2015 Asian Cup

Some of the squad has been rotated, and it is a game they can let the subs run. Might mean Burns could get a start. Though if he stays benched he wont injure himself.

Wildeastfootball tweet a suspected China lineup from sina which doesn't include Hao Junmin, but seems to have a better defensive lineup.

4-2-3-1 as per usual, but Gao Lin returns as sole striker while Yu Hai is at left wing.

Probably going for the draw??

I'm picking 10-0 to DPR Korea, with Kim Jong Un to grab two hat-tricks.

only 9 to go

Put money on that did you? The early goal should make this a good contest. Saudis will need to fire up.

Just following on the twitter and AFC match centre - which team is looking more likely?

3-1 to Saudi. Comedy goal there.

Saudi it is I guess.

I slipped in at half time and put a rash $2 on them.

Food on the table tomorrow.

Plenty of lols in this one. How the Saudi striker put that one wide is a mystery.

Bizarre. Just bizarre.

Quite the opposite in North Korea.

How about that red card? Almost seemed like he was sent off for intention to handle the ball. Yes, he did raise his arms as the ball looped over him but when it hit the bar and bounced down onto his arm it clearly wasn't goal bound at that point, therefore technically he didn't handle the ball to prevent a goal.

A shot with real violence, leaving a trail of destruction.

Let's see what China has up front...

interesting game this. China with the early pressure and UZbeks getting back into it now. Lucky goal, but aren't they all?

It was worth a shot - he had time and space to line it up.

China's mid is too slow to get the ball up to Gao Lin.  Uzbek can get numbers back with ease.

Uzbekistan's stats show they are good at defence so if they score another, it is tears before bedtime in China.

Had far too much time. Enough for an espresso and a Tim Tam.

Feel these are the teams we (NZ) would like to assume we are better than, but I'm not sure at all that we would be at the moment. Fairly scratchy from both teams, but you feel that either of them have the skill to turn on something spectacular.

Time and space for the goal, but still a good block from the defence and unlucky to get that deflection from that distance. I don't recall the Uzbeks being inside the Chinese penalty area otherwise.

Stupid formation by Perrin. 3-4-2-1.  

Hao Junmin back on now - good.

Comedy defending!

Nice finish. Go China!

Not A Striker!

rewarding game for the neutral.  That was some spectacular

Should've been 3-1.

Well I lost $5 by betting on Uzbek but quite happy about that!

most populated country now with 12 wins from 12 Asian Cup games so far. UAE and Iran thus the picks for day 7

— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) January 14, 2015

Assuming China draws or beats Nth Korea it should meet Sth Korea (as 2nd place in group A behind Oz) in the QF.

IF China beats Sth Korea then most likely it will face Japan in the SF. I wouldn't think that is likely but Sth Korea seems to be rather naff so far so who knows?

China is guaranteed top of the group, as H2H is used to split teams on equal points first, followed by Goal Difference. China have beaten the two teams that can possibly finish level with the on points.

Thanks Patrick.  That makes it very straightforward then.  I think Perrin will probably do more tinkering with positions as he has been doing ever since he took on the job.

Maybe give the likes of Zheng Zhi and Zhang Lipeng a rest, play Wu Lei upfront.

The Oz-Sth Korea game should be a good one, although I can't see the Koreans salvaging a draw from it.

Drug test makes Jordan player sick (apparently)

Just looking at some of the highlights on sports.sina and Hao Junmin was involved with a number of good plays, including the equaliser.  I think he was a key difference in the second half performance with much more intelligent (and quick) passing.

Good substitutions by Perrin.  Sun Ke obviously a great move (!) and Liu Binbin could have added a third if Wu Lei had passed to him when it was 2 vs 1.

Well.... great minds think alike..... I am $5 poorer too.

Been waiting all week for tonight to see Omar Abdulrahman in action again for UAE, should be some magic.

Only had to wait 17 seconds for Omar to set up a goal!

Sweet header - game on!

Tthe twitter is going off.  Seems like a lively game.

The quality of passing from UAE is terrific. Bahrain really just hanging on but look decent on the break, as well as dangerous from setpieces.

Outrageous that the UAE defender didn't get a yellow card for that foul. And the wall was six yards back if that.

UAE keeper was decent.

UAE didn't play their best but come away with the win. Bahrain pretty negative, UAE vs Iran is going to be a ripper.