Ali Mabkhout's second half goal earned tournament hosts the Emirates a 1-0 win over Australia or the Socceroos, depriving the former champions and title holders of the AFC Asian Cup of a back to back coronation, and set up an all Gulf semi-final encounter with Qatar, equally managed to drive out the South Korea national team, earlier. The all Gulf match is set to be played, at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday. Mabkhout, emerging as the Emirates hero of the match, took advantage of an under-hit back pass midway through the second half to steal in, behind the Australian defense, finding the back of the net, igniting a thunderous applause from the overcrowded and jubilating enthusiastic local fans. On the other hand, Japan will meet Iran, in the other semi-final encounter, on Monday.
