Asian Cup finals line-up takes shape

Asian Cup finals line-up takes shape

MUSCAT: Nine of the teams who will make up the 16-nation Asian Cup finals in China in 2004 have now been decided after the latest round of qualifying matches.

Host China and holder Japan will be joined by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Oman, South Korea, Iraq and Bahrain with five more places still up for grabs.

Oman is in the finals for the first time making sure of their place with a 2-0 win against Vietnam to finish top of Group E ahead of World Cup semi-finalists South Korea who made it through despite a stuttering conclusion to their campaign which saw them lose to Oman and Vietnam.

"We are very happy that we have qualified for the Asian Cup after getting first place in this group," said Oman's veteran Croatian coach Milan Macala.

"We will prepare very well for the tournament when we play in the coming Gulf Cup in December." --AFP