Iran survive penalty drama to book Asian Cup clash with Japan
Iran will meet pre-tournament favourites Japan in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after surviving extra time with 10 men before defeating Syria 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday.
Japan beat Bahrain 3-1 despite another mistake from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, as Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma made his first appearance in Qatar after injury.
Skipper Ehsan Hajsafi scored the winning penalty for Iran, who are ranked 70 places above Syria and were comfortably the better team for much of the game.
Iran played the last 30 minutes with 10 men after Porto striker Mehdi Taremi was sent off for a second yellow card with the game 1-1 at the end of normal time.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was the penalty hero for Iran, saving Syria's second spot-kick from Fahd Youssef.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said he was "not happy with two or three" of his players, without saying who.
"We could have scored five goals up until the 70th minute," he said.
Along with holders Qatar, Iran came into the game as the only team left in the competition with a 100 percent record. They are pursuing a first Asian Cup crown since 1976.
Taremi was a central figure, winning a first-half penalty and putting it away to give Iran a deserved lead.
Syria had barely been in the game but equalised just after the hour, also from the spot, before Taremi was sent off in second-half injury time.
The two teams could not be divided in extra time, even with Iran playing with a man fewer.
Iran will meet Japan on Saturday.
Syria's wily Argentine Hector Cuper praised his players' "sacrifice", adding: "I can't ask more of them."
The 68-year-old refused to commit his future to Syria, saying: "Next week we will sit together (with football officials) and talk and see if I will stay or I have other options."
Japan wobble but win
Captain Wataru Endo warned that Japan's rivals will "exploit" their weaknesses after they wobbled before defeating Bahrain to book their place in the last eight.
Japan looked to be cruising after goals either side of half-time from Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo, but an own goal from error-prone goalkeeper Suzuki let Bahrain back in the game.
Ayase Ueda restored Japan's cushion with his fourth goal of the tournament, but Liverpool midfielder Endo warned that their quarter-final opponents might not be so forgiving.
"In football, teams are analysing you and trying to find out where there are gaps that they can exploit," he said.
"Teams have looked at us at the tournament so far and it's not easy to defend against.
"It's important that we don't let our concentration drop for the full 90 minutes."
Mitoma came off the bench for Japan in the second half to play his first game since injuring his ankle on December 21.
But questions remain for Hajime Moriyasu's side, who are yet to keep a clean sheet in four games in Qatar.
Suzuki has made a string of mistakes and he was again at fault for Bahrain's goal.
The 21-year-old misjudged a punch before getting tangled up with Ueda and fumbling the ball over the line.
The quarter-finals begin on Friday when surprise-package Tajikistan, the lowest-ranked team left at the tournament, face Jordan.
Australia play Son Heung-min's South Korea later the same day. In the fourth quarter-final, Qatar play Uzbekistan, on Saturday.
(责任编辑:产品中心)
- Apple's iPhone 17 will come with a huge RAM upgrade, report claims
- ATP: Marcos Giron triumphs over defending champion at Eastbourne
- Facebook data for 533 million users leaked in 2019. It's still out there.
- US nuclear sub in Korea for routine deployment
- Best Labor Day mattress deals in 2024
- Cicadas love to land on people. Experts explain why.
- 'The Martian VR Experience' comes to PlayStation VR and HTC Vive
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has a monstrous camera and a rear display
- Horde of Nintendo games and collectibles sells for $20,000
- Best CPU Deals, AMD vs Intel: Holiday CPU Buying Guide
- Maritime police officer discharged over attempted rape allegation
- North Korean man caught on CCTV cameras, but border guards did nothing to stop him: authorities
- Google Home will now play free Spotify accounts
-
We've been using the MSI MPG 321URX QD-OLED exclusively as a productivity monitor for the last six m ...[详细]
-
Moon's plan to revive peace initiative through Tokyo Games faces hitch
This Feb. 16 aerial photo shows the National Stadium in Tokyo, a venue for the opening and closing c ...[详细] -
Facebook data for 533 million users leaked in 2019. It's still out there.
A two-year-old problem is coming back to haunt Facebook in 2021, and in the process serving as a rem ...[详细] -
雅安日报讯近日,石棉县迎政乡“挂包帮”单位市烟草专卖局出资4.8万元帮助该乡建立技术服务队,将技术服务送到农户家中。2011以来,在科学技术的保障下,迎政乡发展优质水果干果9000余亩,建设优质示范片 ...[详细]
-
Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 29
Can't get enough of Wordle? Try Mashable's free version nowOh hey there! If you're here, it must be ...[详细] -
'Consistency needed in North Korea policy'
Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea participate in an online discussion event between ...[详细] -
Wasim Akram explains why Indian team should visit Pakistan for Champions Trophy 2025
Former Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has expressed hope that the Indian team will visit Pakis ...[详细] -
85 S. Koreans denied entry to US due to travel document complications
The United States’ decision to refuse 85 South Koreans entry into its territory was due to complicat ...[详细] -
By a technicality, August's full moon is blue. Here's why.
There's supposedly nothing special about a blue moon. A full moon is just a moon phase, and a blue m ...[详细] -
US nuclear sub in Korea for routine deployment
US nuclear-powered submarine USS Mississippi made a port call in South Korea on Wednesday as part of ...[详细]
GPU Mining is Dead, Where are my Cheap GPUs?
ATP: Marcos Giron triumphs over defending champion at Eastbourne
- US to oppose North Korean worker dispatch to occupied Ukrainian territory: State Dept.
- Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for Kakao founder over suspected stock manipulation
- 知名艺术家到雨城采风写生
- UN high commissioner urges N. Korean refugees should not be sent back home
- Venture Missionaries
- ATP: Marcos Giron triumphs over defending champion at Eastbourne
- Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has a monstrous camera and a rear display