South Korea, Thailand, Bahrain, Indonesia make Asian Cup last 16, Oman out

AL WAKRAH, Qatar: South Korea finished second in Asian Cup Group E after Malaysia held them to a 3-3 draw on Thursday (Jan 25)  with an equaliser in the 15th minute of added time which left Bahrain top of the standings after a 1-0 win over Jordan.

Bahrain ended with six points thanks to Abdulla Yusuf Helal's winner and South Korea finished on five. Jordan, third with four points, also went through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Saudi Arabia, who had already guaranteed a last-16 spot, topped Group F after they were held to a goalless draw by Thailand while Oman failed to advance after a 1-1 draw with Kyrgyzstan.

Oman finished with two points and Indonesia (three points in Group D) advanced for the first time with a better record as a third-placed team along with Syria, Palestine and Jordan.

Indonesia will play Australia and Palestine take on hosts Qatar. Syria face heavyweight Iran.

South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in the last 16 and coach Juergen Klinsmann said they did not deliberately finish second to avoid a titanic clash with Group D runners-up Japan.

"We didn't want to avoid Japan, it definitely wasn't our plan to concede three goals today. We wanted to go through in first place, that was our goal," Klinsmann told reporters.

"Malaysia played with a lot of heart and you have to give them credit but we should have won this game."

South Korea opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Jeong Woo-Yeong headed home from a corner. The goal was initially not awarded as Malaysia keeper Syihan Hazmi clawed the ball out of the air before VAR confirmed it had crossed the line.

Malaysia equalised six minutes into the second half when they won the ball back high up the pitch before Faisal Halim twisted and turned in the box to