Hosts China advanced to the semifinals of the Asian Cup with an acrimonious 3-0 win over Iraq on Friday, while Bahrain beat Uzbekistan 4-3 in a penalty shootout in their quarterfinal after the match ended in a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Veteran Hao Haidong, who had been doubtful for the match with a leg injury, gave China the winner in the 8th minute. Zheng Zhi doubled the lead in the 81st minute, easily converting a penalty kick and setting off wild celebrations among the 70,000 fans at Beijing's Workers' Stadium.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Zheng added China's third goal from another penalty in the third minute of injury time.
With Iraq's frustration building, the sides briefly scuffled after Qusay Munir kicked out at Sun Jihai after being knocked down by a hard challenge from the Chinese midfielder.
Minutes later, Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Ali Jaber was later sent off for punching Sun in the head after the two smashed into each other while jumping for a cross, earning China the second penalty.
China, whose best Asian Cup finish was third place in 1976 and 1992, will next play the winner of Saturday's clash between heavily favored South Korea and three-time champions Iran.
In the earlier match in the southwestern city of Chengdu, A'ala Hubail scored both Bahrain's goals in regulation time, as well as the winning penalty. Neither team could break the deadlock in extra time, forcing the shootout.
Bahrain, which was eliminated in the preliminary round at its only previous Asian Cup appearance in 1988, will now face the winner of Saturday's quarterfinal match between Japan and Jordan in the Aug. 3 semifinal.
Alexander Geynrikh and Vladimir Shishelov scored Uzbekistan's regulation time goals.
"We don't need to be afraid of anybody. We can play equally with anybody, even though we are new," Bahrain's Croatian-born coach Srecko Juricic said.
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