Iran rose up in the second half and broke the knot with Japan, the defending champion a record four times, when it beat them 2-1 with a penalty kick in the fatal time, on Saturday in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup in football, at the Education City Stadium in Doha.
The advantage in the first half went to Japan, which was scored by Hidemasa Morita (28), but in the second, Iran turned the tables, controlling the match, scoring twice through Mohammad Mohebi (55) and Alireza Jahanbakhsh (90 + 6 from a penalty kick).
Tim Milli, who won the title three times between 1968 and 1976, will set up a date next Wednesday with the winner between host and title holder Qatar and Uzbekistan, which will be held later at Al Bayt Stadium in the northern city of Al Khor.
Iran put an end to Japan’s superiority over it in the continental championship, as it achieved its first victory after two losses and two draws, and also scored for the first time and avenged its 0-3 loss to them in the semi-finals of the last 2019 edition in the Emirates.
Iran continued a beautiful series in which it did not lose during 18 matches extending since November 29, 2022, and 15 matches for its coach, Amir Qala Nooyi.
Iran won all its matches in the first round, beating Palestine 4-1, Hong Kong 1-0, and the UAE 2-1. In the last 16, it needed penalty kicks to overcome Syria 5-3 (1-1).
On the other hand, Japan, the runner-up in the last edition, failed to reach the semi-finals for the sixth time in the last editions, knowing that it was the most successful in the continental championship in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011.
It had come from behind against Vietnam to win 4-2 in the group stage, losing to Iraq 1-2 before booking its ticket with a victory over Indonesia 3-1. In the last 16, it easily beat Bahrain 3-1.
Slow start for Iran
It seemed clear that Iran was affected in the first half by the absence of Mehdi Taremi, the Portuguese striker from Porto, who was sent off in the match against Syria.
Japan excelled in the first half and was more realistic. The scoring opened when the ball reached Moreta on the outskirts of the area. The Portuguese Sporting midfielder evaded the defense and was alone, shooting a ball that bounced off goalkeeper Alireza Beranand into the net (28). This is the first time the Iranian national team has received the first goal in this tournament.
Iran began to approach the goal, so Saman Quddus deceived the defense with his positioning and shot a right-handed half-volley that passed to the left of the young goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki, in the most dangerous Iranian opportunity in response to the priority goal (39).
Serdar Azmoun, the Italian Roma striker, then tried to reach the net (43rd), but the tactical first half, characterized by physical struggles, ended with Japan leading by a goal.
lightning strike
The Japanese seemed confident of his lead at the beginning of the second, as he missed Ayase Ueda, who scored four goals in the tournament, and Takefusa Kubo (51 and 53), but the Iranian response was shocking.
Azmoun, one of the most prominent stars of the match, played a smart ball at the back of the defense that reached Mohamed Mohebi. He shot it alone, creeping to the right of the advancing goalkeeper, equalizing the numbers (55). This is the fifth match in a row that Japan has conceded in this tournament.
Mohebi (25 years old), the Russian Rostov midfielder, missed the opportunity of the double, with a very close header that landed on the outside side netting (67).
Coach Hajime Moriyasu tried to stop the Iranian tide, bringing in Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma, the English Brighton star, who was absent from the beginning of the tournament due to injury.
Dangerous opportunities continued for Iran, as Azmoun’s wonderful header passed close to the crossbar of the surrendering Japanese goalkeeper (72).
While regular time ended with two chances for Quddus (87) and Alireza Jahanbesh (87), the time was replaced by a crazy scenario.
Ko Itakura obstructed defender Hossein Kanaani inside the area, and Iran won a fatal penalty kick, which was converted by captain Jahanbakhsh, the Dutch Feyenoord player, with a missile into the heart of the goal (90+6), to the joy of the Iranian players and fans.
2024-02-03 13:36:06
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