The Sydney Opera House will host the draw for the biggest football tournament ever staged in Australia, the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015, on March 26, 2014.
The draw, the key moment in the build-up to Asia’s biggest single-sport event, will be televised live throughout Asia.
It will attract around 300 VIPs and officials from the Asian Football Confederation and the 16 competing teams.
“March 26, 2014 is a date all fans of Asian football should mark in their diaries as it is the day that groups and matches for the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 will be revealed,” said AFC General Secretary Dato’ Alex Soosay.
“It will be an occasion not only befitting of the stature of the AFC Asian Cup but one that exemplifies Australia’s hospitality and pride in putting on world class sporting events.”
“The Sydney Opera House is an iconic location and the Asian Cup is an iconic sporting event,” said Michael Brown, CEO of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 Local Organizing Committee.
“It’s the perfect fit – a prestigious venue for Asia’s most prestigious tournament.
“It’s in keeping with our goal to deliver a world class event in January 2015, and it’s fitting that the draw will take place in the great city that will host the final.”
Brown said the tournament draw would add flesh to the organizational bones of Australia’s biggest football tournament, and excitement was building among fans.
“On March 26, we will know exactly which teams are playing who, and where and when they will be playing,” he said.
“Fans will finally know which matches they can see in our five host cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle.”
Twelve nations have already qualified for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 – Australia as hosts, defending champions Japan, Korea Republic and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea, along with recent qualifiers Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.
A further four spots are at stake, one in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup and a further three via the qualifiers which will culminate at the start of next year prior to the draw.
The final 16 teams will take part in a 23-day festival of football which the Socceroos will kick off on January 9, 2015, in Melbourne, with the final set for Sydney’s Stadium Australia on January 31, 2015.
AFC Asian Cup draw set for March 26 at Sydney Opera House
AFC Asian Cup draw set for March 26 at Sydney Opera House
Southampton’s stunning fightback leaves Leicester in turmoil
LONDON: Southampton made an incredible late comeback from three goals down to beat crisis club Leicester 4-3 in the Championship on Tuesday.
Leicester interim manager Andy King looked set for his first victory since taking charge after first-half goals from Divine Mukasa, Patson Daka and Abdul Fatawu at the King Power Stadium.
But Southampton substitute Ross Stewart reduced the deficit in the 61st minute to spark the astonishing revival.
Leicester’s brittle confidence was exposed as Jack Stephens netted in the 82nd minute and Ryan Manning equalized five minutes later.
Shea Charles struck six minutes into stoppage time to snatch the points for Southampton in dramatic fashion, leaving King’s shell-shocked side without a win in six games.
Seven years after thrashing Southampton 9-0 at St. Mary’s, Leicester hit a devastating low of their own against the Saints.
Still searching for a permanent manager following Marti Cifuentes’ sacking, Leicester are outside the relegation zone only on goal difference.
The Foxes were recently deducted six points by the Football League for breaches of financial regulations.
Birmingham missed the chance to move into the play-off places after they were held to a 0-0 draw by West Bromwich Albion at St. Andrew’s.
New West Brom boss Eric Ramsay remains winless but claimed a second successive draw to help his side move two points above the relegation zone.
Mohamed Toure hit a hat-trick as Norwich made it five wins from their last six matches with a 3-0 victory at second-bottom Oxford.
