The week in Asian football
By Michael Church
Jan 29 (Reuters) - Talking points from the week in Asian football:
AUSTRALIA, TAJIKISTAN BOOK ASIAN CUP QUARTER-FINAL BERTHS
Australia will face either South Korea or Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup, while debutants Tajikistan will meet Jordan or Iraq after progressing beyond the last 16 in Qatar on Sunday.
Australia scored twice in the dying minutes through Craig Goodwin and Harry Souttar to register a 4-0 win over Indonesia after Elkan Baggott's own goal had put Graham Arnold's side ahead and Martin Boyle doubled the lead late in the first half.
Tajikistan defeated the United Arab Emirates 5-3 in a penalty shootout after Vakhdat Hanonov had seen his first-half header cancelled out by Khalifa Al-Hammadi's injury-time equaliser.
OMAN WILL NOT RENEW IVANKOVIC CONTRACT AFTER ASIAN CUP EXIT
Branko Ivankovic will not have his contract with Oman extended after failing to lead the country out of the group phase of the Asian Cup finals in Qatar.
The decision was announced by the Oman Football Association on social media on Friday, leaving the Gulf state looking for a new coach with less then two months to go until their next round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
WIN OVER JETS TAKES PHOENIX TWO POINTS CLEAR IN AUSTRALIA
Wellington Phoenix opened up a two-point lead over Melbourne Victory in Australia after Oskar Zawada's late goal earned the New Zealand-based outfit a 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets.
Alex Rufer put Wellington ahead from the penalty sport in the fifth minute but Trent Buhagiar got the Jets back on level terms in the 80th minute. Zawada struck three minutes from time to secure all three points for the visiting Phoenix.
Victory were held 1-1 by Sydney FC.
FORMER CHAMPIONS SHENZHEN WITHDRAW FROM CHINESE LEAGUE SETUP
Shenzhen FC will not be competing in the upcoming season in China after the club said they had "failed to pass the professional league's admission for the 2024 season and cannot continue to compete in the professional football league".
The former Chinese Super League champions finished bottom last season and had been due to play in China League One when the new campaign kicks off in March.
The news comes after Dalian Pro said earlier this month they would cease operations. (Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
