DOHA: Birthday boy Yasuyuki Konno admitted he was relieved to net the winning spot-kick in Japan’s Asian Cup semi-final win over South Korea, after conceding a first-half penalty that could have been costly.
Konno, 28 on Tuesday, sealed Japan’s progress to the final by calmly steering home his penalty to give the Blue Samurai a 3-0 success after Koo Ja-cheol, Lee Yong-rae and Hong Jeong-ho failed from the spot for South Korea.
The game had finished 2-2 after extra-time, with South Korean defender Hwang Jae-won getting a last-gasp equaliser to force the game to penalties.
“This is the greatest,” Konno told Japanese media.
“If we had lost, it would’ve been the worst. This is probably the best birthday I’ve ever had in the 28 years of my life.
“I mean, I won the game with my penalty. But I would much rather celebrate the victory than my birthday, though.”
Konno endured an eventful evening, heading a goal-bound Lee Chung-yong effort off the line early on but then conceding the penalty from which Ki-Sung yueng gave South Korea a 23rd-minute lead.
Konno was penalised for barging into South Korean captain Park Ji-sung, who was making his 100th international appearance, but the FC Tokyo centre-back said he felt aggrieved at the decision.
“I take pride in not fouling,” said Konno. “I don’t know what anyone can do if you’re penalised for something like that.
“(The referee) told me I wasn’t playing the ball, but I knew exactly where the ball was going. I just put my body in between the man and the ball, trying to let it go over the line for a goal-kick.
“The referees in Asia are difficult to read. Having said that, I shouldn’t have given away a penalty. I felt bad for the rest of the team.”
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