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China in first-ever Asian Cup final after defeating Iran
2004-08-03
Chinese player Zhao Junzhe competing for the ball. Host China advanced to their first-ever Asian Cup final on August 3rd 2004 with a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Iran after tying 1-1 in regulation time. |
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BEIJING - Host China advanced to their first-ever Asian Cup final on Wednesday with a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Iran after tying 1-1 in regulation time.China will face defending champion Japan on Saturday, while Iran will play Bahrain on Friday for third place in Asia's premier soccer tournament. With past champion Iran reduced to ten men for much of the match, Arie Haan's team pressed the attack, but weren't able to break the deadlock in extra time. Victory came when Chinese goalkeeper Liu Yunfei batted down Yahya Golmohammadi's chipped penalty shot, setting off a delirious celebration among the more than 50,000 fans in Beijing's Workers' Stadium, the venue for the final. ``We fought and we fought and we never gave up. Now we've got to be ready for Japan who are definitely the strongest team in the region,'' said midfielder Shao Jiayi, who scored China's sole regulation time goal. China opened scoring with Shao's 19th minute strike. Collecting a pass from Li Jingyu, veteran striker Hao Haidong ran the ball down to the left hand corner and shook off three defenders before passing to Shao, who raced up and buried the ball in the net. Minutes later, Hao was brought down by a vicious tackle in front of the Iranian goal, but Lebanese referee Talaat Najim called no foul. Bleeding from the head, Hao had to be taken out of the stadium on a stretcher, with Manchester City defender Sun Jihai taking his place. Iran equalized in the 38th minute when Sayyed Mohammed Alavi pounced on a short pass from Mehdi Mahdavikia, striking a rocketing shot from the edge of the penalty box. Iran was reduced to 10 men shortly after the start of the second half when Sattar Zare was sent off for fighting with Shao. Zare pushed Shao lightly in the chest, but Shao fell to the ground dramatically, grasping his throat in pantomimed agony. China have defeated Japan only twice in their last ten meetings, but will enjoy a major home advantage. Chinese fans have booed Japan throughout the tournament, an expression of continuing Chinese resentment over Japan's brutal World War II occupation of their country. ``At the end of the game when it's penalties you need a little bit of luck too,'' Haan said. ``We have plenty to think about that was good, but it is not yet finished,'' he added. Lineups China: Liu Yunfei, Sun Xiang, Zhang Yaokun, Zheng Zhi, Shao Jiayi, Zheng Bin (Li Xiaopeng, 112), Hao Haidong (Sun Jihai, 29), Li Weifeng, Zhao Junzhe, Li Ming (Yan Song, 75), Li Jinyu. Iran: Ebrahim Mirzapour, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Yahya Golmohammadi, Rahman Rezaei, Javad Nekounam, Ali Karimi, Ali Daei, Hossein Kabi (Eman Mobali, 118), Jalal Kameli (Ebrahim Taghipour , 118), Sayyed Mohammed Alavi (Ali Badavi, 52), Sattar Zare. Referee: Talaat Najim, (Lebanon).
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