DOHA: Japan cruised into the Asian Cup last 16 on Wednesday and a possible date with South Korea, as already qualified Iraq came out on top in a five-goal thriller. Ayase Ueda struck in each half to go with a late Indonesia own goal as pre-tournament favorites Japan won 3-1 to finish runners-up in Group D behind Iraq. Japan will now face the winners of Group E—South Korea’s group. Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea are currently second on goal difference behind Jordan and face Malaysia in their final group match on Thursday.
Following Japan’s shock 2-1 defeat to Iraq, coach Hajime Moriyasu made eight changes to his starting line-up, bringing in an entirely new defence. He kept faith in goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who was at fault against Iraq and was racially abused online after the game. But there was still no place for Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, who was left out of the match-day squad for a third straight game as he struggles for full fitness.
Japan were awarded a penalty in the sixth minute after a VAR check ruled that Indonesia defender Jordi Amat had dragged down Ueda in the box. The Feyenoord striker dusted himself down and dispatched the spot-kick past goalkeeper Ernando Ari. Japan doubled their lead seven minutes after half-time when Ritsu Doan cut through the Indonesia defense down the wing and Ueda was on hand to tap home his low cross.
Ueda went looking for his hat-trick and his shot pressured Indonesia defender Justin Hubner into firing the ball into his own goal in the 88th minute. Sandy Walsh volleyed home from close range in the 91st minute to give Indonesia a consolation. They finished third in the group and will have to wait until the first round concludes on Thursday to see if they go through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Hussein double
The 2007 champions Iraq, who had already topped the group, scored in the 12th minute of injury time against 10-man Vietnam for a thrilling 3-2 win. Aymen Hussein scored twice, including the decider at the death from the penalty spot, to take his tally to a tournament-leading five goals.
Vietnam led three minutes before the break when Bui Hoang Viet Anh poked home off a Khuat Van Khang free-kick. That would be Khuat’s last major attacking involvement—he was sent off in first-half stoppage time for a second yellow card.
Rebin Sulaka equalised immediately after the restart and then Hussein, on as a substitute, made it 2-1. Hussein missed a penalty and it looked like he would be made to regret it when Nguyen Quang Hai got behind the Iraqi back line to score on the stroke of the 90th minute to make it 2-2. But Vietnam gave away another penalty deep in added time and on this occasion Hussein did not miss.
Son Heung-min’s South Korea toiled into the Asian Cup knockout rounds on Thursday after conceding a last-minute equalizer in a madcap 3-3 draw with minnows Malaysia. The result in Doha meant the Koreans advanced as Group E runners-up and avoided a last-16 showdown with pre-tournament favorites Japan. Instead they will play the winner of Group F, which Saudi Arabia currently lead ahead of Thailand. Bahrain topped Group E and will face Japan after a 1-0 win over Jordan, who also went through to the last 16. Malaysia were eliminated despite a heroic effort that saw the world’s 130th-ranked team score a 105th-minute equalizer from Romel Morales.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea thought they had won it after Lee Kang-in equalised with an 83rd-minute free-kick and then Tottenham Hotspur’s Son scored from the penalty spot in the 94th minute. Jeong Woo-yeong gave the Koreans the lead in the 21st minute, only for Malaysia to come roaring back with two goals early in the second half from Faisal Halim and Arif Aiman, the latter from the spot.
Klinsmann named Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan among the substitutes for the first time at the Asian Cup. Hwang, who has scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season, has been struggling with a hip injury. South Korea had VAR to thank for their opening goal. Jeong thumped a header towards goal that Malaysia goalkeeper Syihan Hazmi initially looked to have clawed away with a fantastic save. But the replay showed that the ball had crossed the line before Hazmi got a hand to it.
It was a rare moment of ruthlessness from a Korean side that dominated possession but could not turn it into goals in the first half. Malaysia made them pay with a stunning equalizer six minutes after the restart. Darren Lok robbed a sleeping Hwang In-beom on the edge of the box, and Halim turned Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae inside out before slotting the ball home from a tight angle. And more was to come when a VAR check gave Malaysia a penalty after Seol Young-woo was ruled to have kicked Aiman. — AFP