Wolves youngster Justin Hubner helped Indonesia to their first win of this year’s Asian Cup, as they defeated Vietnam on Friday.
Once again, Hubner and Rayan Ait-Nouri were in international action this weekend, as the Asian Cup and AFCON continued into their second matchdays.
Boubacar Traore and Hee Chan Hwang didn’t feature for their countries, but will hope to do so this week, as the group stages come to a close.
Justin Hubner | Indonesia 1-0 Vietnam
Indonesia have the youngest team at the competition, at their first Asian Cup since 2007, and Vietnam were favourites on Friday, but Hubner and his country caused an upset. Utilised in midfield on the opening day, but Hubner returned to a more familiar defensive role, starting on the left of a back three. A determined performance from the Indonesians was rewarded when captain Asnawi Mangkualam converted from the penalty spot, with what turned out to be the winner. Those three points put Indonesia in with a chance of progressing, possibly as one of the best third-placed teams.
Next up: Indonesia vs Japan | Wednesday 24th January, 11.30am
Rayan Ait-Nouri | Algeria 2-2 Burkina Faso
Algeria scored an injury time equaliser to salvage a point against Burkina Faso over the weekend. Rayan Ait-Nouri once again played the full 90 minutes at left-back, as Algeria drew for the second successive match. Baghdad Bounedjah had put his country ahead after the break, but Burkina Faso turned it around to lead moving into added time, before Bounedjah powered home an unstoppable header. Two-time champions Algeria must beat Mauritania on Tuesday to be sure of qualification for the knockout stages.
Next up: Algeria vs Mauritania | Tuesday 23rd January, 8pm
Boubacar Traore | Mali 1-1 Tunisia
Mali will need just one point from their group concluder to ensure qualification for the next phase, after drawing with Tunisia. Wolves’ Boubacar Traore watched on from the bench as Lassine Sinayoko drilled home the opener for Mali, before Hamza Rafia equalised for Tunisia. The goals proved to be the only shots on target, with both sides suffering wayward shooting. Traore will hope to make his second appearance of the competition when Mali face Namibia on Wednesday evening.
Next up: Mali vs Namibia | Wednesday 24th January, 5pm
There's also #AFCON2023 action today 🌍
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 20, 2024
Ait-Nouri's @LesVerts face Burkino Faso at 2pm, while @BoubaTraore_8's Mali take on Tunisia at 8pm. pic.twitter.com/J44GH240Xe
Hee Chan Hwang | South Korea 2-2 Jordan
An injury time own goal saw South Korea stretch their group stage unbeaten run in the Asian Cup to 12 matches. Despite returning to training recently, the match came too soon for Hee Chan Hwang. Leading from a penalty from Tottenham Hotspur’s Heung-min Son, South Korea were pegged back by two first half goals from Jordan. They saved the day late on however, as Yazan Alarab found the back of his own net. South Korea now face Malaysia, who has zero points from two matches, and Hwang will be hoping for his first minutes of the tournament.
Next up: South Korea vs Malaysia | Thursday 25th January, 11.30am
