score football magazine

asian cup 2007
Asian Cup 2007
Asian Cup semi-finals

Semi-final
in Malaysia

Iraq reach cup final (Iraq 0 South Korea 0) 4-3 on penalties
South Korea rode their luck to take the match to penalties, but Iraq came out on top to book a place in the final of the Asian Cup. The Iraqis came closest in extra time when Hawar Mulla Mohammed's effort struck the post and was cleared off the line. Korea seemed happy to hold on to a 0-0 draw and rely on a penalty shoot-out as they had done against Iran, but the Iraqis kept their composure to score 4 out of 4 from the spot while Noor Sabri saved one spot-kick and saw another come off his post. Massive emotional celebrations ensued as Iraq reach their first ever Asian Cup Final.
Iraq beat south korea
Iraq beat South Korea on penalties

Semi-final
in Vietnam

Japan lose Asian crown (Saudi Arabia 3 Japan 2)
Saudi Arabia won a 5 goal thriller against reigning champions Japan to reach the Asian Cup final. The Saudis took the lead when the ball fell to Yasser Al Qahtani who volleyed home in the 35th minute, but Japan hit back 2 minutes later with a Nakazawa header who beat the Saudi Keeper to the ball from a corner kick. The second half was only 2 minutes old when Malek Maaz met a cross from Al Bahari with a powerful header to give his team an advantage which was wiped out 5 minutes later after a low shot from Nakamura was saved by Yaser Al Mosailem and the resulting corner-kick headed back by Maki, for Abe to score with a spectacular overhead kick. Some individual brilliance saw Malek Maaz get past 3 Japanese defenders and beat Kawaguchi at the near post with the outside of his right boot in the 57th minute. Hanyu rattled the bar in the 81st minute but could not prevent an all-Arab Asian Cup Final.

Go to Asian Cup index