Needing to match or better the result of second-placed Sepahan to retain their title, Yahya Golmohammadi’s side made no mistake in securing a 2-0 away win over Paykan.

The result rendered Sepahan’s 2-1 away win at Persepolis’ Tehran rivals Esteghlal inconsequential, with the Isfahan-based club falling two points adrift of the champions.

Maya Yoshida hit the decisive penalty at Kashima Stadium after Liberato Cacace had seen his spot-kick saved by Kosei Tani and Clayton Lewis had fired over the bar to end New Zealand’s hopes of advancing to Tuesday’s semi-finals.

Moriyasu’s team had been unable to find a way past New Zealand goalkeeper Michael Woud during 90 minutes of regular time and the 30 minutes of extra-time despite dominating possession and controlling the tempo for much of the game.

But Tani’s save in the second round of spot-kicks and Yoshida’s cool-headedness took them to a win they deserved on the balance of play and which should have been assured long before the end of regulation time.

A goal-filled first half saw Henry Martin open the scoring before Lee Dong-gyeong equalised in stunning fashion. Luis Romo put Mexico back in front, before Sebastian Cordova converted from the penalty spot to give El Tri a two-goal cushion at half-time.

Lee Dong-gyeong scored another superb goal after the break, but Martin and Cordova completed their braces to make it a three-goal lead, with substitute Eduardo Aguirre’s strike to make it six ensuring a late Hwang Ui-jo header would be no more than a consolation as Jaime Lozano’s men progressed into a semi-final showdown with defending champions Brazil.

Trailing 2-1 with less than two minutes remaining, the Matildas stayed in the contest thanks to last-gasp Kerr equaliser, setting the scene for a wild, seesawing period of extra time at the Kashima Stadium.

The Nadeshiko, despite struggling to produce their customary high standards, squeezed into the last eight as one of the two best third-placed teams but ultimately found Sweden a mountain too high to conquer as the hosts fell to a 3-1 defeat.

Magdalena Eriksson opened the scoring for Sweden in the seventh minute with Mina Tanaka equalising in the 23rd but the European side - unbeaten in more than 16 months - turned on the power in the second half with Stina Blackstenius and Kosovare Asllani (penalty) taking them through to a semi-final against Australia.

The reigning AFC Asian Cup champions matched the United States for the most part of their semi-final but were finally undone by Gyasi Zardes' 86th minute winner.

The final result may well have been different had Hassan Al Haydos converted a 54th minute penalty, which could have taken Qatar into the final against Mexico but Sanchez had no regrets as the West Asian side continue their preparations for the FIFA World Cup Finals 2022 on home soil.

The race to the AFC Champions League Quarter-finals will take centrestage on September 14 with the commencement of the Round of 16 (East) battles, which will see reigning champions Ulsan Hyundai FC take on Japan's Kawasaki Frontale, while Daegu FC, who will be appearing in the Round of 16 for the first time, will face-off against Nagoya Grampus on the same day.