Top favorites Japan averted an embarrassment in their first game at the Asian Cup against Vietnam. Palestine fell to Iran.
The four-time winner Japan beat Vietnam 4:2 (3:2) at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Sunday (January 14, 2024) after being 1:2 behind. Takumi Minamino (11th minute/45th), Keito Nakamura (45th+4) and Ayase Ueda (85th) scored for Japan, Dinh Bac Nguyen (16th) and Tuan Hai Pham (33rd) left outsiders Vietnam with theirs dream of a sensation.
In Group C, Japan will face Iraq and Indonesia. For the favorite, who lined up with Bundesliga professionals Ko Itakura (Mönchengladbach) and Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart), everything initially went according to plan.
Vietnam scores after two set pieces
Minamino from AS Monaco took the lead early on, but then Vietnam – number 94 in the world rankings – turned the game around after two set pieces. However, Japan, with Bochum’s Takuma Asano and Freiburg’s Ritsu Doan not in the starting line-up, struck back twice before the break.
Japan reached the final of the last Asian Cup in 2019, but lost to current hosts Qatar. The world number 17. has the strongest squad in the tournament, coach Hajime Moriyasu even did without former Bundesliga professional Daichi Kamada (Lazio Rome).
Clear success for Iran
Palestine suffered a defeat against tournament co-favorites Iran in an emotional game on Sunday evening. Makram Daboub’s selection lost 1:4 (1:3) in Al-Rajjan in Qatar on Sunday. It was an emotional start to the continental championship for Palestine during the Gaza War.
Numerous Palestine flags and expressions of solidarity could be seen in the spectator stands, and during the national anthem some team members had tears in their eyes. A minute’s silence before kick-off was followed by chants of “Free Palestine.”
Iran supports Hamas in the Gaza Strip
The game had special circumstances. Since the beginning of the Gaza war, Iran has repeatedly reiterated its support for the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The war was triggered by the devastating terrorist attack by Hamas and other extremist groups in Israel on October 7th last year. They murdered more than 1,200 people.
Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive. Numerous Palestinian national players have friends and relatives in the areas, and tournament preparation for selection was severely limited.
Tamer Seyam scores for Palestine
“The difficulties are nothing new for us,” said national coach Daboub before the start of the tournament. Karim Ansarifard (2nd minute), Shoja Khalilzadeh (12th), Mehdi Ghayedi (38th) and ex-Leverkusen player Sardar Azmoun (55th) scored the goals for Iran. Palestine’s only goal was scored by Tamer Seyam (45th + 6th). The other opponents of the two teams in the preliminary group are the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.