With Columbus Crew SC winger Justin Meram an unused substitute for the first time in five games at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Iraq fell 2-0 to South Korea in Monday's first semifinal in Sydney, Australia, and will conclude their tournament with the third-place playoff early Friday morning.
Meram had started Iraq's previous two games, a win over Palestine and a quarterfinal shootout against rivals Iran, but was subbed off at halftime of the Iran match and did not appear on Monday.
Champions in 2007, Iraq will enter the third-place match trying to beat their fourth-place finish of 1976 as their second-best finish at the Asian Cup. They had been eliminated in the quarterfinals in four of the last five tournaments.
Iraq had not scored in the first half in any of their first four tournament games, including their only prior defeat, a 1-0 setback to holders Japan in the group stage. On Monday, they went behind for the third time in five games in the 20th minute, when 6-foot-1 forward Lee Jung-hyup headed in a flighted free kick from Hoffenheim left back Kim Jin-su.
Although the Iraqis were dangerous in the final 10 minutes of the first half, South Korea, who have not allowed a goal in the tournament, came away unscathed. They then put the game away early in the second half, as defender Kim Young-gwon fired a shot from the edge of the penalty area that took a deflection past Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan in the 50th minute.
Although Iraq continued to create chances, South Korea were able to close the game out and reach their first Asian Cup final since losing the 1988 final to Saudi Arabia. Despite being one of Asia's most consistent soccer nations and qualifying for eight consecutive World Cups, South Korea have not won the Asian Cup since taking the first two editions in 1956 and 1960.
South Korea will play the winner of Tuesday's semifinal between hosts Australia and defending champions Japan.
