The 2015 Asian Cup has obliterated the record for consecutive matches without a draw at a football tournament, with a winner crowned in its first 20 games.
The fate of the 16 participating nations has captured the attention of football fans around the world and with the goals flowing almost as freely as the turnstiles, the 2015 edition of the regional showpiece augers to be the best yet.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Monday said the tournament has surpassed the previous mark of 18 matches without a stalemate, set at the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay.
The new record includes European championships and the African Cup of Nations, according to the AFC website, and remains largely unexplained.
After victories by China and Uzbekistan on Sunday, just four group matches remain before the business end begins with the quarter-finals on Thursday and Friday.
The Socceroos needed only a point to finish top of Group A at the weekend, with a draw enough to give Ange Postecoglou’s team top spot. But Korea Republic turned in a clinical defensive performance to trump the host nation 1-0.
As if the lack of draws wasn’t entertaining enough other records have tumbled at the event, notably when Ali Mabkhout scored after just 14 seconds as United Arab Emirates beat Bahrain 2-1.
Palestine also scored its first ever Asian Cup goal, while Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo earned his 150th cap for the defending champion in Friday’s 1-0 win over Iraq, drawing level with German World Cup-winner Lothar Matthaus.
The total attendance has soared past the 300,000-mark with the 20 games producing 2.4 goals on average.
