UAE stun holders Japan to make last four; Iraq topple Iran in feisty quarter-final tie
Reigning champions fall to bold UAE side, while Iraq-Iran encounter stakes a claim for match of the tournament as six-goal thriller is decided on penalties
Japan were sent crashing out of the Asian Cup on Friday as the United Arab Emirates shocked the defending champions 5-4 on penalties after a pulsating quarter-final.
Substitute Ismail Ahmed delivered the knockout blow after Japanese superstars Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa had both missed their spot-kicks, sending the UAE through to the last four after a war of attrition in Sydney that finished 1-1 following extra time.
The Gulf side, enjoying their best run at the Asian Cup since finishing runners-up in 1996, will face hosts Australia in the semi-finals after a stunning victory over the Blue Samurai.
Our opponents played the game of their lives. Once they scored they defended for 110 minutes with 11 players behind the ball
“Our opponents played the game of their lives,” Japan coach Javier Aguirre told reporters, accusing the UAE of parking the bus.
“Once they scored they defended for 110 minutes with 11 players behind the ball.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my players,” added the Mexican, whose future is set to come under even closer scrutiny as he prepares for a court appearance in Valencia next month over match-fixing allegations dating back to his time in Spain.
