Asian Cup 2015: UAE cause massive boilover, knocking Japan out of quarterfinals on penalties

HOLDERS Japan are sent packing from the Asian Cup by UAE, whose stunning win will see them play Australia for a spot in the final. Watch the highlights.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Shinji Kagawa of Japan reacts to missing a penalty during the 2015 Asian Cup Quarter Final match between Japan and the United Arab Emirates at ANZ Stadium on January 23, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

IT was the day that turned the Asian Cup on its head but this was the greatest shock of all. Japan are out of the Asian Cup, and the Socceroos face a semifinal with the UAE after the Middle East side incredibly beat Japan on penalties at ANZ Stadium last night.

Ahead for most of the game through Ali Mabkhout’s seventh minute goal, the UAE held out until Gaku Shibasaki’s equaliser in the 81st minute. But instead of crumbling, they held on grimly through extra time and forced a shootout.

When Shinji Kagawa, the former Manchester United star, hit the post with Japan’s fifth spotkick, Ismail Ahmed lashed home the deciding penalty.

Keisuke Honda of Japan reacts after missing the first penalty of the shootout.

Perhaps Japan were already thinking of the semifinal beforehand for there had been a diffidence from the start that the UAE side seized upon. The game was in its seventh minute when Mabkhout’s intelligent run was picked out with a raking pass. As he sprinted on the angle into the box, Mabkout brought the ball down with one touch, and lashed the ball into the far corner with his second.

It was some goal, and not undeserved. But instead of taking encouragement, UAE seemed to settle for the lead and began to retreat. Thus the pattern was established of neat and progressive movement from Japan, with little to show.

United Arab Emirates players celebrate after sending Japan home.

Honda did fluff one quick chance, hitting a cross on the half-volley from 10m over the bar. Then Gotoko Sakai turned neatly on the right wing and crossed deep to the far post where an unmarked Takashi Inui headed straight at keeper Majed Naser.

Honda almost ended the half with an equaliser, but after cutting in from the right drilled his shot a fraction wide. For the UAE there was only an occasional foray, but Omar Abdulrahman almost made Japan pay again early in the second half, this time with a chipped through ball that Mabkhout connected with but without enough force to disturb Elji Kawashima in the Japanese goal.

Ismail Ahmed of the United Arab Emirates celebrates with teammates.

Kagawa was off target.

That seemed to stir Japan, for now the urgency was obvious in their movement. Twice, Yoshinori Muto, on as a sub, could have levelled things - first with a shot just wide from the edge of the box, then with a free header 8m out that somehow he steered wide.

With an hour gone Honda’s touch set up Shinji Kagawa for a shot from 15m that Naser saved with a strong left hand as Japan laid siege to the UAE goal. Yohei Toyoda, just introduced, headed criminally wide unmarked from 8m, then Kagawa blazed over. But finally the pressure told, in some style. Shibasaki played the ball into Honda’s feet on the edge of the box and struck the return ball crisply into the bottom corner.

That meant extra time, though Kagawa almost won it with the final kick of normal time. Japan’s possession increased further, to almost absolute, but none of the chances that came could be converted.

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