Iran finally overcome by the odds

ASIANCUP2004 – Iran coach Branko Ivankovic put a brave face on his side's penalty shoot-out defeat to China in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.

The loss, Iran’s first against China in 10 years, leaves the three-time Asian Cup champions facing Bahrain in the third/fourth play-off on Friday.

It is a bitter pill to swallow for Ivankovic, whose team, reduced to 10 men after three minutes of the second half, had held out for so long in the cauldron of the Beijing Workers’ Stadium.

“Penalties are often more about luck than quality,” lamented the Croat after the absorbing encounter whuich ahd ended 1-1 after normal and extar time.

“The Chinese players took their penalties better than we did and deserve their place in the final. I must congratulate my players, they did their best but we didn’t make it.”

Having put the suspension of three first-choice defenders behind them to secure a point against defending champions Japan in their Group D meeting last week, and then overcoming 2002 World Cup semi-finalists Korea Republic in the last eight, Iran’s quest for a fourth Asian Cup title ended when Yahya Golmohammadi’s penalty was saved by China keeper Liu Yunfei to send the hosts through 4-3.

“We played with 10 men in the second half and it was very hard for us,” Iran skipper Ali Daei after the game.
“The first half was great but in the second we didn’t play very well,” added the 2002 AFC Player of the Year who, at 35, is surely playing in his last Asian Cup.

Having faced both China and Japan during the tournament, Ivankovic is in a unique position to evaluate the two teams, but the Croat refused to be drawn on the subject.

“Every game is different and I don’t want to compare teams,” he said.

“The Chinese team gave a strong performance and, with their excellent support they were well motivated to win today.

“They have shown that they can play against any team.”