Iraq has progressed to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup after an incredible 3-3 draw and penalty shootout win over rival Iran in Canberra.

In the most dramatic match of what has been an excellent tournament, both teams scored two goals in extra time after the 90 minutes ended with the teams level at 1-1.

Sardar Azmoun opened the scoring for Iran with a smart header, before Mehrdad Pouladi was controversially sent off shortly before half-time.

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Ahmed Yasin equalised for Iraq in the 56th minute with the goal that would send the match to extra time, where Younis Mahmoud gave Iraq an early lead.

Only 10 minutes later, Morteza Pouraliganji levelled things up again for Iran, only for Dhirgham Ismail to convert a penalty in the 116th minute with what looked to be the deciding goal.

But Iranian star Reza Ghoochannejhad got on the end of a goalmouth scramble to score an unlikely third and send the game to penalties, but not before tempers reached a boiling point when Marwan Hussein fouled Iraq’s goalkeeper Reza Haghighi.

The drama continued into the penalty shootout, with the first two efforts from Iran’s Ehsan Hajysafi and Iraq’s Saad Abdulameer missing the target completely.

The following penalties were all of the highest quality, but when Iran’s Vahid Amiri sent his penalty into the post it allowed Salam Shakir to calmly slot the crucial kick and secure a 7-6 shootout win.