Itakura concedes crucial late penalty that sees Japan eliminated from AFC Cup

A penalty conceded by Borussia Mönchengladbach central defender Ko Itakura proved decisive on Saturday as the Iranian national football team was able to snatch a late victory against Japan and advance to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup semi-finals.  Iran’s “Team Melli” have exacted revenge over Hajime Moriyasu’s “Samurai Blue” for their semi-final elimination in the most recent edition of the continental championship back in 2019.  Four Bundesliga professionals (Itakura, Ritsu Doan of Freiburg, Hiroki Ito of Stuttgart, and Takuma Asano of Bochum) are all headed back to the Bundesrepublik without a medal or ribbon.