Win against Japan Takes Iran Closer to Fourth Title: AFC
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran upped its game in the second half to defeat Japan 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 quarter-finals on Saturday.
The win took Iran closer to a fourth title, having last emerged champions in 1976.
The-AFC.com took a look at some interesting facts from the absorbing match, which ended Japan's dream of a record-extending fifth title.
Iran has qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup in two consecutive editions now, having failed to do so in each of its three prior participations in the competition.
Iran logged a possession of 42% against Japan, its third lowest mark in an AFC Asian Cup game which it won since the start of the 2007 edition of the competition.
Japan registered just two shots on target against Iran; Japan averaged 3.6 shots on target per game at Qatar (18 shots on target from five games), its lowest tally in a single tournament since the start of 2007.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s goal in the 96th minute is the latest winner that Iran has scored in regulation time in AFC Asian Cup history; it is also the latest penalty (non-shootout) that Iran has scored in any AFC Asian Cup match in the 21st century.
