South Korea sink Iran on penalties to reach semi-finals

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Reuters) South Korea beat Iran 4-2 on penalties after a gruelling 0-0 draw in humid conditions to reach the Asian Cup semi-finals today.

Kim Jung-woo scored the winning penalty to send the inexperienced Koreans through to a last-four clash against Iraq on Wednesday at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

Iran captain Mehdi Mahdavikia and Rassoul Khatibi missed their spot-kicks and only Kim Do-heon failed for the Koreans.

Ferydoon Zandi and Reza Eneyati converted for Iran and South Korea got their other penalties from Lee Chun-soo, Kim Sang-sik and Cho Jae-jin.

Iran, who practised penalty kicks in training, used substitute goalkeeper Vahid Taliblou for the shootout, replacing Hassan Roudbarian in the 119th-minute.

However, Pim Verbeek's players had the cooler heads in the shootout, sending their more than 4,000 vocal Korean supporters into ecstasy.

Victory avenged Korea's 4-3 quarter-final loss to Iran at the 2004 Asian Cup in China. It also levelled their Asian Cup quarter-final meetings over four consecutive tournaments at 2-2.

REUTERS BJR KP1926