The two sides fought to a 1-1 draw in normal time and 2-2 tie in extra time, but its was the defending champion Iran that got the last laugh with an 8-7 win on penalties.
Midfielder Adel Kolah-Kaj released Arash Borhani with a superb through ball on 39 minutes and the fast-paced striker duped the Chinese keeper and invited his teammates to join before carrying the ball beyond the goal line.
Borhani’s move stirred up anger among Chinese players and reporters who dismissed it as derogatory while the Iranian forward justified that he wanted to score a goal he had not before. Borhani, however, apologized.
Defender Feng Xiaoting celebrated the equalizer in the 51st minute, poking home after his Iranian opposite number Mohsen Arzani failed to block a corner.
Although China lost Zhu Ting for a dangerous tackle on Jalal Akabri on 62 minutes, it took the lead eight minutes into extra time when Zhou Haibin wasted no time, firing the ball past keeper Hassan Rudbarian with an angled shot.
Brazilian manager Rene Simoes had fullback Seyyed Jalal Hosseini to thank for latching on a perfect defense-splitting pass from Maziar Zare’ in the last seconds of the first extra time and making it 2-2 with a neat side-footed drive.
Rudbarian made a goalkeeping blunder on 114 minutes, passing the ball to the Chinese striker who hit the ball against the near post.
Spot-kicks gave both sides a thrilling time, with Iran celebrating the semifinal berth. Rudbarian blocked the first and his teammate Mehrdad Owladi thanked God as his spot-kick went in off the post and keeper’s back. China blamed its hoodoo after the ninth shootout was blocked by the crossbar.
KK/KK
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MNA