Holders Qatar beat Uzbekistan after Iran knocked out four-times champions Japan with crucial, decision-making victories in this, the quarter-finals, of the AFC Asian Cup.
Qatar got through to the semi-finals after winning in a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Cup after Uzbekistan goalkeeper, Utkir Yusupov, pushed the ball into his own net after a Hassan Al-Haydos cross to give Qatar a first-half lead. But Odiljon Hamrobekov then fired into the bottom corner to level for Uzbekistan in the 59th minute and the scores remained level throughout extra time.
With the game ending in stalemate, Asian Cup hosts Qatar went on to win the heart-stopping shootout 3-2. Earlier, 2019 winners, Iran, came from behind to knock out four-time champions Japan after Hidemasa Morita's 28th-minute goal gave the Samuri Blues a slim early lead.
Mohammad Mohebi, though, levelled for Iran (who had not beaten Japan in 19 years) in the second half after Sardar Azmoun played the ball through to him, to then slip past his marker to shoot into the bottom corner. Ten minutes after the break, Sardar Azmoun slipped the ball through to Mohebi whose first-time shot from near the penalty spot went in the net to spark the comeback.
Brighton striker, Jahanbakhsh Alireza, then scored a penalty in the sixth minute of added time to seal victory for Iran, who are looking to reach the final for the first time since they won the tournament in 1976.
“Iran should be proud,” coach Amir Ghalenoei said. “The players gave everything they had, and I think the result can be a turning point for Iranian football.”
Meanwhile, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said: “We simply have to improve in many aspects. We conceded a goal in all five matches in this tournament.
“If you don’t keep a clean sheet you can’t win.”
Two mouth-watering semi-finals now lie ahead as middle east rivals, Qatar and Iran face each other in one of the coming confrontations, while South Korea play Jordan in the other.