Japan through after Iran capitulate in extra-time
 
Japan 3-0 Iran (AET)
 
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.
 
Yuta Toyokawa and Shoya Nakajima grabbed the goals for Japan after a tight encounter at Lekhwiya Stadium.
 
Japan went into the game as favourites but were made to work hard by Iran throughout regulation play.
 
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.
 
Iran threatened to level soon after but Masatoshi Kushibiki produced a strong block to deny Seyed Mohsen Karimi.
 
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.
 
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.