UAE storm into football semis
They prevail over North Korea on penalties at Asian Games
The UAE beat North Korea 5-3 on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games football tournament in Indonesia on Monday to set up a semi-final showdown with Japan on Wednesday.
Keeper Mohammad Al Shamsi dived his left to save North Korea’s fourth spot-kick by So Jong-hyok, before Rashed Musabbah calmly slotted the winner, after the game finished 1-1 in normal time.
This is the UAE’s second successive penalty shoot-out win in this tournament after having also beaten hosts Indonesia 4-3 in the Last 16 on Friday.
It also avenges North Korea’s 1-0 win over the Junior Whites at the same stage in this competition at the last Asian Games in South Korea four years ago.
The UAE earlier sneaked through their group as the fourth of four best third placed runners-up after defeats to Syria 1-0 and China 2-1 either side of a 4-1 win over East Timor.
Kim Yu-song put North Korea in front on 63 minutes after heading in a cross from Kang Kuk-chol, but the UAE equalised through Ali Yahyaee four minutes later with a similar cross and header supplied by Zayed Al Ameri.
The Koreans had another Kim Yu-song header from a corner disallowed just 10 minutes after his opener for an alleged shove on Ahmad Al Mehrzi.
The decision forced the game into extra-time after which Kim Kuk-bom hit the post on 98 minutes.
In the shoot-out, Ahmad Al Attas, Zayed Al Ameri, Khalid Al Dhanhani and Hussain Abdullah all converted as did Kim Yusong, Jang Kuk-chol and Ri Unchol, but when So Jong-hyok missed the fourth, it was down to Musabbah to seal the victory.
South Korea through
Maciej Skorza’s side now play Japan from 4.30pm (UAE time) tomorrow after the Samurai Blue beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Monday’s earlier quarter-final.
Yugo Tatsuta’s own goal before half-time cancelled out Yuto Iwasaki’s post half hour opener, before Iwasaki completed his brace with a 73rd minute winner.
In the other half of the draw, South Korea also overcame Uzbekistan 4-3 thanks to a late extra-time penalty from Hwang Hee-chan on 117 minutes, after it ended 3-3 in normal time.
South Korea were 2-1 up at half time with two goals from Hwang Ui-jo either side of Jaloliddin Masharipov’s effort.
Uzbekistan then came back to lead 3-2 after early second half goals from Ikromjon Alibaev and an own goal by Hwang Hyun-soo, but Ui-jo completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes to spare to send the game into extra-time.
South Korea will play Vietnam in tomorrow’s other semifinal from 1pm (UAE time) after the Vietnamese beat Syria 1-0 in extra-time of the other quarter-final, courtesy of a 108th minute winner from Van Toan Nyuyen.
This is the UAE’s second successive penalty shootout win in this tournament after having also beaten hosts Indonesia 4-3 in the last 16.