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Japan, China set up explosive Asian Cup final
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-08-04 10:54
Defending champions Japan staged an epic fightback against a determined
Bahrain to win a seven-goal thriller and set up an explosive Asian Cup final
against hosts China, who downed Iran.
China's Shao Jiayi
celebrates after scoring his team first goal against Iran during their
semifinal match at the Asian Cup in Beijing August 3, 2004. China beat
Iran 5-4 in a penalty shootout. [Reuters] | Japan
sneaked into their third final in 12 years thanks to a superbly taken extra time
goal from Keiji Tamada after twice clawing back from behind in an incident
packed 4-3 victory in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province.
China were also forced to extra time, holding their nerve to make their first
final in 20 years after a dramatic penalty shootout.
In a nailbiting finish, Chinese goalkeeper Liu Yunfei proved the hero,
blocking a spot kick by Yahya Golmohammadi to send the hosts through 4-3 after
the game ended 1-1 after extra time.
They are now unbeaten in 19 games stretching back to December 2003.
"For us it was like a novel. The scenario was right and we came out the
winners in the end... but it is not finished," said China's coach Arie Haan.
It will be an intimidating atmosphere for Japan when they face China at the
65,000 capacity Workers' Stadium in Beijing on Saturday.
Japanese players have been heckled throughout the tournament by local crowds
still incensed over Japan's World War II atrocities, and more of the same will
likely be in store.
The incessant booing has become so bad that Japanese ministers and
politicians complained Tuesday, calling on the Chinese government to take
politics out of sport.
On the pitch, Japan shrugged off the crowd antics to stage a remarkable
comeback against Gulf minnows Bahrain who have been the surprise of the
tournament.
Japan's Keiji Tamada celebrates
the winning goal to help Japan defeat Bahrain during the Asian Cup
semifinal in Jinan, the capital city of China's northern Shandong
province. [AFP] | Reduced to 10-men when Yasuihito
Endo was controversially sent off 40 minutes into the first half, the champions
had to dig deep.
They showed a never-say-die attitude that saw Tamada grab the winner three
minutes into extra time after defender Yuji Nakazawa made it 3-3 with a diving
header with just seconds remaining of normal play.
"I've been in soccer 40 years and I've seen some very exciting matches," said
Japanese coach Zico, a key member of Brazil's legendary 1982 World Cup team.
"This was an exciting match... all the players have to play harder when a
player gets sent off -- they did that today."
Bahrain had looked to have one foot in the final when substitute Duaij Nasser
pounced for his second of the tournament with just five minutes remaining but
Tamada's effort completed a roller-coaster encounter which saw the lead change
hands four times.
Tournament top-scorer A'ala Hubail had ignited the match after burying a
right-footed shot past Japan 'keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi on six minutes.
The goal stung Japan into action but their cause was dealt a blow when Endo
was given his marching orders after brushing past Mohamad Salmeen, who went down
clutching his face.
But Japan hit back after the break when Nakata rose at the near post to head
in a corner, then Tamada rifled a shot past Ali Saeed just minutes later.
Bahrain pressed their advantage with A'ala Hubail scoring his fifth of the
tournament with just 20 minutes left.
But the Bahraini celebrations proved premature, and with tempers flaring
Sayed Jalal was red carded for punching Shunsuke Nakamura in extra time.
In Beijing, China completed the jigsaw that started on July 17 when 16 teams
started their Cup campaign.
They made a meal of it though, failing to capitalise after Iranian defender
Sattar Zare was sent off early in the second half for shoving midfield dynamo
Shao Jiayi.
China opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Shao broke down the middle
and fed a ball through Hao Haidong.
The veteran centre forward shook off a challenge before squaring the ball
back to Shao who made no mistake from 12 metres out.
China pressed forward but Sayyed Alavi brought Iran level seven minutes from
the break, sidefooting past Chinese keeper Liu Yunfei from 25 yards.
The match was up for grabs in extra time with both sides going close, but no
one finding the killer final touch.
With the game 1-1 after extra time, Zhao Junzhe missed China's second spot
kick in the penalty shootout before Eman Mobati did the same to put the two
teams back level, leaving Liu to save the day.
Bahrain play Iran in the third-placed play-off in Beijing on Friday.
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