Alireza Jahanbakhsh sent the Iran crowd and fellow players into ecstasy when he decided the quarter-final against Japan in the Asian Championship. Photo: Aijaz Rahi / AP / NTB
By NTB | 02/03/2024 14:42:20
Sport: Feyenoord pro Alireza Jahanbakhsh became the big hero when he scored the match-winning goal from the penalty spot. Iran turned the game around in the second half after trailing at the break.
Hidemasa Morita sent Japan into the lead after 27 minutes, while Mohammad Mohebi equalized nine minutes after switching sides.
Japan are Asia’s highest-ranked team and were among the favorites to win the tournament. They lost the final to Qatar in the Asian Championship four years ago.
Iran won the Asian Championship three times in a row from 1968 to 1976, but has not been champion since. Either the host nation Qatar or Uzbekistan await in the semi-finals.
(©NTB)