Iran will meet pre-tournament favorites Japan in the Asian Cup quarter-finals after surviving extra time with 10 men before defeating Syria 5-3 on penalties.
Skipper Ehsan Hajjsafi scored the winning penalty for Iran, who are ranked 70 places above Syria and were comfortably the better team for an hour of the last-16 game.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was the penalty hero, saving Syria’s second spot-kick.
Iran played the last 30 minutes with 10 men after Porto striker Mehdi Taremi was sent off for a second yellow card with the game 1-1 at the end of normal time.
Along with hosts and holders Qatar, Iran came into the game as the only team left in the competi-tion with a 100 percent record. They were pursuing a first Asian Cup crown since 1976.
Taremi was a central figure, winning a first-half penalty and putting it away to give Iran a deserved lead.
Syria had barely been in the game but equalized just after the hour, also from the spot, before Taremi was sent off in second-half injury time.
The two teams could not be divided in extra time, even with Iran playing with a man fewer.
Iran will meet Japan on Saturday after the pre-tournament favorites swept aside Bahrain 3-1 earlier in the day.
Coached by the wily Argentine Hector Cuper, Syria were in the knockout rounds for the first time at their seventh Asian Cup.
Their plan was to sit deep and hit on the break at a raucous Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Midway through the first period, Iran danger man Mehdi Ghayedi had a go from outside the box, Syria goalkeeper Ahmad Madanieh palming it wide on the stretch.—AFP
