BEIJING, July 28: Three-time champions Iran secured a place in the Asian Cup quarterfinals at the expense of plucky Oman on Wednesday.
Iran earned the point they needed to go through with an efficient 0-0 draw against holders Japan, while Oman crashed out despite overpowering Thailand 2-0.
With a little luck, Iran could have won an absorbing contest in sweltering Chongqing. Instead, they finished runners-up in Group D on five points, two behind Japan. Iran, who won the Asian Cup in 1968, 1972 and 1976, face Group B winners South Korea on Saturday. Japan meet Jordan.
"Players in Iran are famous for being able to rise to the occasion," said Iran coach Branko Ivankovic. "I was proud of my players and the energy and emotion they showed."
It was rough justice for Oman, who were playing in their first Asian Cup finals. The Gulf side hardly deserved to lose 1-0 to Japan in their first match and were left shattered after Iran came back from two goals down to snatch a controversial equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Oman enjoyed a rare slice of luck in the 11th minute in Chengdu, Thai striker Rangsan Vivatchaichok diverting the ball past goalkeeper Punuwat Tangunurat for a bizarre own goal.
Striker Imad Ali then doubled Oman's lead with a cheeky back-heel four minutes into the second half but it was not enough with Iran comfortably holding Japan in the other match.
Talisman Ali Daei squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to score his 96th goal in 128 appearances for Iran, firing over in the 65th minute after good work from Mehdi Mahdavikia.
Mahdavikia had a penalty claim harshly waved off by Australian referee Mark Shield in the 61st minute, though replays showed the Hamburg player had been fouled by Takashi Fukunishi.
Midfielder Yasuhito Endo could have shredded Iranian nerves when he found space in the 77th minute, only to be denied by a superb save from goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour.
But Iran, who were missing three suspended players after their explosive match with Oman, held on to set up a clash with 2002 World Cup semifinalists South Korea in Jinan.
"We had a problem to deal with and we dealt with it among ourselves," said Croatian Ivankovic. "Nobody was sent home. We made adjustments to our system and moved on." Defender Mohammad Nosrati was banned for the rest of the tournament and team mates Ali Badavi and Rahman Rezaei were given two-match suspensions after incidents of off-the-ball violence during the Oman game.
"We were in a tough spot and the players responded superbly," said Ivankovic. "Everything we said we would do, we did it on the pitch today." Meanwhile, Japan, who were again roundly booed by sections of the 45,000 crowd, will be favourites to beat Jordan in Chongqing.
"It looks like the Japan team are not very welcome in Chongqing," said Japan coach Zico. "The booing made it difficult for us again but we did the job we set out to do in trying circumstances." Chinese organisers provided around 3,000 extra security officials following crowd disturbances during and after Japan's 4-1 victory over Thailand at the weekend. -Reuters
