Haan determined to finish the job

ASIANCUP2004 – China coach Arie Haan refused to let himself get carried away with the euphoria that was sweeping through the Beijing Workers’ Stadium, and the rest of the world’s most populous nation, as China booked their place in the Asian Cup final following Tuesday’s nail-biting penalty shootout win over Iran.

“We achieved something good tonight but the job is not finished,” said the Dutchman, who must know prepare his side for the final against defending champions Japan on August 7.

China, who had not beaten Iran before night for 10 years, and Iran were deadlocked at 1-1 after normal and extra time, the hosts unable to break down the three-time champions after they were reduced to 10 men following the 49th minute sending off of Sayyed Alavi.

In response, the former Holland international said: “You cannot say, ‘it’s easy, it’s 11 against 10, now go out and win’ especially against a team like Iran. 

“Once teams go down to 10 men they tend to defend with seven, eight, or nine players and Iran also have players like number two [Mehdi Mahdavikia] and number eight [Ali Karimi] who are good dribblers and very fast. 
“We were a goal up and didn’t want to open the game and risk getting caught on counter-attack.”

China’s goal scoring mission was made all the more difficult even before Alavi’s early bath, which was earned for a push on Shao Jiayi, when they lost influential forward Hao Haidong in the 29th minute after a collision with Iran goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour.

“It was very difficult losing Hao Haidong,” said Haan. “I replaced him with Sun Jihai because we were already 1-0 up. Maybe we were missing a centre forward but it was difficult to make a change.

“If you don’t score goals you don’t win the game. This is been a problem in the history of Chinese football. But we have scored 12 goals in the tournament so far and it is difficult to score against a team as well organised as Iran.”
In the end, China, who have now gone 19 games undefeated, needed penalties to get past the three-time Asian Cup champions, but itr it was probably no more than the hosts deserved as dominated proceedingsa.

“In the penalty kicks we needed luck," admitted Haan. "For us it was like a novel. The scenario was right and we came out the winners.”