Iraq to face Saudi Arabia in Asian Cup Final
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Cup football tournament will see two West Asian countries battling each other for the title at the Bung Karno Gelora Stadium in Indonesia on Sunday.

In the semi-finals lastnight, Iraq beat South Korea 4-3 in the penalty shootout after the game at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium ended without any goals being scored, BERNAMA reported.

Keeper Nor Sabri Abbas became a hero for Iraq after saving the shot by Yeom Kim-Hun while Kim Jung-Woo, who took the fifth penalty for South Korea, hit a post.

In another semi-final match at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia tamed 2004 champions Japan 3-2.

Saudi Arabia’s top scorer, Yasser Al-Qahtani, opened accounts in the 35th minutes before Yuji Nakazama equalised two minutes later.

Two minutes after the breather, Malek Maaz beat Japan’s keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi to put his team ahead but Japan levelled the score again through Yuki Abe in the 53rd minute.

The al-Ahli club striker gave Saudi Arabia the winner in the 57th minute.

Japan and South Korea will play for the third/fourth placing also at Bung Karno Gelora Stadium on Saturday.●