DOHA, Jan 15 — Former Liverpool striker Takumi Minamino played a crucial role in Japan’s come from behind 4-2 victory over Vietnam in their 2023 Asian Cup Group D match at the Al Thumama Stadium, here, yesterday.
The 28-year-old, who is currently playing for AS Monaco in the French League, scored twice to ensure victory for the team from the country of the rising sun.
In the match, Japan, under coach Hajime Moriyasu, took only 11 minutes to take the lead when Minamino struck a shot that beat Vietnam goalkeeper Nguyen Filip.
Five minutes later, Vietnam, led by Philippe Troussier who had previously coached Japan, equalised through a splendid header by Nguyen Dinh Bac after a perfect cross from skipper Do Hung Dung.
That goal seemed to have served as a motivation for the young Vietnamese squad as Hung Dung put Vietnam in the lead by lashing on to a poor clearance by Zion Suzuki in the 33rd minute.
However, the lead did not remain for long as Japan managed to equalise on the stroke of half time through Minamino, who received a perfect pass from skipper Wataru Endo, who plays for English Premier League side Liverpool.
The break did not seem to come early for Vietnam as Keito Nakamura took the opportunity to give Japan a 3-2 lead in injury time.
The fourth and final goal came through substitute Ayase Ueda to ensure all three points for Japan.
Japan’s next opponent will be 2007 champion Iraq while Vietnam face Indonesia on January 19.
In Group C, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the 1996 runner-up in the competition, kicked off their 2023 Asian Cup campaign in style by scoring a convincing 3-1 victory over Hong Kong.
UAE took the lead at the Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan city, about 11km from here, in the 34th minute when Sultan Adili Alamiri scored from the penalty spot.
Hong Kong, however, came back strongly from the break to equalise with a brilliant strike by Philip Chan Siu Kwan in the 49th minute.
UAE responded by doubling their attack and the pressure quickly paid off when Zayed Sultan beat Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai in the 52nd minute to restore the lead.
UAE, who managed to make it to the semifinals in the previous edition, added the third well into injury time from yet another penalty taken by Yahya Al Ghassani.
Next, UAE take on Palestine on January 18, while Hong Kong face Iran a day later.
— Bernama
