| Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:25 - Semi Finals | ||
 JPN | : |  KOR |
| Al-Gharafa Stadium | ||
he climax to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011™ is fast approaching with just four teams left from the 16 that travelled to the Qatari capital of Doha with hopes and dreams of being crowned the continental champions.
Hosts Qatar, defending champions Iraq as well as three-time winners Iran and Jordan all fell by the wayside as no team from west Asia reached the last four of the tournament for the first time in the competition’s history.
That leaves Japan and Korea Republic – who have won five titles between them - and first-time semi-finalists Australia and Uzbekistan to battle it out for the two spots in Saturday’s final at the Khalifa Stadium.
Alberto Zaccheroni’s Japan saw off a determined showing from Qatar, with Masahiko Inoha scoring in the final minute of a pulsating quarter-final clash to give the 10 men of the Blue Samurai a 3-2 win and a place in the nation’s fourth AFC Asian Cup semi-final.
Qatar’s campaign was one of highs and lows; from the disappointment of their 2-0 loss against Uzbekistan in their opening game through to the wins over China and Kuwait that took them into the knockout phase for only the second time in the country’s history.
They almost advanced further with goals from Sebastian Soria and Fabio Cesar looking like they would take the Qataris through to the last four before the Japanese roused themselves in astonishing fashion to progress to the semi-finals.
The Japanese have never lost in the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup but they have also never played old rivals Korea Republic at this stage of the competition.
The Koreans edged Iran in a physical encounter at Qatar Sports Club thanks to Yoon Bitgaram’s extra-time strike to leave Team Melli’s dreams of a fourth AFC Asian Cup in tatters.
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