Iran Beats Japan 2-1 to Advance to Asian Cup Semifinals

Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
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Iran Beats Japan 2-1 to Advance to Asian Cup Semifinals

Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
Iran fans celebrate their team's win at the end of the Qatar 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Iran and Japan at Education City Stadium in al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on February 3, 2024. (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)

Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s last-minute penalty gave Iran a 2-1 win over Japan on Saturday and a place in the Asian Cup semifinals for just the second time since 2004.
Jahanbakhsh kept his cool in the 96th minute to keep Iran on course for a first title since 1976 and fourth overall. Ko Itakura had been whistled for the foul and Jahanbakhsh gave goalkeeper Zion Suzuki no chance.
Iran came from behind after Hidemasa Morita put pre-tournament favorite Japan ahead in the first half of an entertaining quarterfinal match at Education City Stadium.
Mohammad Mohebi leveled the score in the 55th minute, The Associated Press reported.
Iran will face either host Qatar or Uzbekistan in the semifinals.
Iran started aggressively with Jahanbakhsh firing just over from the left after 13 minutes. Shortly after Saeid Ezatolahi shot straight at goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Out of nothing however, Japan, looking for a record fifth win, took the lead in the 28th minute. Morita collected a pass, skipped past Hossein Kanani to enter the area and while his shot was soft, it seemed to confuse Alireza Beiranvand and the ball bounced off the goalkeeper’s leg and into the net.
Iran, without suspended star striker Mehdi Taremi, almost leveled six minutes before the break when Brentford midfielder Saman Ghoddos shot just wide.
Ten minutes after the break, Sardar Azmoun slipped the ball through to Mohebi whose first-time shot from near the penalty spot went in the net to spark the comeback.



Spain Extends Contract of National Team Coach Luis de la Fuente until 2028

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
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Spain Extends Contract of National Team Coach Luis de la Fuente until 2028

Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)
Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente monitors a training session in Donaueschingen, Germany, July 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, file)

Spain's national team coach Luis de la Fuente has extended his contract until 2028 after leading the team to last year's European Championship title.

The Spanish soccer federation said Monday that it is “renewing its confidence” in the 63-year-old De la Fuente, who started coaching the nation's youth squads in 2013 and took over the senior team after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to replace Luis Enrique, The AP reported.

De la Fuente is the first Spain coach to win the European Championship at three different levels after also leading the country to the Under-19 and Under-21 titles.

The new contract will keep the former player in charge of La Roja during the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028.