DOHA: Saudi Arabia axed coach Nasser Al-Jawhar after just two games Tuesday and vowed to replace him with a high-profile international name as the fallout from its dismal Asian Cup intensified. It also accepted the resignation of team manager Fahd Al-Misaibeeh and his staff. It followed the former regional powerhouse's humiliating 5-0 defeat by Japan Monday, which left it bottom of its group with three straight defeats and out of the tournament. It was only the second time in Asian Cup history that Saudi Arabia has not made it to the knockout stages. It had been expected to compete for the title alongside the likes of Japan, Australia and South Korea. “The Saudi Soccer Federation has accepted the resignation of Fahd Al-Misaibeeh, manager of the Saudi national team, and his crew, and relieved Nasser Al-Johar of his post as the current team's coach,” SPA said, citing a statement from Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal. “We vow to immediately replace them by a highly-qualified international crew and domestic aides.” The prince said he would soon meet with the heads of the main football clubs in Saudi Arabia and key players to determine the best way forward. Syria's coach angry Syria's coach Tita Valeriu launched a vicious tirade against his team and its poor defending after two glaring errors sent it packing from the Asian Cup group stages once again. Syria, which in four previous attempts has never got beyond the group round, was heading into uncharted waters when it deservedly took the lead in the 15th minute of Monday's must-win game against neighbor Jordan. But Jordan, which needed only a point to make the last eight, got back in the game 15 minutes later when Syrian defender Ali Dyab headed into his own net. Keeper and captain Mosab Balhous had come for the ball from a cross but got nowhere near. And Jordan grabbed the winner – and with it a place in the quarterfinals – when a long ball unattended by goalkeeper Amer Shafi in the 59th minute was allowed to go all the way through to powerful striker Odai Al-Saify. With Balhous flailing, Al-Saify gleefully proded the ball into the unguarded net. Saudis, Syria fined The Asian Football Confederation has fined Saudi Arabia and Syria several thousand dollars for violating media or disciplinary policies at the Asian Cup. Three Saudi players were fined $2,000 each for refusing to do interviews after a Thursday's loss to Jordan, while the Saudi Arabia Football Association was fined $2,000 for refusing to send a player to a pre-match news conference Wednesday. Syria was fined $3,000 after five or more if its players picked up more than five cautions in a match against Japan and coach Valeriu Tita was referred to the AFC disciplinary committee for failing to meet reporters. – Agence France
