Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 11:17 PM

 

 

 

 

 

AFC Asian Cup: Semifinals

Japan : 2 ( Yuji Nakazawa (37), Yuki Abe (53) )

Saudi Arabia : 3 ( Yasser Al Qahtani (35), Malek Maaz (47), Malek Maaz (57) )

Stadium : My Dinh National Stadium at 11:13 PM

 

 

 

 

 

KUALA LUMPUR – Iraq claimed a place in the AFC Asian Cup final for the first time ever after outlasting Korea Republic 4-3 in a penalty shootout at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday evening.

After a physical encounter which finished goalless, the Middle Eastern side prevailed in the spot kick lottery as goalkeeper Noor Sabri tipped aside Yeom Ki-hun’s spot kick and Kim Jung-woo hit the post with his side’s final attempt.

The Iraqis will face either Japan or Saudi Arabia in the final in Jakarta on Sunday, while the Koreans will be left to rue yet another missed opportunity as their title drought of 47 years continues.

Korea coach Pim Verbeek made two changes from his side’s quarter-final win against Iran with Cho Jae-jin replacing Lee Dong-gook at centre forward and Choi Sung-kuk coming in for Kim Jung-woo on the left of midfield, while Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira made only one alteration from the 2-0 win over Vietnam as Qusai Munir replaced Haitham Kadhim in midfield.

The heavy conditions caused by incessant rain didn’t make for good football in a scrappy and goalless first half.

The first real chance fell to the Iraqis on 16 minutes as the ball broke in the Korean box to Younis Mahmoud, who arrived late yard box and fired a half-volley into the side netting.

The Koreans should have been awarded a free kick on the edge of the Iraq box midway through the half after Jassim Mohammed pulled down Lee Chun-soo but Kuwaiti referee Saad Al Fadhli allowed play to go on and Cho Jae-jin fired in a weak shot that gave goalkeeper Noor Sabri no problems

Iraq then went close when Haidar Abdul Amer’s cross from the right on 28 minutes flew just in front of a completely unmarked Karrar Jassim.

Mahmoud then had another chance to increase his tally for the tournament in the 39th minute when he controlled Hawar Mohammed’s through pass on the turn and fired a left-footed shot across the body of goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, just wide of the far post.

Two minutes before the break, Choi Sung-kuk’s free-kick from the right of the Iraq box was punched away by Sabri just in front of a flying Cho Jae-jin.

The action picked up after the break with the best of the early chances falling to Lee Chun-soo whose shot on the turn in the 48th minute flew just wide

Basem Abbas was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 59th minute for a sliding challenge on Yeom Ki-hun and from the resulting free-kick, taken by Yeom, Kim Jin-kyu headed over.

The Iraqis received a gilt-edge opportunity on 62 minutes when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Korean box after Karrar Jassim tumbled over under a challenge from Kim Jung-woo. Nashat Akram fired in a low shot that ricocheted off the foot of Hawar Mohammed but flew straight into the grateful arms of Lee Woon-jae.

Yeom’s left-footed free kick on 66 minutes forced Sabri to scramble the ball off his goalline, and the left winger’s corner kick two minutes later was met by Kim Jin-kyu, whose goal-bound header was deflected wide.

At the other end, Mahdi Karim’s low shot from the right of the Korean box crept between the legs of Younis Mahmoud and rolled just wide of the far post.

As both teams continued to create chances, Lee Chun-soo fired a volley wide while Hawar Mohammed rose in the Korean box to send a header just off target.

Deep into stoppage time, the Koreans were awarded a free-kick 30 metres from goal but with everyone anticipating a shot by Lee Chun-soo, it was Yeom Ki-hun instead who fired the ball into the wall before putting the rebound straight at Noor Sabri.

Extra time was called for Once again at Bukit Jalil and after a cagey opening, the Koreans nearly broke the deadlock in the 95th minute when Lee Dong-gook’s flick on released Lee Chun-soo who rifled in a low shot from 20 metres which forced a good diving save out of Sabri.

Only the width of the post prevented the Iraqis from going ahead near the end of the first extra period of extra time as Mahdi Karim’s cross from the right was misjudged by Lee Woon-jae and was met by Hawar Mohammed whose shot hit the left upright before being hacked off the line by Kim Jin-kyu.

In the second period of extra time, Lee Chun-soo sent a free kick from the right edge of the box just over the crossbar while Hawar Mohammed fired a shot across the face of goal with the Korean defence standing and watching.

As penalties loomed, a header off a Mahdi Karim corner flew straight at Lee Woon-jae before Lee Dong-gook squandered the final attempt of the game, firing high over the crossbar from 20 metres.

The first six penalties of the shootout were converted before Sabri tipped Yeom’s poorly-taken attempt around the post.

Ahmed Mnajed then converted before Kim Jung-woo’s final attempt for the Koreans hit the right post, sending the Iraqis through to their first ever Asian Cup final. at 10:38 PM

 

 

 

 

 

HANOI – Despite their impressive record against Saudi Arabia at the AFC Asian Cup, defending champions Japan are taking nothing for granted for their semi-final clash at My Dinh National Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Japanese have twice defeated the Saudis in the Asian Cup final, winning 1-0 in Hiroshima in 1992 and again in Beirut in 2000, while also trouncing the Middle Eastern side 4-1 during the group stage of the latter tournament.

However, Japan coach Ivica Osim does not want his players to reach too much into those past results.

“Saudi Arabia are a very good side,” said the former Yugoslavia coach, who was in charge of Japan during the Asian Cup qualifiers last year when they lost 1-0 to the Saudis in Jeddah in September before gaining revenge with a 3-1 win in Sapporo in November.

“They were strong last year, but they are now different, a new team under a new coach,” added the Bosnian of the team now led by Brazilian Helio dos Anjos.

“They play a more aggressive and modern style of football and also have a few players who are difficult to deal with.”

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura admits to being impressed by the attack of the three-time winners, who began the tournament with a 1-1 draw with Korea Republic before recording three straight wins, defeating co-hosts Indonesia 2-1 and Gulf counterparts Bahrain 4-0 during the group stage, and Uzbekistan 2-1 in the quarter-finals.

“I’ve seen their games on television and I know they have a few good players, especially Yasser Al Qahtani, who is a dangerous player,” said the Celtic player.

“But we also have Bomber [Yuji Nakazawa] in our backline, too,” Nakamura added.

“It’s going to be a tough game, for sure. It’s going to be hot too.

“It’s important to have technique but you’ve got to be tough mentally as well.”

While there are doubts over the fitness of right back Akira Kaji, who hurt his ankle during the quarter-final victory against Australia and had trained separately from the rest of the squad for the last two days, Osim is hoping to name an unchanged squad for the last four clash.

“Any team has a speedy forward and the Saudi forwards are good. But that doesn’t mean that you have to change your backline. I don’t believe it is necessary to change our defenders as they have abilities,” the 66-year-old said.

“If I keep the same team or change the team around, I will get criticized if we fail anyway. But I as coach will take all the responsibilities if we lose tomorrow,” he added. at 3:42 AM