South Korea won a gruelling and fluctuating epic 4-2 on penalties against Iran here on Sunday to set up an Asian Cup semifinal with Iraq.
The shoot-out became the circuit-breaker after both teams had played themselves to a standstill over the regulation 90 minutes and 30 minutes’ extra time without scoring a goal.
The Koreans held their nerve in a tense shoot-out, with their veteran goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae proving the hero when he saved efforts from Mehdi Mahdavikia and Rasoul Khatibi to acclaim from the chanting Korean supporters.
It was the second quarterfinal at the tournament to go to a shoot-out after Japan knocked out Australia 4-3 on penalties in Hanoi on Saturday. But the Koreans will have just two days to recover from the energy-sapping match played on a heavy pitch before facing Iraq in Wednesday’s semifinal in Kuala Lumpur.
It was huge relief for South Korea, who had been beaten twice in their three previous quarterfinals with Iran at the Asian Cup. South Korea twice won the Asian Cup in 1960 and 1964 and despite finals appearances in 1972, 1980 and 1988, have yet to add another trophy.
It was uncompromising football with solid challenges and a large number of fouls, the Koreans giving as good as they got from three-time champions Iran, a pre-tournament favourite.
Midfielder Mehrzad Madanchi became the first to be booked when he brought down livewire Korean striker Lee Chun-soo midway through the opening half.
South Korea almost caught Iran on the counter with slick passing for Lee to race clear, but he was deemed to have fouled Madanchi and the chance was wasted.
Goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae was forced to make an important body block on Ali Karimi’s close-range volley a few minutes from half-time, and defender Kim Jin-kyu needed to make a hurried clearance to keep his team’s goal intact right on the break.
The match went into extra-time and Javad Nekounam looked poised to score at the end of the first period when his drive off a Karimi lay-off flashed just wide of the left post.
Saudis through
Saudi Arabia survived an Uzbekistan onslaught to win their quarterfinal 2-1, setting up a last-four clash with fellow three-times champions Japan, adds Reuters from Jakarta.
Yasser Al Qahtani gave the Saudis the best possible start by putting them ahead in only the third minute. After soaking up heavy pressure, the Saudis went 2-0 up in the 75th minute when Ahmed Al Mousa strode into the box and confidently clipped the ball home.
Uzbekistan grabbed a lifeline when substitute Pavel Solomin pulled one back with eight minutes left, but the Saudis held on to secure their semifinal spot.