Olympics: South Korea, Brazil, Mexico and Japan into soccer semis

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One of the greatest days British sport has ever known ended with a sadly familiar quarter-final 5-4 penalty shoot-out exit to South Korea in Cardiff after a 1-1 full-time score.

Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge missed the vital last kick, allowing Celtic's Ki Sungyueng to send South Korea into a last four meeting with Brazil at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Sturridge was clearly angry and upset as he made his way off the field, although it could be argued Aaron Ramsey was equally culpable as he also missed from the spot in normal time when the Wales midfielder had a chance to put Britain in front.

That Ramsey should score in the shoot-out, having already converted one prior to his failure, just heightened the frustration for a capacity crowd, who had seen Ji Dongwon put South Korea in front.

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Leandro Damiao fired Brazil into the Olympic semi-finals as Brazil survived a major scare against nine-man Honduras with a narrow 3-2 win.

The Internacional striker cancelled out Mario Martinez's stunning opener, and after Neymar had done the same from the penalty spot following Roger Espinoza's equally eye-catching 48th-minute finish, booked a trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening with his second.

But Honduras played a full part in a thrilling encounter at a packed St James' Park despite having midfielder Wilmer Crisanto sent off with just 32 minutes gone and Espinoza at the death, both for two bookings.

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Mexico survived a stunning Senegal comeback as they won a Wembley thriller 4-2 in extra time to reach their first Olympic semi-final since 1968.

The Mexicans blew a two-goal lead with just over 20 minutes remaining of this afternoon's London 2012 quarter-final, but Tottenham misfit Giovani dos Santos and substitute Hector Herrera punished horrible extra-time errors to set up a clash with Japan and a guaranteed medal match.

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Japan maintained their pursuit of double Olympic football gold as the men followed the women into the last four of the tournament with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Egypt.

Kensuke Nagai, captain Maya Yoshida and Yuki Otsu were all on target in their quarter-final clash with 10-man Egypt, and will now face Mexico on Tuesday.