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Japan's Shinji Kagawa reacts after a missed scoring attempt during their Asian Cup quarter-final soccer match against UAE at the Stadium Australia in Sydney January 23, 2015. [Photo/Agencies] |
SYDNEY - United Arab Emirates produced one of the greatest Asian Cup upsets to send champions Japan tumbling out of the tournament 5-4 on penalties after their quarter-final finished 1-1 after extra time on Friday.
After Japan's Shinji Kagawa had missed the first sudden-death spot kick, defender Ismail Ahmed nervelessly converted the decisive penalty to send his team into a last four meeting with hosts Australia on Tuesday.
The winner of that semi-final in Newcastle will meet Iraq or South Korea to decide the continental champions back at Stadium Australia on Jan. 31.
Substitute Gaku Shibasaki had earlier saved the blushes of the Samurai Blue by equalising nine minutes from the end of normal time after Ali Ahmed Mabkhout had given the Gulf nation an early lead with his fourth goal of the tournament.
Mabkhout's powerful shot into the corner of the net after seven minutes was the first goal Japan had conceded in Australia, stunning the blue-shirted, drum-thumping band of their supporters behind the goal into a rare silence.
