In a rematch of the 2019 Asian Cup semi-finals, Iran and Japan will square off in the last eight of that competition on Saturday at Education City Stadium.
In the round of 16, Team Melli survived a nail-biter, playing to a 1-1 draw with Syria but advancing on penalties, while the Japanese defeated Bahrain 3-1.
Despite facing a side ranked 70 places below them, according to FIFA, Iran had difficulty breaking down a Syrian squad committed to playing defensive and holding on.
It is a tactic that nearly worked, as the Iranians fired 12 efforts on target but had to hold their nerve from the penalty spot to earn their place in the quarter-finals.
Saturday will be their eighth successive trip to that stage of the competition, with Team Melli advancing past this point only once in their four prior appearances, defeating China 3-0 in 2019.
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