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<strong><u>Japan through after Iran capitulate in extra-time</u></strong><br />
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<strong><u>Japan 3-0 Iran (AET)</u></strong><br />
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<strong>Japan scored three extra-time goals against Iran to book a place in the semi-finals and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for a sixth successive Olympics.</strong><br />
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Yuta Toyokawa and Shoya Nakajima grabbed the goals for Japan after a tight encounter at Lekhwiya Stadium.<br />
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Japan went into the game as favourites but were made to work hard by Iran throughout regulation play.<br />
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However their class showed when Toyokawa put them in front just five minutes into extra-time. The substitute slipped between the Iranian centre backs to head home Sei Muroya’s cross from close range.<br />
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Iran threatened to level soon after but Masatoshi Kushibiki produced a strong block to deny Seyed Mohsen Karimi.<br />
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Four minutes into the second half and the game was as good as over when Nakajima punished the Iranians with a quick-fire double. His first was a stunning effort which curled into the top corner, while his second – which came just a minute later – was scored from a similar position and buried in the opposite side of Mohammadreza Akhbari’s goal.<br />
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Japan will meet either the United Arab Emirates or Iraq in the last four at Lekhwiya Stadium on Tuesday, with the winner securing a place at the Rio Olympics. The loser will play-off against the other losing semi-finalist for the third and final spot in Brazil.<br />
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