Day 11 in brief

• Iran leave it late against UAE to secure top spot in Group C
  
• Bahrain depart on a high after beating Qatar
  

Star of the day

Can we look any further than Reza Ghoochannejhad, the scorer of that late, dramatic winner for Iran in front an adoring crowd in Brisbane? The Charlton Athletic-owned player, who could claim to have the longest name in English football when at The Valley, made his mark off the bench with a well-taken header in injury time that ensured Carlos Queiroz’s team will most likely avoid Japan in the quarter-finals. Cue wild celebrations.

Photo of the day

Something to cheer

Iran have been supported vigorously and vociferously throughout this tournament and that in itself should be something to celebrate. The atmosphere on Monday night in Brisbane was electric, just as it was in Melbourne and Sydney for Team Melli’s previous two outings, and Canberra will no doubt be braced for more of the same come Friday night for the likely derby against Iraq. Fans are the lifeblood of football and those draped in Iranian flags – including, to the apparent chagrin of the Iranian government, some selfie-taking women – have done much to prove just that over the past week and a half.

What we learned

Qatar’s pedigree as a footballing nation is dubious at best. The 2022 World Cup hosts bowed out of the tournament pointless from three games, having scored just two goals and conceded seven. That kind of form must be of concern to the Gulf nation, not least with qualifying for the 2018 World Cup on the horizon. Should they fail to make it to the tournament in Russia, they will have the dubious distinction of being the first World Cup host in modern times never to have featured at a previous World Cup (Italy hosted in 1934 without having played in the inaugural tournament four years earlier). So don’t expect the debate over the decision to hand the event to Qatar to go away any time soon.

Quote of the day

I have no comment about that. I don’t want to make any more donations. The game was very competitive. As I said, no more donations.

When asked about UAE coach Mahdi Ali’s criticism of the officials in Brisbane, Iran boss Carlos Queiroz wisely kept schtum. He was fined $3,000 earlier in the tournament for questioning the performance of referees.

Stat of the day

What’s on today

The pool stage draws to a close with Group D’s final make-up to be determined. Japan take on Jordan at a sold-out Melbourne Not-Really Rectangular Stadium with qualification as group winners just a point away. But should they lose unexpectedly, and Iraq beat Palestine in the other match, there will be a three-way tie at the top, with the leading trio all on six points. In that case, head-to-head records count first, then goal difference and then goals scored, so in theory things could get pretty complicated. But the likelihood is that it won’t, so save thinking about the brain-hurting permutations for the time being.

Today’s games

Group D: Japan v Jordan, Melbourne – 8pm

Group D: Iraq v Palestine, Canberra – 8pm

(Times local)