An injury time strike from Alireja Jahanbakhsh gave a stunning victory Iran to make their room in the semifinals of the ongoing Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
Held at the Education City Stadium, Iran came from a goal down to snatch 2-1 victory over Japan to seal their place in the semifinal on Saturday.
Iran after winning the match joined DPR Korea and Jordan in the last four.
Hidemasa led the favourites Japan in the 28th minute.
Trailing by 0-1, Iran came back with 55th strike from Mohammad Mohebi and Alireja stunned all scoring in the sixth minute of the added time to have the dramatic win.
Meanwhile, an injury time penalty and scoring a stunning extra-time free-kick of Son earned DPR Korea a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Australia at Al Janoub Stadium, when a Vahdat Hanonov own goal was enough to send Jordan to the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history on Friday at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Friday.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward hauled the Taeguk Warriors back into the game after Craig Goodwin had given the Australians a 42nd minute lead with a close-range volley and the Koreans will now meet Jordan at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday for a spot in the final.
The 31-year-old was brought down deep into injury time by Lewis Miller to allow Hwang Hee-chan to thump his spot-kick past Maty Ryan before Son bent a trademark free-kick over the wall 14 minutes into extra-time to take Jurgen Klinsmann’s team through.
Australia’s hopes of clawing their way back into the game were hit when substitute Aiden O’Neill was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Hwang late in the first period of extra-time.
Goodwin picked up possession on the edge of the area after the misplaced pass and the ball was worked to Atkinson, who burst down the right to chip his pass across goal towards the former Adelaide United man and he smashed a left foot volley beyond Jo.
The Australians should have doubled their advantage early in the second half when Martin Boyle met Goodwin’s cross with a downward header that Jo parried. Boyle’s attempt on the rebound was saved while Duke then thumping his attempted volley high over the bar.
Korea’s relentless pressure paid off five minutes into injury time when Son’s determination and skill took him past Souttar for Lewis Miller to haul down the forward, leaving referee Ahmed Abu Bakar Al Kaf no option but to point to the spot with a nerveless Hwang striking to take the game into an additional 30 minutes.
Son then delivered the killer blow when, after Hwang had been brought down on the edge of the area, he struck his right-foot shot over the wall and beyond Ryan to spark scenes of jubilation.
Jordan end Tajikistan's run
A Vahdat Hanonov own goal was enough to send Jordan to the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history, following a 1-0 victory over Tajikistan.
The West Asian nation had reached the quarter-finals twice, losing to Japan in 2004 and to Uzbekistan in 2011, while Tajikistan’s maiden continental adventure ends at the quarter-finals after a series of heroic performances in Qatar 2023.
Jordanian goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila was left watching in fear as the ball bounced off the crossbar after Ehson Panjshanbe was first to poke Shervoni Mabatshoev’s low cross from the right.
