted on their website on Thursday.

&quot;We won&#39;t interfere with his preparation and the line-up. In the meantime, we will support his group as always. We hope to support and trust each other.&quot;

By progressing to the final round of Asia&#39;s World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese have already secured their place at the quadrennial Asian Cup, which has been expanded to feature 24 teams for the first time in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.

China&#39;s best performance in the Asian Cup came on home soil in 2004, when they lost to Japan in the final. They reached the quarter-finals in the most recent edition, in Australia in 2015.

The team has shown some progress under&nbsp;Lippi, securing only their second win over South Korea in March, but their hopes of qualifying for a second World Cup finals were always remote after a poor start under Gao.

&quot;Since October 22 last year,&nbsp;Lippi&nbsp;and his coaching staff have helped China to get one win, two draws and one defeat in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup,&quot; said the CFA.

&quot;The team has changed a lot tactically and mentally. We hereby take this opportunity to thank them all.&quot;

"We will strictly carry out our contract with?Lippi, which expires after the 2019 Asian Cup," the CFA said in an article posted on their website on Thursday.

Marcello Lippi will remain as China coach until at least the 2019 Asian Cup finals, the Chinese Football Association said on Thursday. The Italian, who replaced Gao Hongbo last October, has kept China's slim hopes of qualifying for the next year's World Cup finals alive since taking over. China take on Uzbekistan and Qatar in their final two qualifiers over the coming weeks, withLippi's team needing to win both and hope other results go their way to have any hope of progressing into the playoffs for a place in Russia. "We will strictly carry out our contract with Lippi, which expires after the 2019 Asian Cup," the CFA said in an article posted on their website on Thursday. "We won't interfere with his preparation and the line-up. In the meantime, we will support his group as always. We hope to support and trust each other." By progressing to the final round of Asia's World Cup qualifiers, the Chinese have already secured their place at the quadrennial Asian Cup, which has been expanded to feature 24 teams for the first time in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. China's best performance in the Asian Cup came on home soil in 2004, when they lost to Japan in the final. They reached the quarter-finals in the most recent edition, in Australia in 2015. The team has shown some progress under Lippi, securing only their second win over South Korea in March, but their hopes of qualifying for a second World Cup finals were always remote after a poor start under Gao. "Since October 22 last year, Lippi and his coaching staff have helped China to get one win, two draws and one defeat in the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup," said the CFA. "The team has changed a lot tactically and mentally. We hereby take this opportunity to thank them all."

Marcello Lippi to remain China's coach until 2019 Asian Cup Finals

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