Referee-Powered China Beat 10-Man Iran In Semi On Penalties By Kambakhsh Khalaji

Shao Jiayi took the lead for China on 18 minutes but a 30-yard curling drive by Seyyed Mohammad Alavi leveled the match in the 37^th minute.

The Iranian side received a heavy blow two minutes after the restart when Sattar Zare’ pushed Chinese skipper Li Weifeng gently in an off-the-ball incident and the referee went too far and red-carded him unexpectedly as the captain feigned injury.

The expulsion forced Iran’s Croat manager Branko Ivankovic to replace Alavi with Ali Badavi, who squandered a gilt-edged chance two minutes from extra-time when he unbelievably sent out a perfect cross by Asian Player of the Year Mahdi Mahdavikia from close range.

Referee deserved a pat on the back for all his favors he did the home team. Iranian ace Ali Karimi, who cleared the Chinese defender to beat keeper Liu Yunfei in a man-to-man challenge was fiercely brought on the edge of penalty area but the Lebanese judge just booked him.

Some 80,000 boisterous fans, who packed the Workers Stadium celebrated the result they were all waiting for at the strenuous spot-kicks that first saw Iran gain the advantage but blow it all away with two late errors that allowed China to prevail 4-3.

Earlier, a superb extra-time goal from Keiji Tamada saw Japan through to the Asian Cup final as the defending champion battled back from twice going a goal behind and a controversial red card to beat minnow Bahrain 4-3.

Tamada's second of the thrilling semifinal, three minutes into extra time, came after defender Japan Yuji Nakazawa had equalized with a diving header with just seconds remaining of normal play.

The Kashiwa Reysol forward wriggled past Mohamed Juma and Bahrain captain Faisal Abdulaziz before shrugging off defender Hussain Baba to plant a right-footed shot past keeper Ali Saeed, sparking wild celebrations on the Japan bench.

Japan now has the chance to defend their title in Saturday's final, their third in 12 years, against China.

Tamada's effort completed a roller-coaster encounter which saw the lead change hands four times.

Bahrain, population 680,000, had looked to have one foot in the final when substitute Duaij Nasser pounced for his second of the tournament with just five minutes remaining.

However, Nakazawa's header earned 10-man Japan a reprieve allowing Tamada to complete the turnaround.

Tournament top scorer A'ala Hubail, who had already netted twice, went agonizingly close to taking the game to penalties but inexplicably mistimed his tap-in to an empty goal.

Hubail had earlier ignited an incident-packed match after burying a right-footed shot past Japan's keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi on six minutes.

The goal stung Japan into action, with most of its moves coming through Alex Santos down the left wing. Striker Takayuki Suzuki missed an open goal from an Alex cross and Shunsuke Nakamura should have done better with another dangerous ball from the Brazilian-born wing-back.

Japan's cause was dealt a serious blow when Endo was given his marching orders after brushing past Mohamad Salmeen, who went down clutching his face.

But the defending champion, severely weakened by injuries and Olympics call-ups, hit back after the break when Nakata rose at the near post to head in a corner.

Tamada was given space to rifle a right-footed shot past Ali Saeed just minutes later.

Bahrain pressed its man advantage with Mohamad Al Wadaei setting up A'ala Hubail for his fifth of the tournament with just 20 minutes to go.

Substitute Nasser, the Bahraini league's top scorer, notched his second of the campaign to spark joy on the Persian Gulf team's bench with five minutes to go.

However, the celebrations proved premature as defender Nakazawa put his diving header past Saeed with just seconds remaining of normal time.

Bahrain, playing in just its second Asian Cup, was also reduced to ten men when Al Wadaei was red-carded for a foul on Nakamura in extra-time.

KK/IS

END

MNA