Iran reach semis after shootout win over China

Reuters - Iran beat China 8-7 in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Al-Rayyan stadium on Saturday to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Games soccer tournament.

After both teams had missed once from the spot, defending champions Iran went through when Zhao Ming cannoned China's ninth spot kick against the crossbar.

The marathon shootout followed a 1-1 draw at the end of 90 minutes and 2-2 draw after extra time.
Iran broke the deadlock on 39 minutes with a unique piece of showmanship from Arash Borhani, who latched on to a through ball by Mehrdad Oladi Ghadikolaei to round the Chinese keeper.

Borhani stopped the ball on the line with his back to goal and beckoned his team mates over before tapping the ball in, as the Chinese simply gaped in amazement.

China replied six minutes after the break, central defender Feng Xiaoting firing home from nine metres after Mohsen Arzani failed to clear a corner from the right.

The Chinese were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Zheng Zhi put in a reckless challenge on Jalal Akbari Kelishadi, resulting in the Iranian being carried off on a stretcher.

Iran piled on the pressure, with Borhani a constant menace, but they were unable to add to their tally in regulation time.

Zhou Haibin put China ahead seven minutes into extra time, hammering home from 12 yards after a neat pass from Zheng, before Iran tied the game at 2-2 near the end of the first extra period through Jalal Hosseini to send the game into spot kicks.

Iran, who were nearly denied the chance to defend their title after the country was suspended from international competition for political interference in its game, will meet either Thailand or hosts Qatar in the last four.