Japan, Iran Advance to Soccer Final

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 11, 2002

Japan, Iran Advance to Soccer Final

Japan crushed Thailand 3-0 Thursday in the Asian Games soccer semifinals, setting up a championship clash with defending titlist Iran.

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Japan crushed Thailand 3-0 Thursday in the Asian Games soccer semifinals, setting up a championship clash with defending titlist Iran.

It was Japan's first ever semifinal win in the 51-year Asiad history.

Host South Korea, the World Cup semifinalist, however, was stopped from the other semifinal, where it lost 3-5 in the shoot-out to Iran after a scoreless 120-minute match.

Lee Young-pyo, a World Cup player, made a fatal mistake as he hit the second penalty shot on the bar.

Japan had a rather easy game as defender Ikeda Shohei opened the scoring on 23 minutes and midfielder Suzuki Keita doubled the lead in 47th minute and forward Nakayama Satoshi added the last toseal the 3-0 victory over Thailand.

"I think it's not a very difficult game. I'm very happy that our players could convert three goals to ease into the final. It'sthe first time for us to advance to the final, " said Japanese head coach Masakuni Yamamoto.

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