Doha: Iraq coach Shahad Abdulghani will study Japan’s ‘authentic’ style ahead of next week’s AFC U23 Championship semi-final after the defending champions edged out the United Arab Emirates 3-1 after extra-time in Saturday’s quarter-final at Grand Hamad Stadium.
Mohanad Abdulraheem and Amjad Attwan Kadhim scored in extra-time after an own goal from Alaa Ali Mhawi had handed the UAE the lead with 15 minutes remaining before Ali Hisny equalised for Iraq just two minutes later.
Match report: United Arab Emirates 1-3 Iraq
And after Japan recorded a 3-0 extra-time win over Iran on Friday, the pair will meet at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Tuesday with the winner guaranteed a place at the Olympic Games in Brazil later this year.
“We realised the most important target was to qualify for the semi-finals and this is now done. Now the next stage is to try and reach the final match. Our opponents will be Japan and we know this team and it has its own authenticity,” said Abdulghani (pictured).
“We will study their style and make an appropriate plan to face Japan. Changes are possible in the next game, this is normal in competitions, but all the players are well acclimatised to the atmosphere of the tournament.
“We are progressing step-by-step. We are focusing on the next game which is most important. The main target is to qualify for Rio de Janeiro, this is the main objective, but it we realise this we will think about the final and it will not be bad to win the tournament.”
Iraq, who beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final of the AFC U-22 Championship at the start of 2014 thanks to a goal from 2012 AFC Youth Player of the Year Abdulraheem, are unbeaten in this year’s competition having finished second in Group C behind fellow semi-finalists Korea Republic.
“It was a tough game, a very difficult game for both teams. The UAE produced a great performance,” added Abdulghani.
“We started well until the 25th minute, then the UAE controlled and dominated the game. Some of the players got yellow cards and I was afraid they could get red cards. But in the second half, the team performed better and we could make it until the end of the game and we won the game.”
The UAE had earned their place in the quarter-finals after winning Group D ahead of Jordan, but against Iraq, Abdullah Misfir’s side were without five first team regulars due to combination of injury and suspension.
“It was a really tough game. No one expected before it would be such a very tough game. We enjoyed the game, but it is unfortunate we could not win because we were unlucky in this tournament especially in this game,” said UAE coach Misfir.
“We have many players missing and that is why we had to make a second line-up and also the players who played were substitute players who were playing from the beginning of the game. We also had two injuries in the game and I was forced to make substitutions during the game. Because of this I could not influence the game with technical aspects and tactics as I was forced to make substitutions.
“Both teams produced a very good game and played good football. We knew Iraq are an excellent team and they have good players and we prepared a strategy before the game not to give them opportunities.
“I think our best performance was today, but we also played well against Australia, but we were affected by the absences and injuries so we could not use our best players.
“Most of our players are under 20 and that is why I think the UAE has a good future and that is why we can be satisfied with our participation in the competition.”
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com