No easy games in Asia, says Kewell
DOHA: Australian match-winner Harry Kewell has praised the hard work of his teammates in their 1-0 quarterfinal defeat of Iraq, saying the battle proved there were no easy games at the Asian Cup.
The Galatasaray forward met a pinpoint cross from Matt McKay towards the end of extra-time on Saturday and angled his header past Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid to settle a match that that could have gone either way.
It set them up for a semi-final against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, and avenged their 3-1 loss to Iraq in the group stage four years ago, when the war-torn country went on to win their first ever continental crown.
Kewell said he was relieved the game did not go to penalties, having missed one in their quarter-final defeat to Japan at the same stage four years ago.
"It was important to get the goal because we really didn't want to go to a penalty shootout because anything can happen," he told reporters.
"Maybe Iraq were looking forward to it but I'm glad that we got the goal and we finished the job.
"It was a massive relief. It was a tough game but there are no easy games in Asia -- I think it was proven out there. I believe that we worked hard and I was proud of everyone," he added.
"It's one of those things -- you have to work hard. Nothing comes easy in this life. You've got to keep working and sometimes you get knocked down and you've just got to get straight back up, take it on the chin and move forward."
The Galatasaray forward met a pinpoint cross from Matt McKay towards the end of extra-time on Saturday and angled his header past Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid to settle a match that that could have gone either way.
It set them up for a semi-final against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, and avenged their 3-1 loss to Iraq in the group stage four years ago, when the war-torn country went on to win their first ever continental crown.
Kewell said he was relieved the game did not go to penalties, having missed one in their quarter-final defeat to Japan at the same stage four years ago.
"It was important to get the goal because we really didn't want to go to a penalty shootout because anything can happen," he told reporters.
"Maybe Iraq were looking forward to it but I'm glad that we got the goal and we finished the job.
"It was a massive relief. It was a tough game but there are no easy games in Asia -- I think it was proven out there. I believe that we worked hard and I was proud of everyone," he added.
"It's one of those things -- you have to work hard. Nothing comes easy in this life. You've got to keep working and sometimes you get knocked down and you've just got to get straight back up, take it on the chin and move forward."
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