ABU DHABI (REUTERS) - Regional heavyweights Iran underlined their Asian Cup title credentials with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Marcello Lippi's China on Thursday (Jan 24) to reach the semi-finals of the continental championship for the first time since 2004.
Goals from forwards Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard combined with a record-equalling fifth straight clean sheet was enough to set up a last four date with four-times champions Japan in Al Ain next Monday.
Outmuscled by the physical Iranians and embarrassed by a series of defensive howlers, China sent World Cup-winning coach Lippi into almost certain retirement by exiting with barely a whimper at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
The lively Iranian forward line were allowed far too much space from the start and winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh sent a cross-shot whistling past the post in the fourth minute.
The massed ranks of Iran fans did not have to wait long for the first goal, though, and it came in the 18th minute from the simplest of long balls up the middle.
China defender Feng Xiaoting hesitated and Azmoun pounced, taking his time to turn before sliding the ball across the area to the unmarked Mehdi, who had all the time in the world to stroke it into the net.
Mehdi looked unlucky not to get a penalty three minutes later but the match official resisted Iranian pleas that he check with the video assistant referee (VAR), newly installed for the quarter-finals.
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Feng was hauled off in the 28th minute but two minutes later another Chinese defender was deceived by a long ball, Azmoun wrestling his way past Liu Yiming before rounding goalkeeper Yan Junling and slotting the ball into the net from an angle.
China came out with a little more purpose after the break and substitute Xiao Zhi ballooned a header over the bar but they were still caught in possession too often and Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand snuffed out anything too dangerous.
Fullback Ehsan Hajsafi drilled a low shot towards the China goal on the hour mark that Yan did well to push away and it looked like, as in their last 16 match against Oman at the same stadium, Iran would be unable to score after the break.
In stoppage time, however, Mehdi robbed China's Shi Ke on the halfway line and his pass sent Ansarifard clear to put the gloss on another emphatic step towards ending Iran's 43-year wait for a fourth continental title.
Newcastle took a huge step towards securing their Premier League survival as Ayoze Perez sealed a 1-0 win against Leicester on Friday. Rafael Benitez's side moved 10 points clear of the relegation
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Tigers riding high Balestier Khalsa have extended their sponsorship with American carmaker Jeep, announcing yesterday a new "six-figure" one-year deal, the club's biggest to date. Balestier's jerseys are jointly sponsored by Lotto and sporting goods chain Weston.
No. 2 Clemson Tigers riding high as it hosts Boston College
Liverpool's Klopp condemns 'disgusting' Salah abuse ahead of Chelsea clash. A video circulated on social media ahead of Chelsea's Europa League match at Slavia Prague this week showed a group of
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The female raises the kittens and teaches them to hunt. The male's only role is conception. Occasionally, the young lions will stay with their mother for as long as 18 months before leaving and finding their own territory. Mountain lions are usually solitary animals, although occasionally littermates will sometimes hunt together into adulthood.
MANCHESTER, England -- Sergio Aguero may not be risked for Manchester City's midweek trip to Watford with Pep Guardiola desperate to avoid injuries ahead of a busy December schedule.
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Thierry Henry is on the verge of getting sacked as Monaco manager. (Source: AP) Thierry Henry was suspended by Monaco on Thursday and looked set to lose his job as coach after only three months in charge at the Ligue 1 club, with former manager Leonardo Jardim expected to take control from Friday.
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