Asian Cup: Iraq beat Iran on penalties to reach semifinals

Iraq beat fierce rival Iran 7-6 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw on Friday, booking a place in the Asian Cup semifinals against South Korea.

Iran, which played with ten men after halftime, twice equalized in a four-goal extra-time period to send the match to a lengthy penalty shootout, which ended when Salam Shakir converted after Iran's Vahid Amiri hit the post.

Iraq captain Younis Mahmoud and Dhurgham Ismail scored in extra time, but Morteza Pouraliganji and a 119th minute goal by Reza Ghoochannejhad leveled the contest.

Earlier, Azmoun Sardar opened the scoring in the first half, before the contentious sending off of Iran's Mehrdad Pooladi just before half-time for his second yellow card. Ahmed Yasin equalized for Iraq in the 56th.