Richard Michael
DeanoHarmoAsian Cup - Qatar Cuts Japan Down
July 10th 2007 09:07
Category: No Category
Monday night in Hanoi, as the Asian Cup group stages continued. Japan were ranked favourites in Group B and were expected not to have too much trouble getting past Qatar, but it didn't turn out that way.
It was a slow start, with neither side able to create scoring opportunities early. 0-0 at half-time, but the Japanese came out firing in the second half. Plenty of goal kicks, plenty of corners as the ball was camped in the Qatari half; and on the hour Naohiro Takahara banged through a long-range shot to put Japan ahead 1-0.
Japan pressed for a second, but it didn't come. At 80 minutes, a free kick from Qatar landed in the possession of Sebastian Quintana, whose shot just sailed over the bar. But at 88 minutes came the shock - another Qatari free, and the wall was set. Quintana's shot deflected off the wall, beating the desperately outstretched arms of Japanese keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi into the net for an equaliser.
Moments later, Qatar were down to 10 men when Hussein Yasser was red-carded for a reckless tackle. But there wasn't enough time for Japan to build an attack, and the match ended 1-1 - a result that leaves Vietnam as shock leaders in Group B.
In tonight's action, co-hosts Indonesia and Malaysia make their first appearances in the tournament; and will be hoping to attract larger crowds than the disappointing attendances that have turned up to the matches in Thailand and Vietnam. Indonesia will take on Bahrain in Jakarta, while Malaysia will host China in Kuala Lumpur.
Group B Standings Vietnam 3 ( 2), Japan 1 (0), Qatar 1 (0), United Arab Emirates 0 (-2).
It was a slow start, with neither side able to create scoring opportunities early. 0-0 at half-time, but the Japanese came out firing in the second half. Plenty of goal kicks, plenty of corners as the ball was camped in the Qatari half; and on the hour Naohiro Takahara banged through a long-range shot to put Japan ahead 1-0.
Japan pressed for a second, but it didn't come. At 80 minutes, a free kick from Qatar landed in the possession of Sebastian Quintana, whose shot just sailed over the bar. But at 88 minutes came the shock - another Qatari free, and the wall was set. Quintana's shot deflected off the wall, beating the desperately outstretched arms of Japanese keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi into the net for an equaliser.
In tonight's action, co-hosts Indonesia and Malaysia make their first appearances in the tournament; and will be hoping to attract larger crowds than the disappointing attendances that have turned up to the matches in Thailand and Vietnam. Indonesia will take on Bahrain in Jakarta, while Malaysia will host China in Kuala Lumpur.
Group B Standings Vietnam 3 ( 2), Japan 1 (0), Qatar 1 (0), United Arab Emirates 0 (-2).
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