Japan kicked off their AFC Asian Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Vietnam at the Al Thumama Stadium. Before the clash, Japan, ranked 17th in the world, were firm favourites, having come to this tournament with a 10-match winning streak. Vietnam, at No. 94 in the rankings, were far from overawed though, and lead 2-1 midway through the first half, before Minamino and Keito Nakamura, with a wonder goal, restored order.
Vietnam began the game in a positive way with the intention of building attacks from the back. But in the 11th minute, Takumi Minamino scored from a second ball to give Japan a lead after Vietnam failed to clear a corner won by Hiroki Ito.
However, the lead did not last long as Dinh Bac Nguyen scored a header from a beautiful corner delivered by the Vietnam skipper, Do Hung Dung, in the 16th minute. Both teams were maintaining a high defensive line and an even contest was playing out much to the surprise of most fans. Then, in the 33rd minute, Japan supporters were left shocked as Philippe Troussier’s men took a 2-1 lead from an indirect freekick. Pham Tuan Hai scored on the rebound after Zion Suzuki in the Japan goal parried a header into his path.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
As India gear up to take on Uzbekistan in the AFC Asian Cup, @Rahul_01Giri and @Swapnil_0114 take us on a tour of the picturesque Katara Cultural Village in Doha. @ThumsUpOfficial#AFCAsianCup #INDvUZB #KataraCulturalVillage #AFCAsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/Sjk5sGHfhi
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) January 14, 2024
With the first half seemingly going in favour of the Vietnamese, Minamino, the midfielder who was a big part of Liverpool’s domestic cup successes in 2021-22, struck in the 45th minute. It was a clean finish to complete his brace just at the stroke of half-time. But the four-time Asian Cup winners – Troussier had led them to their second title in 2000 – did not stop there as they continued to press. Nakamura cut in from the left and unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box into the far top corner.
In the second half, Japan, runners-up in 2019, looking to manage the game. On the other side, Vietnam got some counterattacking opportunities but failed to execute. In the 84th minute, Takefusa Kubo came on for Minamino, to immediate effect. He set up Ayase Ueda, the Feyenoord forward, and a big deflection made it 4-2 in favour of the Japanese.
At one stage, Troussier seemed poised to pull off the first major upset of this tournament, against the team he coached from 1998 to 2002. However, with this 11th straight win, Hajime Moriyasu’s men look set to go far in their quest for a fifth Asian Cup title.
Also Read: My Olympic dreams have been shattered, says Trap shooter Manavjit Sandhu