Asian Cup 2015: Iraq defeat Iran in penalty shootout after roller-coaster quarter-final
IRAQ are through to the semi-finals after beating rivals Iran on penalties in one of the great Asian Cup clashes in Canberra. Watch video highlights here.
IRAQ claimed the scalp of its fiercest rival to cause the biggest upset of the Asian Cup seeing off Iran in a penalty shoot out after the sides were locked at 3-3 after extra time at Canberra Stadium on Friday night.
Iraq made the most of Iran being reduced to 10 men in the first half before the most spectacular match of the Asian Cup unfolded.
Iraq won the shootout 7-6 after both nations missed the first two spot kicks.
With the count at six apiece Iraq’s Salam Shakir scored the winner after Vahid Airy’s attempt hit the post.
WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS IN OUR MATCH CENTRE HERE
Iraq will now meet South Korea on Australia Day in the semi final of the Asian Cup at Stadium Australia.
But Australian referee Ben Williams was at height of the controversial quarterfinal when he expelled Iran’s Mehrdad Pooladi in the first half before awarding Iraq an extra time penalty.
The game had it all and kept vocal crowd on its toes throughout extra time when four incredible goals were scored.
After Iran scored the opener Team Melli was forced to come from behind twice to take the tie to penalties.
Iraq shocked its bitter rival Iran when Younus Mahmood – a man without club for more than a year – appeared to have scored an extra-time winner to give Iraq a 2-1 lead against the 10 men of Team Melli.
In the 103rd minute Iran equalised as the battle was destined to reach a rousing climax.
Morteza Pouraliganji nodded the ball home from a rasping Andranik Teymorian corner kick to tie the score at 2-2.
Then more drama the unfolded when Dhurgham Ismael gave Iraq a 3-2 lead from the spot in the 116th minute after Williams awarded a penalty.
Iran, nonetheless, wasn’t done when super sub Rez Goochannej equalised to make it 3-3 before the tie went to a shoot out.
But in a pulsating 30 minutes of extra time Mahmood made the 10 men of Iran first suffer.
When he crashed the ball into the back of the net with a diving header from close range after a great run from left back Dhurgham Ismael three minutes into extra time it looked like the game was done.
Iran was a man down when Mehrdad Pooladi was expelled by Williams in the 44th minute.
Extra time didn’t help Iran’s cause as the three time Asian Cup champion became a victim of fatigue until Teymourian’s goal.
Now Iraq has remained on track to claim its second Asian Cup after claiming its first in 2007 where Australia performed for the first time at the tournament as a member of the Asian Football Confederation.
While fans from both nations created a unique atmosphere only a football match can muster Iraq facing Korea Republic in the semi final at Stadium Australia has come at huge cost for Iraq.
Yaser Kasim will serve a one match ban after was yellow carded in the send half and picked up his second caution of the tournament.
With Iran calling most of the shots from kick off striker Sardar Azmoun from Rubin Kazan of Russia lit up the clash with a Tim Cahill-like goal in the 24th minute.
But Iran’s defence was breached for the first time at the Asian Cup - it took 326 minutes - before Ahmed Yasin found the back of the net for the underdog.
Iraq came alive after the send off and 11 minutes after the break it was level.
But before the equaliser, Azmoun rising high and in between two Iraqi defenders before nodding the ball powerfully home after a delightful cross from Iran right back Vouria Ghafouri told the story of Iran’s dominating performance in the first half.
That goal lifted the favourites but Iraqi veteran Younus Mahmood just two minutes later dazzled Iran in front of the box but his powerful shot smacked into a sea of legs.
With Iran well on top for most of the first half Team Melli was handed a nasty surprise just when it threatened to score more goals.
But the game took a turn when Pooladi was expelled.
Pooladi was already issued a costly yellow card in the 22nd minute for a foul on Iraq’s Ahmed Yasin.
It was his second caution of the tournament which would have already seen him miss the next match of the tournament.
But Pooladi was forced to take an early shower when picked up his second caution for a tackle on Iraqi gloveman Jalal Hassan just before the break.
The expulsion incensed Iran coach Carlos Queiroz who launched a tirade towards Williams.
The Portuguese has already copped a $3000 fine from the Asian Football Confederation after criticising Williams after Iran’s 2-0 win over Bahrain in the opening match of Group C in Brisbane.
Queiroz emerged from the tunnel seemingly much calmer as Iran put up a defensive wall and tried to hit Iraq on the counter attack.
Iraq first threatened Iran from a tempting 26m free kick from Swindon Town’s Yaser Kasim which was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Iran keeper Ali Haghighi four minutes after the break.
Haghighi was again called into action in the 52nd minute when he bravely cut out a tantalising Waleed Salim cross at full stretch.
But Hahhighi could do little to halt Iraq’s wave of attacks before the equaliser.
Yasin from Orebro of Sweden found the back of the net from an acute angle when Iran couldn’t clear its lines in the 56th minute after a neat Alaa Abdul Zahra cross.
Iraq made one change to the side which beat Palestine 2-0 in Canberra on Tuesday.
Alaa Abdul Zahra returned to the starting XI after serving a one match ban with Amjed Kalaf dropping to the bench.
Iran coach Carlos Quieroz made four changes bringing in Ehsan Hajsafi, MasoudShojaei, Vouria Ghafouri and Ashkan Dejagah after sneaking past United Arab Emirates 1-0 in the final Group C clash in Brisbane.
Surprisingly Reza Ghoochannejhad, Tuesday’s injury time goal scorer off the bench couldn’t win a start.
AFC ASIAN CUP quarterfinal
Iran 3 (Sardar Azmoun 24m, Morteza Pouraliganji, 103m, Reza Ghoochanneejhad 119m) Iraq 3 (Ahmed Yasin 56m, Younus Mahmood 93m, Dhurgham Ismael 116m) (AET) (Iraq win 7-6 on penalties) at Canberra Stadium - Referee: Ben Williams - Crowd: 18,921.
RE-LIVE THE THRILLER IN OUR BLOG BELOW.