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China beat Iraq 3-0 to reach Asian Cup semis Center back Zheng Zhi scored a penalty double in the final 10 minutes as China beat Iraq 3-0 in an ill-tempered quarter-final match to reach the semifinals of the 13th Asian Cup at the Worker's Stadium here on Friday.
Striker Hao Haidong, who just returned from a knee injury, beat an offside trap in the box after only five minutes to give China a1-0 lead. The 34-year-old was still not 100 per cent match-fit after sustaining the injury in China's 5-0 rout of Indonesia in their Group A match, but proved he is still the country's best striker. It was his 37th international goal. Zheng made it 2-0 by firing a penalty home in the 80th minute after Shao Jiayi was brought down in the box. He scored another from the spot after Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Ali hit Chinese defender Sun Jihai on the head in the box. Ahmed was immediately sent off by Singaporean referee Shamsul Maidin. The Chinese, who topped Group A by beating Indonesia and Qatar and drew with Bahrain, looked a more confident side in the knockout stage and took command against Iraq, who overcame incredible odds to enter the last eight. The first goal was a fine combination of Dalian Shide veterans Li Ming and Hao. Hao, who missed the Qatar match sustaining a knee injury against Indonesia, latched on to a long pass from the 32-year-old Li Ming, playing his fourth Asian Cup, and fired home from close range. Hao should have scored his second after two minutes when he made a solo run and beat an on-rushing Iraqi 'keeper Ahmed, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Cheered on by a boisterous crowed of 55,000, the hosts played a beautiful attacking football and it seemed a matter of time for Dutchman Arie Haan's side to extend their lead. Zheng's freekick from 25 meters flew above the Iraqi wall of defense and over the crossbar in the 21st minute. Right back Wei Xin was stretched off the pitch in the 23rd minute and was replaced by Xu Yunlong two minutes later. Xu, who scored the winner for China in their last Group A match against Qatar, was surprisingly left out of the starting lineup. Haan hinted that Xu had left more space for rivals in the last game and Wei was the man to make the defense more solid. Hao missed a golden chance in the 33rd minute. Shao Jiayi, who plays with Bundesliga side Munich 1860, received a neat through ball from the midfield and fed it to an unmarked Hao, but he hit it against the side netting with the outside of his boot. Yan Song was brought down in the box in the 53rd minute, but Maidin turned down Chinese players' plea for a penalty and waved the match on. Second half substitute Salih created the first serious chance for Iraq in the 67th minute, driving a long shot from outside the box. China 'keeper Liu Yunfei fumbled the shot but reacted quickly to catch the ball after it bounced off the woodwork. Iraq, the most supported team in Chengdu where they played their Group C matches, were close to leveling the score minutes later. Striker M. Younges' lobbed Liu in front of the goal but the ball flew over the crossbar into safety. Outscored by the visitors 5-1 after the break, Shao, who scored twice in China's 5-0 win over Indonesia, rose to the occasion when he created a precious penalty in the 79th minute. The former Beijing player raced into the box on the right and was felled by an Iraq defender. Maidin this time immediately pointed at the spot. Zheng stepped in and made no mistake, actually killing off the match with only 10 minutes to go. The match turned violent as the Iraqis pushed forward to search for a goal. But they had to pay the price after Ahmed had made the foolish mistake. Squads: China: Liu Yunfei, Sun Xiang, Zheng Zhi, Li Weifeng (c), Wei Xin (Xu Yunlong, 25th), Yan Song, Shao Jiayi, Zhao Junzhe, Li Ming, Hao Haidong (Sun Jihai, 74th), Li Jinyu Iraq: A. Ahmed, A. Bassim, J. Haeder, A. Haidar, M. Hawar, T. Hassan (S. Salih, 45th), K. Mahdi (M. Emad, 64th), A. A. Nashat, M.Qusay, F. Razak, M. Younes |
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