Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Iraq beats South Korea in 14th Asia Cup of nations semi-finals
Sport
(Reuters) - Iraq's soccer players dedicated Wednesday's dramatic Asian Cup semi-final win over South Korea to the people of their war-torn country. Iraq reached their first Asian Cup final with a 4-3 penalty shootout victory after a fluctuating match finished 0-0 at the end of extra time.
"Only happiness in our camp... everyone is very happy and we have reason to be happy. This victory is for the Iraqi people because they deserve that," Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira told a news conference. "There is only happiness in our camp and our boys worked very hard to achieve it," the Brazilian added. "We are in the final and it is very difficult for me to tell you how I feel now."
Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri saved Korea's fourth spot-kick and was named man of the match. "I would like to congratulate all my people in Iraq for this great victory," he said. "We know the current situation in Iraq and the difficulties. "We know we are struggling inside Iraq and we have to struggle on the field," Noor added. "This is a very modest thing we can give to our people."
Noor said he was proud to get the better of Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, Korea's hero in their quarter-final shootout win over Iran. "Last week they called the (Korean) goalkeeper the king of penalty kicks, but I managed to overcome him," Noor said. "In penalties so much depends on luck but we managed it."
"Only happiness in our camp... everyone is very happy and we have reason to be happy. This victory is for the Iraqi people because they deserve that," Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira told a news conference. "There is only happiness in our camp and our boys worked very hard to achieve it," the Brazilian added. "We are in the final and it is very difficult for me to tell you how I feel now."
Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri saved Korea's fourth spot-kick and was named man of the match. "I would like to congratulate all my people in Iraq for this great victory," he said. "We know the current situation in Iraq and the difficulties. "We know we are struggling inside Iraq and we have to struggle on the field," Noor added. "This is a very modest thing we can give to our people."
Noor said he was proud to get the better of Korean goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae, Korea's hero in their quarter-final shootout win over Iran. "Last week they called the (Korean) goalkeeper the king of penalty kicks, but I managed to overcome him," Noor said. "In penalties so much depends on luck but we managed it."
Labels: 14th Asia Cup of Nations, football, Iraq, Japan, Jorvan Vieira, Kuala Lumpur, Mahmoud Yunus, Noor Sabri, soccer, South Korea, Taeguk Warriors
