AFC U20 Asian Cup:
Shootout heartbreak sends Iran packing
Iran’s bid for a first AFC U20 Asian Cup trophy since 1976 came to an end following a last-eight shootout defeat against Japan in Shenzhen, China, on Sunday.
The quarterfinal setback also saw Hossein Abdi’s boys miss out on a place in September’s FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Having made a clean sweep of three victories, including a 2-1 beating of defending champion Uzbekistan, to win Group C, Iran started right on the front foot against the Blue Samurai – runner-up in Group D – and took an early lead through Reza Ghandipour, who squeezed the ball into bottom corner five minutes into the game.
However, Japan – semifinalist in the past two editions and champion in 2016 – fought back to restore parity on the hour mark, when Kosei Ogura’s tame effort from outside the box found the back of the net.
Both sides had opportunities to score a second goal, with Japan coming close in the closing stages of normal time, before Iran pushed for the winner in the second half of extra time.
Iran got off to dreadful start in the shootout as Erfan Darivsh-Aali hit the crossbar before Pouria Shahrabadi’s effort went wide, while Yotaro Nakajima and Rento Takaoka converted from the spot.
Goalkeeper Arsha Shakouri gave Iran a lifeline as he took on the third attempt and scored and then denied Niko Takahashi.
Shakouri’s heroics, however, did little to turn the tide for Iran as Rion Ichihara’s successful effort sent the Japanese into Wednesday’s semifinal against Australia.