Yuji Nakazawa blasted in the decisive penalty to lift Japan to a 4-3 shootout victory over Australia in an absorbing Asian Cup quarterfinal on Saturday.

The match ended 1-1 after extra-time following second-half goals from John Aloisi and a rapid Japan response from Naohiro Takahara.

Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi saved from Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill before Nakazawa smashed home Japan’s fifth spot-kick to avenge their 3-1 defeat by the Socceroos at last year’s World Cup.

“Penalties are not good for the heart so I left the pitch,” Japan coach Ivica Osim told reporters. “I didn’t want to collapse and die. I also didn’t want to jinx my team by staying to watch.”

Opening goal
Alaves striker Aloisi had put the Socceroos in front in the 68th minute, pouncing from close range after Japan’s defence had failed to deal with Kewell’s fizzing low corner.

Japan levelled just three minutes later when Eintracht Frankfurt’s Takahara took advantage of sloppy defending to fire a left-foot shot in off the post for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Setback for Aussies
Australia’s situation was further complicated when Vince Grella was controversially sent off for catching Takahara in the face with his arm in the 76th minute.

Japan never took full advantage, Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura going closest to the winner by forcing a superb reflex save from Mark Schwarzer in the last minute of extra-time.

Nakazawa’s successful spot-kick triggered wild celebrations from the Japan players.

“I hit it really hard,” Nakazawa told Reuters. “There’s nothing wrong with my heart. I didn’t feel pressure. Yoshikatsu saved two so he’s the real hero.”

Australia coach Graham Arnold complained that Grella’s red card had left his players with too much to do in Hanoi’s clinging humidity.

“In these conditions if you play with 10 men it’s murder,” he said. “It’s especially hard against a quality side like Japan. It is always a lottery with penalties.”

Japan, bidding to win a third successive Asian Cup title, play the winners of Sunday’s game between Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan in the semifinals on Wednesday.

Iraq go through
Striker Younis Mahmoud scored twice to give Iraq a convincing 2-0 victory over Vietnam in an entertaining quarterfinal in Bangkok on Saturday, adds Reuters.

The Iraqi captain popped up unmarked inside the area to head Nashat Akram’s lofted free-kick into the net after two minutes and set the tone for the rest of the match.

Iraq were the more organised team and were always on the attack, spreading the ball around the field and piling pressure on a Vietnamese defence that never looked comfortable dealing with their taller, stronger opponents.
Vietnam rarely threatened but could have equalised on the stroke of half-time when Chau Phong Hoa darted down the left and cut the ball back to the unmarked Nguyen Minh Phuong, whose powerful low shot was blocked by the Iraqi defence.

Iraq continued to press forward after the break and doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Mahmoud fired an inch-perfect free-kick over the Vietnam wall and into the corner.

He almost made it a hat-trick two minutes later when Mahdi Karim found him free in the area, only for Mahmoud to side foot the ball over the bar.

It was fourth-time lucky for Iraq, who have been knocked out at the quarterfinal stage in the last three Asian Cups.

They will meet the winners of Sunday’s match between South Korea and Iran in the semifinals in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.