Asian Cup 2015: classic night as United Arab Emirates, Iraq kick on and Japan, Iran bow out

FROM Panenka penalties to send offs, unbearably tense shootouts, calamitous misses and cranky coaches, Friday night Asian Cup action had everything.

United Arab Emirates players celebrate their victory against Japan during the quarter-final football match between Japan and UAE at the AFC Asian Cup in Sydney on January 23, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE

IT was a night to live on in football memory for years.

Australia has hosted an incredible Asian Cup but it lifted to another level on Friday with two incredible quarter-finals which saw favourites Iran and Japan bundled out amid scenes of unbelievable tension.

From Panenka penalties to send offs, unbearably tense shootouts, nerves of steel, calamitous misses, some serious simulation, cranky coaches and wild celebrations, the night had everything.

Let’s catch our breath and answer the big questions and relive the highlights.

First of all, what is the upshot of the night?

Japan and Iran — the two tournaments and highest ranked sides according to FIFA — are on their way home.

It’s now semi-final time.

Iraq will face South Korea on Monday at ANZ Stadium in Sydney from 8pm (EDT).

The Socceroos then face United Arab Emirates in Newcastle on Tuesday night from 8pm (EDT).

What happened to Japan?

Blue Samurai won’t be defending their crown from Qatar four years ago.

They huffed and they puffed but in the end they couldn’t put resilient United Arab Emirates away despite dominating possession and creating a plethora of chances.

Superstars Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda were the main culprits, not only missing penalties in the shootout — and in Honda’s case horribly — but also wasting the bulk of the chances.

Stung by Ali Mabkhout’s early goal, Japan regrouped but didn’t find an equaliser until Gaku Shibasaki’s late effort.

UAE hung on grimly through extra time and then held their nerve in the shootout — with Omar Abdulrahman a stand-out.

Are United Arab Emirates a chance of knocking over Australia?

Definitely! After toppling Japan, they are full of confidence and have an undeniable attacking threat that Ange Postecoglou’s men will have to be wary of.

Coach Mahdi Ali looks to have timed their run to perfection and in attacking midfielder Omar Abdulrahman they have perhaps the star of the tournament so far.

Ali Mabkhout has scored four goals in the tournament and Majed Naser has reduced heroics in goal.

Ali acknowledged they would be underdogs at Hunter Stadium but said the Japan win gave them momentum.

“We played a fantastic game against Iran but we lost,” Ali said.

“I told the players it’s not always that you have to play very nice football to win the game. Sometimes, you have to play with your heart, with your spirit and we worked very hard to win this game.”

“Playing against Australia in Australia will be a very tough game.”

Can Iraq back up and beat South Korea?

The Iraq-Iran clash was an absolute classic! End-to-end stuff that could easily rival any of the great games over the years - Italy-Brazil 1982 World Cup, Liverpool-AC Milan 2005 Champions League final and the Manchester United-Bayern Munich Champions League decider from 1999 come to mind.

Trying to do it again 72 hours later will be tough though. They only have two days to prepare while the Koreans get an extra 24 hours.

Certainly they will be buoyant but 120 minutes of action plus a penalty shootout will have taken a lot out of them.

Coach Radhi Shenaishil has put together an excellent squad infused with youth and experience.

Ahmed Yaseen, 23, and 20-year-old Dhurgham Ismail have been fine discoveries and could hold the key to further progress.

Could it be shades of 2007 when they won the tournament as outsiders?

Has there been a more tense penalty shootout than in Canberra?

The first two penalties were missed but 12 of the next 13 were of the highest quality.

The roof of the net had a good workout and the goalkeepers barely had a sniff.

The unfortunate player to miss late on for Iran was Vahid Airy but even his penalty hit the inside of the post and went tantalisingly across the face of goal.

Salam Shakir then held his nerve to send Alireza Haghighi the wrong way.

What about those Panenkas?

PERFECT PANENKAS ADD CLASS TO NIGHT OF DRAMA

Amid two tense shootouts, Abdulrahman and Iraq star Younis Mahmoud produced moments of pure audacity that would have brought a smile to former Czechoslovakian star Antonin Panenka, who was credited with giving birth to the art form back in 1976.

UAE star Abdulrahman gave Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima a shock when he committing the veteran to move to the right early before deftly chipping straight down the middle.

A couple of hours earlier in Canberra, Mahmoud produced his own brand of showmanship, calmly sending Alireza Haghighi the wrong way.

Why are Iran livid at Ben Williams?

Iran played with 10-men from the 43rd minute when the Australian referee stunned the crowd by sending off Mehrdad Pooladi for simulation.

Defender Pooladi, who was booked earlier in the half, went to ground after a collision with Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan.

Williams didn’t take too kindly to it and brandished a yellow card, seemingly unaware that he had already booked the 27-year-old.

It took several seconds — and complaints from Iraqi players — before Williams realised his mistake and sent him off.

Iran coach Carlos Quieroz was furious — to say the least.

“I don’t have many comments about Mr. Williams because if I make comments today I finish my career and I don’t think after 34 years that I deserve to finish my career here,” he said.

“But can he (the referee) sleep tonight?

“It’s just a question. If it’s necessary I put my knees to the ground to show my respect and humble attitude to ask him how we understand this decision, you tell me.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: classic night as United Arab Emirates, Iraq kick on and Japan, Iran bow out