Iraq And Saudi Arabia Advance To Asian Cup Final

Filed at 3:47 p.m. ET

Fans of Iraq’s soccer team, which won a dramatic victory over South Korea in the Asian Cup semifinals in today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Iraq moved into its first Asian Cup final, beating South Korea 4-3 on penalty kicks Wednesday night after a 0-0 tie. At least 50 fans were killed by car bombs during postgame celebrations in Baghdad.

Iraq advanced to Sundays final in Jakarta against Saudi Arabia, which beat two-time defending champion Japan 3-2 in Hanoi. The winner of the tournament joins the United States, Brazil, Italy and host South Africa at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup along with the champions of Europe, Africa and Oceania.

Thousands of fans gathered in the central Baghdad district of Karradah to celebrate Iraqs victory by dancing, beating drums and chanting Iraq! Iraq! The first bomb exploded in a crowd of people cheering near a well-known ice cream parlor in Baghdads western neighborhood of Mansour, according to police and hospital officials. At least 30 people were killed and 75 were wounded, an Interior Ministry official said.

Another suicide car bomber detonated his payload about 45 minutes later in the midst of dozens of vehicles filled with revelers near an Iraqi army checkpoint in the eastern district of Ghadeer, killing at least 20 people, including two soldiers, and wounding 61, according to the ministry official.

All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release information. Police reports said three people also were killed and 17 wounded by celebratory gunfire.

The second attack occurred as Iraqis of all ages were packed on top of cars, pickups and minibuses, waving Iraqi flags and shirts, while others danced in the streets near the checkpoint. Men put towels over their heads or sprayed cars with water for relief in the hot summer weather.

Five people were killed in the celebratory gunfire that followed Iraqs win over Vietnam in a quarterfinal match played in Bangkok, Thailand, on Sunday.

At the Iraq game, the teams played 120 scoreless minutes and penalty kicks were tied 3-3 when Iraq goalkeeper Noor Sabri tipped Yeom Ki-huns left-footed shot around a post. Ahmed Menajed put Iraq ahead 4-3 and Kim Jung-woo needed to convert to keep the game alive hit the right post.

You know the situation of the difficulties in Iraq, Sabri said. What we can achieve inside the field, its a modest thing we can give to our people. We have to show them we are sharing with them the celebrations.

Saudi Arabia, which won the tournament in 1984, 1988 and 1996, won as Malek Maaz scored in the 47th and 57th minutes following an opening goal from Yasser Al Qahtani in the 35th.

Japan, unbeaten in 16 consecutive Asian Cup games since the 1996 quarterfinals, got goals from Yuji Nakazawa in the 27th and Yuki Abe in the 53rd.

(This version CORRECTS the headline. Iraq and Saudi Arabia, not South Korea, have advanced to the Asian Cup final.) )

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