Iran eliminate Japan from Asian Cup after Jahanbakhsh nets late penalty

In their quarter-final clash at Education City Stadium on Saturday, Iran secured a 2-1 victory over Japan, eliminating the four-time champions from the Asian Cup. The decisive moment came in stoppage time when skipper Alireza Jahanbakhsh successfully converted a penalty.

With the match between the top two ranked teams in Asia tied at 1-1, Iran secured a victory in the dying moments of the game. In the fourth minute of added time, Jahanbakhsh confidently struck the ball into the top corner from the penalty spot, prompting a thunderous cheer from the Iranian fans in the stadium.

This win holds special significance for Iran as it avenges their semi-final loss to Japan in the 2019 tournament. As the final whistle blew, the Iranian bench flooded onto the pitch in celebration, while Jahanbakhsh, overcome with relief, dropped to the ground. Many players were moved to tears of joy.

Iran, who are aiming for a record-equalling fourth Asian Cup title, had not defeated Japan in 19 years. Additionally, this victory extends Amir Ghalenoei's unbeaten streak to 16 matches since taking charge in March.

Speaking to reporters, Ghalenoei expressed his pride in the team's performance, stating that the result could be a turning point for Iranian football. He commended the players for their dedication and effort on behalf of their people.

Iran will soon discover their semi-final opponents, with defending champions Qatar facing Uzbekistan and Jordan playing against South Korea in the other semi-final.

The game started cautiously, with both teams engaging in a physical contest. Japan took the lead through Hidemasa Morita, who skillfully maneuvered past four defenders before beating Alireza Beiranvand in goal, momentarily silencing the Iranian fans.

However, the atmosphere quickly changed when Iran equalized ten minutes into the second half. Sardar Azmoun played a brilliant pass to Mohammad Mohebi, who skillfully evaded his marker and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, igniting the crowd.

After the equalizer, Iran took control of the game, pressing hard in defense and launching relentless attacks. Their persistence paid off in added time of the second half when Japan's Ko Itakura made a costly mistake, tripping Hossein Kanani in the penalty box. The referee immediately awarded a penalty, which Jahanbakhsh confidently converted to secure the victory.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu expressed his congratulations to Iran while acknowledging the unfortunate reality of their departure from the tournament at the quarter-final stage.

He expressed his sympathy towards their fans and everyone involved in Japanese football. Moriyasu also expressed regret for not being able to provide a happier moment for the earthquake victims and took responsibility for the outcome.

He emphasized the need for improvement in various aspects, particularly in defense, as they conceded goals in all five matches of the tournament.

Moriyasu highlighted the importance of keeping a clean sheet in order to secure victories and admitted that they struggled to handle the pressure exerted on their defense by the opposing teams.