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PHOTOS: Fans turn up the buzz at Asian Cup football!

By Rediff Sports Desk
January 08, 2019

The AFC Asian Cup football championship kicked off in the UAE over the weekend and how much joy is it giving football fans from the continent.

The stadiums have been packed as teams play out interesting matches in the tournament that saw India kick off their campaign in style.

India beat Thailand 4-1 on Sunday to record their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964.

WATCH: Indian fans Back the Blues during the Asian Cup match against Thailand on Sunday. Video: Kind courtesy, Asian Cup/Twitter

 

That win saw captain Sunil Chhetri find the net twice to go past Lionel Messi as the second highest international goal scorer among active players.

 

The Indian team saw healthy support during that win and now, the captain has requested Indian expats to come in hoards to support the Indian team through the tournament, as they next face hosts UAE on Thursday.

Bahrain is the other team in their group.

Australia are the defending champions going into the tournament, having won the previous competition in 2015.

Indian fans aren’t the only ones thronging the stadium, Iran, who thrashed tournament debutants Yemen 5-0 on Monday, also had their fair share of support. Women supporters came in their numbers to back their boys as they romped to victory.

Here are fans turning it on at the Asian Cup...

IMAGE: An Iran fan awaits the start of the match against Yemen on Monday. Photograph: Asian Cup 2019/Twitter

IMAGE: Iran fans celebrate victory over Yemen. Photograph: Asian Cup 2019/Twitter

IMAGE: A South Korea fans clicks a selfie. Photograph: Asian Cup 2019/Twitter

IMAGE: A group of Philippines fans egg their team on as they doggedly defended in their 1-0 loss against South Korea. Photograph: Asian Cup 2019/Twitter
Rediff Sports Desk

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