The Hindu : Sport / Football : Japan shoots out Australia

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Japan shoots out Australia

Mahmoud shines in Iraq’s win

— PHOTO: AFP

DIVING SAMURAI: Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was the hero for Japan on Saturday.

HANOI: Japan won a tense penalty shootout here on Saturday to beat a desperately unlucky Australia after a high-octane game in gruelling conditions to make the Asian Cup football semifinals.

Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi was the defending champion’s hero, blocking the Socceroos’ first two spot kicks from Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill, with Yuji Nakazawa scoring the winner.

The match ended 1-1 after extra time with two goals in the span of three minutes in the second half sparking it into life.

John Aloisi made the breakthrough for Australia in the 69th minute only for Naohiro Takahara to level soon after.

Attacking mood

Japan came out for the second half in an attacking mood and nearly opened the scoring in the first minute when Kengo Nakamura forced a fine one-handed save from a diving Schwarzer.

Kewell was introduced with 30 minutes left, replacing a tired Viduka, and sparked the Socceroos to life.

The deadlock didn’t last long with Aloisi latching onto a Kewell corner that sneaked through at least three pairs of legs.

Short-lived joy

Australia’s joy was short-lived with Takahara levelling barely three minutes later after an horrendous mistake by Mark Milligan who failed to clear a loose ball.

Japan pressed for victory in extra time and had several chances, but it petered out into a battle of stamina that ended in the penalty shootout.

Skipper’s effort

Meanwhile in Bangkok, skipper Younis Mahmoud powered Iraq into only its second Asian Cup semifinal with a double to sink plucky Vietnam 2-0.

Iraq will learn their semifinal opponent on Sunday when Iran takes on South Korea in Malaysia.

The brace took striker Mahmoud’s goal tally to three for the tournament. Iraq scored from its first attack with Mahmoud doing the damage with a glancing header off a Nashat Akram free kick in only the second minute.

Abid Ali came on for midfielder Haitham Khadir, who came off second best in a 28th-minute challenge with Phung Cong Minh, who was yellow-carded by the referee.

Midfielder Nguyen Vu Phong forced goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abbas to punch clear a dangerous curling free kick shortly after half-time.

But Mahmoud killed off the game with a beautifully-struck free kick in the 66th minute.

The results: Quarterfinals: