It's Japan vs. UAE

GUANGZHOU: Japan inched closer to its dream of winning a first Asian Games football gold medal by coming from behind to beat four-time champion Iran 2-1 in a nail-biting semifinal on Tuesday. It will take on UAE which beat South Korea in the other last-four encounter.

Striker Arash Afshin opened the scoring for Iran on six minutes before Kota Mizunuma brought Japan level seven minutes before half-time and the classy Kensuke Nagai grabbing the winner on 60 minutes.

The result gave Japan revenge for its defeat to Iran in the 2002 final at Busan in South Korea, although it had to fight hard for the win. Afshin put Iran in front when he picked up a ball whipped in from the right and lashed it past goalkeeper Yuki Saneto from six yards. But Japan, despite being an Asian football powerhouse has never won an Asiad title, always looked like getting back in it. It came into the game boosted by the fitness of the tournament's joint top scorer Nagai, but it was Kota Mizunuma who levelled scores.

The 20-year-old stabbed the ball through the legs of Iran goalkeeper and captain Osgouei Rahmati and past two defenders on the line after a goalmouth scramble. In an open game, the dangerous Ashfin had the chance to put Iran in front again just before the break but his 30-yard drive was gathered by Saneto.

Intriguing second half

Both sides came out for the second-half fired up and Iran was unfortunate not to get a second on 53 minutes when Karim Ansari's long-range strike was parried by the goalkeeper. Afshin followed up on the rebound only to miss burying it under pressure from a defender.

It was Nagai who broke the deadlock with a goal that Wayne Rooney would have been proud of. He picked the ball up outside the penalty area and dribbled past three defenders before unleashing a right-foot drive into the bottom left-hand corner. It sparked Iran into a frantic search for goals and it was unlucky not to level when Ansari put the ball into the net 16 minutes from time only to be judged offside.

The Iranians were throwing everything they had at the Japanese goal and Hamidreza Akiasgaridehaghi hit the post and they had a penalty appeal turned down, but Japan held on for a narrow victory.

UAE beats Korea

The Gulf side knocked out South Korea in the other semifinal with the last kick of extra-time. South Korea, gold medallists in 1986, wasted the best opportunities of the game, and it was made to pay when centre-forward Ahmed Al Abry slotted the ball past substitute goalkeeper Lee Bum-Young.

Penalty specialist Lee had replaced starter Kim Seung-Gyu just moments earlier with Korea expecting the game to be decided by a shootout.

South Korea had the best of the early chances and UAE keeper Ali Housani needlessly put his side under pressure when he opted to punch rather than catch a teasing cross. But Hong Jeong-Ho was off target with his long-range response.— AFP