Japan stunned Iran 3-0 Monday in the UAE to advance to the final of the 2019 Asian Cup.

Iran, hot favourites to win their first Asian championship since 1976, gave up a shocking opener in the 56th minute when several defenders stopped to demand a diving penalty on Japan’s Takumi Minamino.

But play continued on and Yuya Osako headed it in behind a scrambled Iranian defence to give the Samurai Blue a 1-0 lead.

Osako doubled on a penalty four minutes later to make it 2-0 before Genki Haraguchi capped the scoring in stoppage time.

Tempers boiled over in the final minutes with players tussling before order was restored in what could be Iran head coach Carlos Queiroz’s last match after eight years in charge.