Iraq reach final after shoot-out
Saudia Arabia eliminate Japan
Iraq reached their first Asian Cup final yesterday, beating South Korea 4-3 on penalties in a semi-final that ended goalless after extra time.
Noor Sabri was Iraq's hero when he saved Korea's fourth spot-kick from Yeom Ki-hun. After Ahmed Menajed had made it 4-3, Korean Kim Jung-woo hit the post to send the Iraqi players into raptures.
"It was a great game," Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira said. "The game was 50-50 but we missed more opportunities than them. We were tired too, but Korea were more tired than us."
It was the vanquished side's second penalty shoot-out in four days, having overcome Iran 4-2 in Sunday's quarter-final after another goalless 120 minutes.
Iraq, who began the tournament as outsiders after having to train and play qualifiers in neighbouring countries because of the war in their homeland, will meet Saudi Arabia in Sunday's final in Jakarta.
Saudi Arabia ended Japan's bid for a third straight Asian Cup title, Malek Maaz scoring twice in a 3-2 win to send the Saudis into the final.
Maaz sent his nation into their sixth final in the last seven tournaments with a superb goal, wriggling past three defenders before smashing the ball into the top corner.
The Saudis had never previously beaten Japan at the Asian Cup, including defeats in the 1992 and 2000 finals, but they were the sharper team throughout in Hanoi.
Yasser Al Qahtani had volleyed his side in front in the 35th minute but Japan took just two minutes to pull level through Yuji Nakazawa.
Maaz restored Saudi Arabia's lead with a bullet header two minutes into the second half only for Yuki Abe to equalise again for Japan with an acrobatic volley in the 53rd minute.
The Iraqis went into yesterday's match in confident mood having topped qualifying Group A in which they beat a fancied Australia.
South Korea, who last won the Asian Cup in 1960, were runners-up in Group D behind Saudi Arabia, but had shown great resilience in overcoming Iran in the quarters.
It was 3-3 when Iraq's Noor dived to his left to save from Yeom. The pressure was then on Kim, but the Nagoya Grampus Eight midfielder slammed his shot against the post to hand victory to a jubilant Iraq.