Japan eases through to Asian Cup quarters with 4-1 rout

HANOI: Holder Japan stormed into the Asian Cup quarterfinals with a ruthless 4-1 demolition of co-host Vietnam yesterday.

But Vietnam, appearing in the tournament for the first time in 47 years, joined Japan in the last eight after Qatar lost 2-1 to United Arab Emirates in the other Group B game.

"I'm still not satisfied," Japan coach Ivica Osim told reporters. "If I was satisfied then I might as well just quit as coach."

A Keita Suzuki own goal after just seven minutes triggered riotous celebration among a crowd of 40,000 in Hanoi but it took Japan just five minutes to restore normal service.

Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura found space on the left to float over a perfect cross for Seiichiro Maki, who had the simple task of chesting the ball into an open goal.

Yasuhito Endo put Japan ahead just after the half hour, rifling a free kick into the top corner from the edge of the box to briefly silence Vietnam's trumpet-blowing fans.

Nakamura added a third seven minutes into the second half with a superb right-foot strike before Maki headed in his second from close range in the 59th minute.

"That was a good time to score," Maki said. "Shunsuke's pass over was so good it was no room for me to miss it. You feel a responsibility to score as a striker."

When news of UAE's win over Qatar filtered through, Hanoi's My Dinh stadium erupted in a deafening roar as Vietnamese fans celebrated wildly.

"It's a sensation," Vietnam coach Alfred Riedl told reporters. "Nobody expected us to be in the quarterfinals. It's the first time Vietnam's history.

"I'm extremely proud of my players and maybe Vietnam will surprise again."

In Ho Chi Minh city, UAE struck in stoppage time through Faisal Khalil to beat Qatar 2-1.

Qatar needed victory to reach the quarterfinals after drawing its games against Japan and Vietnam, and defeat left it bottom of the standings.

Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic remained upbeat, saying his young team could be successful in the future.

"Now it is not easy to analyze the reasons, it was a delicate situation...they (UAE) had new players, it was difficult," he told reporters.

UAE, out of contention after losing to Japan and Vietnam, leapt above Qatar into third place.

Qatar had looked to be on its way into the last eight when Uruguay-born striker Sebastian Quintana converted a penalty three minutes before halftime.

Quintana, who scored against both Japan and Vietnam, won the spot-kick himself and stepped up to stroke the ball home.

The referee ordered him to retake the penalty because Qatar players had encroached into the area and Quintana smashed his second effort into the roof of the net.

UAE went on the attack after the interval and was rewarded on 59 minutes when striker Saeed Alkas headed home a cross.

It continued to enjoy the bulk of possession and the pressure told deep into stoppage time when Ismail Mataar's free kick was headed into the net by Khalil following a deflection.

Japan, bidding for its third straight title, finished top of Group B on seven points with Vietnam runner-up on four. UAE was third on three points with Qatar on two.

The Asian champion plays the runner-up in Group A Australia in the quarterfinals in Hanoi while Vietnam travels to Bangkok to face the winner Iraq.

Australia clinched the runner-up spot on goal difference following a 4-0 defeat of host Thailand late yesterday.

Agencies

(China Daily 07/17/2007 page24)