Abu Dhabi, January 25
Qatar stunned South Korea 1-0 to reach the Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time on Friday—and earned permission from coach Felix Sanchez to celebrate with some fast food.
The Koreans were looking to end 59 years of hurt in the tournament but paid for missing a string of second-half chances in Abu Dhabi before Abdelaziz Hatim’s late hammer blow for the 2022 World Cup hosts.
Told his players had secretly visited the local Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant after beating Iraq in the last 16, Sanchez was momentarily lost for words.
“I had no idea,” blushed the Spaniard. “Today they can go to Kentucky if they want—for an hour. What the players did is amazing for the country, I’m very proud of them.
“There are some big emotions today, but it’s no miracle,” insisted Sanchez, whose side face either hosts United Arab Emirates or holders Australia in the last four.
