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<strong><u>Moon strike puts South Korea through</u></strong><br />
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<strong>South Korea 1-0 Jordan</strong><br />
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<strong>South Korea will face Qatar in the semi-finals of the 2016 AFC U23 Championship after beating Jordan 1-0 at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium.</strong><br />
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Moon Chang Jin scored the only goal of the game in the 23^rd minute after capitalising on some sloppy defending.<br />
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South Korea created a hatful of chances during an entertaining first half. Kwon Changhoon wasted two early opportunities before Ryu Seung Woo shot wide from distance.<br />
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Jordan’s best chance came in the 20^th minute. Baha Faisal missed a golden opportunity after having the goal at his mercy. He mishit a shot after a mix-up in the South Korean defence left goalkeeper Gu Sang Yun stranded.<br />
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Jordan goalkeeper Bani Ateyah twice prevented South Korea from extending their lead shortly after Moon’s goal, before Ehsan Manel Haddad volleyed wide in the 36^th minute for the West Asians.<br />
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Into the second half and Haddad shot wide from distance before Ahmad Hisham Mohammad came close to equalising.<br />
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Kwon almost made the game safe for South Korea in the 80^th minute but shot just wide from the edge of the box.<br />
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In the end Moon’s goal was enough for South Korea to book a last-four date with hosts Qatar at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday. A win for either side will book a place at the Rio Olympics, while the loser will get a second chance to qualify for Brazil in the third-place play-off.<br />
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<strong><u>Iraq set up Japan clash after extra-time win</u></strong><br />
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<strong>United Arab Emirates 1-3 Iraq (AET)</strong><br />
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<strong>Defending champions Iraq will face Japan in the semi-finals after a 3-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates.</strong><br />
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Mohanad Abdulraheem and Amjed Attwan Kadhim clinched the win in extra-time at Grand Hamad Stadium to put the Iraqis one win away from Olympics qualification.<br />
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The game sprung into life with 15 minutes remaining of regulation time. The UAE went in front after poor defending led to Alaa Ali Mahwi scoring an own goal.<br />
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But Iraq hit back immediately after another defensive mix-up. The UAE failed to clear a routine through-ball and Ali Hisny slid in to equalise from close range.<br />
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The first half featured few chances. The UAE hit the post in the 18^th minute, while Abdulraheem went close five minutes later but was unable to direct his shot on target.<br />
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Iraq goalkeeper Fahad Talib produced a string of good saves in the second half to keep the game scoreless. First he tipped over a dangerous corner, before keeping out a superb volley from Yousif Saeed.<br />
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Another opportunity for Iraq came in the 65^th minute but Mahdi Kamil mistimed his attempt after finding a good shooting position.<br />
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In the end Iraq had the stamina and class to overcome a stern test and set up a last-four showdown against a Japan side which has won all four of its matches so far.<br />
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Iraq’s semi-final with Japan will take place at Lekhwiya Stadium on Tuesday, kick-off 4.30pm.