ABU DHABI (REUTERS) - Regional heavyweights Iran underlined their Asian Cup title credentials with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Marcello Lippi's China on Thursday (Jan 24) to reach the semi-finals of the continental championship for the first time since 2004.
Goals from forwards Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard combined with a record-equalling fifth straight clean sheet was enough to set up a last four date with four-times champions Japan in Al Ain next Monday.
Outmuscled by the physical Iranians and embarrassed by a series of defensive howlers, China sent World Cup-winning coach Lippi into almost certain retirement by exiting with barely a whimper at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
The lively Iranian forward line were allowed far too much space from the start and winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh sent a cross-shot whistling past the post in the fourth minute.
The massed ranks of Iran fans did not have to wait long for the first goal, though, and it came in the 18th minute from the simplest of long balls up the middle.
China defender Feng Xiaoting hesitated and Azmoun pounced, taking his time to turn before sliding the ball across the area to the unmarked Mehdi, who had all the time in the world to stroke it into the net.
Mehdi looked unlucky not to get a penalty three minutes later but the match official resisted Iranian pleas that he check with the video assistant referee (VAR), newly installed for the quarter-finals.
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Feng was hauled off in the 28th minute but two minutes later another Chinese defender was deceived by a long ball, Azmoun wrestling his way past Liu Yiming before rounding goalkeeper Yan Junling and slotting the ball into the net from an angle.
China came out with a little more purpose after the break and substitute Xiao Zhi ballooned a header over the bar but they were still caught in possession too often and Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand snuffed out anything too dangerous.
Fullback Ehsan Hajsafi drilled a low shot towards the China goal on the hour mark that Yan did well to push away and it looked like, as in their last 16 match against Oman at the same stadium, Iran would be unable to score after the break.
In stoppage time, however, Mehdi robbed China's Shi Ke on the halfway line and his pass sent Ansarifard clear to put the gloss on another emphatic step towards ending Iran's 43-year wait for a fourth continental title.
Shawal strikes for Geylang to make it seven SPL defeats for Young Lions Young Lions will face Home United FC a week later at Bishan Stadium while the Eagles get a short three-day break before
SPL - 10/21 - Shanghai Lions Football Club
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In the first half the youngster were a bit afraid especially because the seniors took an early lead but the managed to score a goal back thru Thai Striker Bank, 3-1 at half time and in the second half the young Lions played good football and proved not to be a walk over.
Football Association of Singapore - spl.sg
spl.sg/singapore-premier-league-week-1-roundup/
- Young Lions have not beaten Balestier in any of their last nine encounters now, drawing one of those. - Huzaifah Aziz has now scored against Young Lions in each of Balestier's last three trips to Jalan Besar. - This is Balestier's first opening league win since 2010 (2-1 vs Hougang), having lost each of their last four.
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