Palestine lose to Iran at Asian Cup as Japan survive Vietnam scare
DOHA: Palestine conceded a goal after just 64 seconds in a 4-1 opening loss to Iran at the Asian Cup on Sunday, while tournament favourites Japan survived a scare before beating Vietnam 4-2.
Hong Kong’s first Asian Cup match in more than 55 years ended in a 3-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates.
Palestinian flags were scattered among the crowd of nearly 28,000 at Education City Stadium, and their goal just before half-time got the biggest cheer of the night. Despite seeing his side well beaten, Palestine’s coach Makram Daboub said: “We will regain our confidence and achieve our goal of reaching the last 16.”
The Tunisian blamed ‘a lack of concentration’ and ‘overexcitement’ for their poor start to the game.
Palestine were behind after little over one minute, attacker Karim Ansarifard rattling the ball into the bottom corner for an Iran team who are among the favourites in Qatar.
Iran, who are pursuing a recordequalling fourth continental crown, made it 2-0 on 12 minutes when Shojae Khalilzadeh swept home unmarked from close range following a free kick.
Iran looked like scoring every time they went forward and they made it 3-0 seven minutes before the break, Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh playing in Mehdi Ghayedi to side-foot into the bottom corner.
But the biggest roar of the night came right on the stroke of half-time when Tamer Seyam headed in from close range, the Palestinian pointing skyward in a muted celebration. Iran scored a fourth soon after the break through Roma’s Sardar Azmoun.
Japan are looking for a recordextending fifth Asian title and looked set for a comfortable start to their campaign when Takumi Minamino gave them an 11thminute lead against Vietnam.
But Vietnam, coached by Japan’s 2000 Asian Cup-winning boss Philippe Troussier, turned the game on its head with two goals midway through the first half. Japan came roaring back before half-time, Minamino scoring a second and Keito Nakamura curling home a sublime effort to send them into the break with the lead.
The second half was a far more sedate affair until Japan substitute Ayase Ueda made the win safe with a fourth goal in the 86th minute.