Japan spotted Iraq a one-goal lead in their Asian Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday, but came charging back to win 4-1 with two goals from Man of the Match Hiroshi Nanami and one apiece from Naohiro Takahara and Tomokazu Myojin.
The Iraqi jinx looked set to continue for Japan at Beirut Sports City Stadium when a poor clearance from captain Ryuzo Morioka fell nicely for Iraq forward Abbas Jassim, who drilled a right-foot shot into the top corner with just four minutes gone.
However, Japan, which had lost three and drawn two of the previous five meetings between the two countries, took just four minutes to hit back with a set piece straight off the training ground.
Any hopes China had of an easier route to the final effectively disappeared when Nanami swept in a left-foot volley from the edge of the box after being picked out by a Shunsuke Nakamura free kick from the right.