DOHA: Iran will meet Japan on Saturday in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after surviving extra time with 10 men before defeating Syria 5-3 on penalties here Wednesday.
Pre-tournament favourites, Japan beat Bahrain 3-1 despite another mistake from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, as Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma made his first appearance in Qatar after injury.
Captain Ehsan Hajsafi scored the winning penalty for Iran, who sit 70 places above Syria and have comfortably been the better team for more than an hour of their last 16 matches.
Iran played the final 30 minutes albeit with 10 men after Porto striker Mehdi Taremi was sent off for a second yellow card in a 1-1 draw at the end of normal time.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was Iran’s penalty hero, saving Syria’s second free kick from Fahd Youssef.
Along with Qatar, Iran also entered the game as the only team in the competition with a 100 percent record. They are aiming for their first Asian Cup since 1976.
Syria were barely in the game but equalized just after the hour, also from the spot, before Taremi was sent off in second-half injury time.
The two teams could not be separated in overtime, even with Iran playing a man down.
Syria’s wily Argentine Hector Cuper praised his team adding: “I can’t ask more of them.” The 68-year-old, however, refused to commit his future to Syria, saying: “Next week we will sit together (with football officials) and talk and see if I will stay or I have other options.”
