Intro:

The United Arab Emirates march on to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 19 years as they eliminated champions Japan on penalties on Friday (23rd January).

Star players Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa were both at fault during the shock defeat

Script:

Defending champions Japan took on the United Arab Emirates in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

The Japanese had won all three of their group matches and hadn't conceded a goal prior to the game.

A minute of silence was observed before kick-off for the passing of the late Saudi Arabia King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

But with just seven minutes on the clock, the UAE took a surprise lead.

Ali Mabkhout notching his fourth goal of the tournament.

The blue samari had a chance to level on 53 minutes, but Yoshinori Muto headed wide from close range.

Japan's perseverance eventually paid off in the closing stages - Gaku Shibasaki with a thumping drive to draw Japan level on 81 minutes.

They could've won it in third minute of added time, but Shinji Kagawa missed from close range.

No goals followed in extra-time and it was down to penalties to decide the winner.

Honda was first to step up; but he blasted his effort high and wide.

Omar Abdul Rahman then showed nerves of steel to put UAE ahead with an audatious panenka.

Habib Abdualla scored UAE's fifth kick to send the shootout to sudden death.

Shinji Kagawa stepped up, but he smashed his effort against the post.

Ismail Ahmed could then with it for the UAE. He confidently put his penalty away as the United Arab Emirates marched on to the semi-finals and end Japan's titel defence.