Doha, Qatar: The Japan U23 and Iraq U23 national squads will face off in the second semi-final game at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 tournament, with both teams setting their sight on the coveted silverware. The winner will face Uzbekistan U23 national team in the final.
Japan’s U23 team had a much tough matchup against the host nation Qatar in the quarter-finals, which saw Japan fight hard to win it 4-2 in extra time.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi U23 team had defeated the Vietnamese team in the quarter-finals one goal to nothing thanks to a penalty converted successfully by Ali Jasim.
The semi-finals thriller will take place at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. Stay tuned as we bring you match highlights and a glimpse of the football atmosphere at the venue!
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90' + 5' Full Time! Japan U23 2-0 Iraq U23
91' Japan U23 substitute Sato tries from point blank range but Hussein saves it. Corner kick Japan.
89' Zaid Tahseen (Iraq U23) shoots from the Iraqi right flank but it whizzes past the side netting.
85' Five minutes to go and both teams are still playing some very energetic football.
74' Iraq hit the crossbar! Blnd Azad fires after a cross but deflects off Japan's Koto Takai and hits the crossbar!
72' SUBSTITUTION JAPAN. Yamada: OUT / IN:Fujio
68' Fuki Yamada (Japan U23) volleys from inside the box straight at the Iraq goalkeeper Hussein Hasan who handles it comfortably.
65' Japan hit the post! Hirakawa's cross into the box meets Hosoya's head and it hits the Iraqi's goals left post.
64' CLOSE! Iraq cross into the area and Japan's Hosoya almost clears the ball into his own net. Corner Iraq.
62' High-intensity football from both teams as Iraq search for a way back into the game and Japan look to further their lead. Plenty of time to go.
58' Japan U23's Araki left unattended in the box but slips as he hits a curler than is palmed comforably by Iraq's Hasan.
55' Iraq respond to the Japanese onslaught with a header from Ridha Fadhil which forces the Japanese keeper into a diving save.
52' Iraq's goalkeeper Hasan fends off a bullet from Japan's Ryotaro Araki to keep his team in the game.
47' Japan very active at the start of the second half, testing Iraq's Hussein Hasan two times in front of goal, with the goalkeeper producing two wonderful saves.
45' + 5' Japan's Hosoya almost doubles after he fires from point blank range but is blocked by the Iraq defense. Corner Japan.
45' + 4' Dangerous freekick for Japan in Iraq's right flank
WATCH: Japan's second goal!
شوف|
— قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) April 29, 2024
منتخب اليابان يتقدم 2-0 على العراق في الدقيقة 42
#العراق_اليابان#هَيّا_آسيا || #قنوات_الكاس || #AFCU23 pic.twitter.com/UbmgbN9cSy
GOAL JAPAN!
GOAL!
— The Peninsula Qatar (@PeninsulaQatar) April 29, 2024
⏱️42'
Japan U23 2-0 Iraq U23
Ayumu Ohata vies for the ball with the Iraqi defense and wins it on the flanks, passing to captain Joel Fujita who puts Ryotaro Araki through with a well-weighed pass and the ball travels from Araki's feet to the back of the Iraqi net.…
WATCH: Japan's opening goal
شوف|
— قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) April 29, 2024
منتخب اليابان يتقدم 1-0 على العراق في الدقيقة 28
#العراق_اليابان#هَيّا_آسيا || #قنوات_الكاس || #AFCU23 pic.twitter.com/zWyvvCtgLu
36' Mustafa Saadoun wins a freekick in a great position for Iraq but Japanese goalkeeper Leo Kokubo is ready to punch it to safety.
27' GOAL! Japan's Mao Hosoya with a splendid turn and cool finish into the net after captain Joel Fujita sends the forward through with a flying through pass.
26' Dangerous freekick at the edge of the box for Japan but the Iraqi defense clears the danger away. Japan looking livelier in the first half.
19' Japan's captain Joel Fujita plays a through ball that is intercepted by the Iraqi defence but the clearance finds Kuryu Matsuki's left foot, who drives his shot straight into Hussein Hasan's gloves.
11' Iraq answer back quickly with Ali Jasim's effort being handled by Japan's Leo Kukubo
10' Japan's Mao Hosoya is put through with a beautiful through ball from Ryotaro Araki but Iraq's Hussein Hasan does splendid in stopping the one-on-one
6' Delay in play as Iraq U23's Salem Ahmed goes down injured.
3' Foul by Mao Hosoya (Japan U23).
Lineups
???? LINE UPS | ???????? Japan ???? Iraq ????????
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) April 29, 2024
Here are the players that will represent both nations in tonight’s semi-final at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium!
???? Watch Live https://t.co/pJcxzDRqjU#AFCU23 | #JPNvIRQ pic.twitter.com/xNOTDmGz5W
TEAMS ARRIVE AT JASSIM BIN HAMAD
???? They’ve Arrived and they’re Ready ????#AFCU23 | #JPNvIRQ pic.twitter.com/cH15vK6ZC7
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) April 29, 2024
