JAPAN DENT OMAN HOPES

Four-time winners Japan scraped past a fighting Oman by a solitary goal to move into the last 16 of the Asian Cup 2019 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

With their second straight defeat in Group F, Oman are at the bottom with no points and the result of Uzbekistan-turkmenistan will effectively decide Oman’s future in the tournament.

Japan are through to next round with six points from two matches.

Japan went ahead in the 28th minute when Genki Haraguchi converted a penalty that came their way after Raed Salah’s clearance effort hit the legs of onrushing Haraguchi inside the penalty box.

Haraguchi’s kick to the left post went just above past a diving Oman goalkeeper Fayez al Rushaidi for the opening goal.

Oman captain Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’ picked up a yellow card for protesting the penalty decision.

Oman had a strong plea for penalty rejected by Malaysian referee Mohammed Amirul Izwan after a shot by Salah al Yahyaei touched the Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo’s hand inside Japan penalty area in the