Japan into Asian Cup semis after shoot-out drama as Iran win thriller

Japanese players celebrate after goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi saved a penalty shot in the penalty session to give Japan a 4-3 win over Jordan. Holders Japan and three-time champions Iran battled into the last four of the Asian Cup here after winning quarter-final matches bristling with controversy and goals.

Holders Japan and three-time champions Iran battled into the last four of the Asian Cup here after winning quarter-final matches bristling with controversy and goals.

Japan set up a semi-final meeting with underdogs Bahrain on Tuesday after winning an extraordinary penalty shoot-out 4-3 against tournament debutants Jordan, who were left fuming after the defeat.

Iran meanwhile -- whose campaign was left in tatters last week after three players were hit with suspension for ill-discipline -- edged World Cup semi-finalists South Korea 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller.

The Iranians had inspirational playmaker Ali Karimi to thank for their victory, the talented attacking midfielder scoring a virtuoso hat-trick to send his team into a semi-final against hosts China.

But though Iran and South Korea's pulsating game had everything, the story of the night was in Chongqing, where Japan won on sudden death penalties after being held to 1-1 by Jordan in extra-time.

The shoot-out exploded into controversy after Japan demanded a switch of ends after missing their opening two spot-kicks, citing the condition of the pitch as being to blame.

Jordan subsequently squandered three penalties that would have won them the match after Malaysian referee Mohd Subkhiddin ordered the change of goals, Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi twice saving superbly.

Jordan coach Mahmoud Al-Gohary said the decision to switch goals had cost his team the match, which was watched by the Middle Eastern country's football-fan monarch King Abdullah II.

"We needed to have the players full concentration when they are doing the penalty kicks, but the referee switched the goals and we lost our concentration," said Al-Gohary.

"I have never seen the switch of the goal mouths in the penalty kicks just because the other side demanded it," Al-Gohary said. "We tried to move it back but they said no."

Al-Gohary's Japan counterpart Zico admitted the switch of goals was unprecedented in his career.

"I've never seen a referee change sides during the penalty shoot-out, but the referee is the final judge and we should obey his decision," Zico said.

Asian Football Confederation officials told AFP that damage to the penalty spot on the disputed side led to the decision to change sides.

Japanese skipper Tsuneyasu Miyamoto requested the change after star playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura and Brazilian-born wingback Alex blazed their opening penalties over the bar after appearing to lose their footing.

The match had gone to penalties after an absorbing 120 minutes of football saw the two sides locked at 1-1, Japan striker Takayuki Suzuki's 14th-minute goal cancelling out Jordan's early headed opener by Mahmoud Shelbaieh.

In Jinan, Karimi's third goal on 77 minutes finally put paid to some dogged resistance from South Korea, who had three times come back from a goal down.

South Korea had threatened to pull off the greatest of escapes after Park Jin-Sub's own goal early in the second half, with defender Kim Nam-Il's speculative shot levelling the scores at 3-3 with 20 minutes to go.

But Karimi, whose first-half double had ignited the quarter-final, managed to get on the end of a free kick from Asian Player of the Year Mehdi Mahdavikia to settle the encounter.

Karimi put Iran ahead after just 10 minutes, nodding past Korean 'keeper Lee Woon-Jae after Hossein Kaebi hooked across the face of goal.

But South Korea hit back just six minutes later as Seol Ki-Hyeon volleyed home a Park Ji-Sung cross from close range.

Karimi placed another downward header past Lee before tournament top-scorer Lee Dong-Gook tucked away a left-footed volley from a deflected cross on 25 minutes.