Iran beat South Korea 4-3 to reach Asian Cup semis
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-08-01 08:23

Thanks to playmaker Ali Karimi 's hat-trick, Iran qualified for the Asian Cup semi-finals after beating South Korea 4-3 in their quarter-final match at Shandong Stadium in Jinan on Saturday.

Iran, who humiliated South Korea 6-2 in the 1996 Asian Cup, took the lead only eight minutes into the game after their playmaker Ali Karimi headed the ball into the South Korean's net after a dazzling cooperation with his teammates.

Iran's Mehdi Mahdavikia falls on his knees to celebrate after defeating South Korea in their AFC Asian Cup China 2004 quarter-final match in Jinan, capital city of Shandong province July 31, 2004. Iran won 4-3. [Reuters]

The South Koreans, who vowed to repeat their amazing performance when they ousted Italy to enter the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, equalized in the 15th minute when their spearhead K.H Seol beat Iran's ferocious defense to make a sole goal.

Iran, who took the lead again four minutes later when Ali Karimi scored his second goal of the game, but found that the 2002 World Cup co-hosts were not that easy to conquer after South Korean superstar Lee Dong Gook scored their second equalizer in the 24th minute after a unwise mistake made by Iran's defense.

Iran used fast speed to give their fans an unexpected frenzy five minutes into the second half after captain Ali Daei forced South Korean J.S Park to make an own goal.

Ahu Jung Hwan, the striker who scored the goal that eliminated Italy and sent South Korea historically into the 2002 World Cup semifinals, showed some talent after substituting Park, but his long distance shot flew over the bar.

However, Lee, the leading scorer with six goals at the last Asian Cup in Lebanon, rekindled South Korea's hope by equalizing the game again with his fifth goal of the tournament 15 minutes into the second half.

Helped by Mehdi Mahdavikia, the SV Hamburg's winger who made a piercing free kick late in the second half, Ali Karimi scored his third goal of the game to seal Iran's win.

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