FOOTBALL
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Organisers are looking to add extra seats at Newcastle's Hunter Stadium ahead of a potential Asian Cup semi-final blockbuster between Australia and defending champions Japan.
The venue is the smallest of five being used for the tournament and can accommodate only about 23,000 people in its stands.
That's about 10,000 short of full capacity because the Asian Football Confederation has prevented the sale of tickets to the two non-seated areas behind the goals.
But the home of the A-League's Newcastle Jets could host the biggest match of the tournament so far.
If the Socceroos beat China in Thursday's quarter-final at Suncorp Stadium, they will most likely play tournament favourites Japan at the ground next Tuesday.
Despite the likely high demand for tickets, local organising committee chief executive Michael Brown has all but ruled out a switch to Sydney's ANZ Stadium - which is hosting the other semi-final on Australia Day and final on January 31.
The former Olympic venue can hold about 83,500 fans but moving there would be a logistical nightmare, Brown believes.
"We haven't even looked at it," he said on Monday.
"I think it would be disrespectful to either team [Australia or China] to be contemplating it."
A Hunter Stadium spokesperson confirmed organisers had sought to add temporary seating on the ground's hills.
Australia had been widely tipped to top their group, meaning they would have played their quarter-final in Melbourne and, if victorious, their semi-final in Sydney.
But Saturday's 1-0 loss to South Korea meant they finished second and on a much tougher route to the final.
Meanwhile, the Asian Cup has yet to produce a draw in 20 matches, a record at major football tournaments.
The Asian Football Confederation on Monday said the tournament had surpassed the previous mark of 18 matches without a stalemate, set at the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay.
Other records have tumbled at the 16th Asian Cup, notably when Ali Mabkhout scored after just 14 seconds as the United Arab Emirates beat Bahrain 2-1 in midweek.
Palestine also scored their first ever Asian Cup goal, while Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo earned his 150th cap for the defending champions 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. - AAP