Iran fights back to send Japan packing
Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored from the spot in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Iran came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 and head into the AFC Asian Cup semifinals.
It was a game of different halves in Al Rayyan’s Education City Stadium as the Blue Samurai – the most decorated team in the competition with four trophies – drew the first blood through Hidemasa Morita’s 28th-minute strike from inside the box in a cagy first half before a much-improved performance saw Iran dominate after the break.
Amir Qalenoei’s men were rewarded for their brave display 10 minutes into the second period when Sardar Azmoun’s pinpoint pass released Mohammad Mohebbi behind the Japanese backline before the Rostov winger’s low drive went past goalkeeper Zion Suzuki into the bottom corner.
Azmoun thought he gave Team Melli a well-deserved lead with a remarkable finish in the 63rd minute, only to see his goal chalked off by the linesman for a marginal offside, and Mohebbi could have doubled his tally for the night but his free header on the far post hit the side netting four minutes later.
Iran kept digging in for the winner and just when the two sides seemed to be heading into an additional 30 minutes of extra time the pressure paid off as Hossein Kan’ani was brought down in the box by Kou Itakura, convincing the referee to blow in his whistle for a spot kick.
While sections of Iranian fans turned their back to the Japanese goal as they couldn’t bear to watch the penalty being taken, Feyenoord midfielder Jahanbakhsh kept his composure to bury the ball into the top-left corner, sending his fellow citizens in the stands into raptures.
Having played to a nervy and frustrating shootout victory over Syria less than 72 hours before the game, not to mention missing prolific striker Mahdi Taremi through suspension, Iran was clearly the ultimate underdog heading into Saturday’s game, but Qalenoei and his men deserve all the credit for outplaying the pretournament favorites in the second half and staying on course for a first trophy in the continent’s flagship international tournament since 1976.