Chinese language - Asian Cup: Iraq edges South Korea on penalties, into first final

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Sports / Soccer

Asian Cup: Iraq edges South Korea on penalties, into first final

(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-25 22:52

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia _ Noor Sabri made the crucial save and Iraq
advanced to its first Asian Cup final by winning a penalty shootout 4-3
over South Korea on Wednesday, prompting wild celebrations in the
war-torn nation.

With the shootout tied at 3-3, the Iraqi goalkeeper tipped Yeom Ki-hun's
left-foot stab around the post to give his side the edge in the shootout,
after regulation and extra time failed to produce a goal.

After Iraq converted its fourth penalty, Kim Jung-woo had to find the net
to keep the game alive, but his shot hit the right post, prompting the
Iraqis to swamp Sabri in celebrations that were mirrored in their
homeland.

"You know the situation of the difficulties in Iraq," Noor Sabri said
after the game.

"What we can achieve inside the field its a modest thing we can give to
our people. We have to show them we are sharing with them the
celebrations."

With their unlikely run through the tournament drawing wide attention and
causing rare joy in their homeland, the Iraqis go into Sunday's final as
sentimental favorite.

Iraq will meet the winner of Wednesday's later match between defending
champion Japan and Saudi Arabia.

"This victory to bring us to the final, the Iraq people deserve that,"
Iraq's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira said.

"We are in the final, you to support us one more game."

The match began with a very cautious first half, with the teams adjusting
to playing conditions made difficult by a pre-match downpour.

The closest either team came to a breakthrough in that half was when Iraq
striker Younis Mahmoud shot narrowly wide just before the break.

South Korea stepped up the pace in the second half. Lee Chun-soo volleyed
into the side netting in the 70th minute and Yeom Ki-hun missed with his
first-time freekick and a rebound from the edge of the area in the last
seconds.

Having survived the Korean onslaught, Iraq looked revived in extra time.

Iraq missed the go-ahead goal by an inch late in the first period of
extra time when Hawar Mulla's shot from goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae's
fingertip deflection hit the near post and Kim Jin-kyu cleared it off his
line.

Ahmed Menajed created a chance in the second period of extra time as Lee
rushed forwards, but the cross was poor and missed Younis Mahmoud in good
position.

South Korea faced its second penalty in four days, but where it succeeded
in the quarterfinal over Iran, it failed against Iraq.

After the game, coach Pim Verbeek said he had already decided on his
future, but would not reveal it publicly for a few days.

"We didn't create enough, but we tried everything," Verbeek said.

"We were attacking, attacking, attacking and waiting for the
counterattack that didn't come.

"Let us say we had an exciting Asian Cup. Three days ago everything was
fantastic, today we are very, very disappointed."

Iraq topped Group A following a 3-1 win over pre-tournament favorite
Australia and reached its first Asian Cup semifinal since 1976 with a
comfortable 2-0 win over Vietnam at Bangkok on Saturday.

That ended a run of three consecutive quarterfinal defeats for the Iraqis
at the continental championship.

The South Koreans, World Cup semifinalists in 2002, have not reached a
final at the Asian Cup since losing the 1988 decider to Saudi Arabia on
penalties.

South Korea won the first two editions but have been unable to add
another title since 1960.

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