Patient Japan please Moriyasu

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Patient Japan please Moriyasu

Doha: Hajime Moriyasu praised his players’ patience as four-time champions Japan ground out a 4-2 win over Vietnam at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday to make a positive start to their challenge for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™.

The Japanese were shocked in the 33rd minute when Pham Tuan Hai gave the Philippe Troussier-coached Vietnamese a 2-1 lead after Nguyen Dinh Bac had cancelled out Takumi Minamino’s opener, only for the Samurai Blue to compose themselves to take all three points.
 
Minamino equalised in the 45th minute and Keito Nakamura put Japan ahead just before the interval with substitute Ayase Ueda striking four minutes from time to put the seal on a professional display from Moriyasu’s side.

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Group D: Japan 4-2 Vietnam

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Group D: Japan 4-2 Vietnam

Doha: Takumi Minamino scored twice as Japan fought back to hand Vietnam a 4-2 defeat at Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday as the four-time champions kicked off their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ campaign in Group D with a hard-fought win.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side were made to work for the three points in their meeting with former Japan coach Philippe Troussier, whose team rattled the Samurai Blue before slipping to a loss delivered by Keito Nakamura’s curling strike and Ayase Ueda's late fourth.
 
Minamino had put Japan in front in the 11th minute but goals from Nguyen Dinh Bac and Pham Tuan Hai gave Vietnam the lead before Minamino equalised in the 45th minute and Nakamura bent in his right foot strike five minutes later.
 
Substitute Ueda added Japan’s fourth with a deflected strike with four minutes remaining.

Group C: IR Iran 4-1 Palestine

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Group C: IR Iran 4-1 Palestine

Al Rayyan: Islamic Republic of Iran began their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group C campaign with an eye-catching 4-1 win over Palestine on Sunday.

The victory at the Education City Stadium means Iran top the group ahead of the United Arab Emirates - who beat Hong Kong, China 3-1 earlier in the day - on goal difference.

Group C: UAE 3-1 Hong Kong, China

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Group C: UAE 3-1 Hong Kong, China

Al Rayyan: United Arab Emirates began their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group C campaign with a 3-1 win over Hong Kong, China at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the defeat, Hong Kong scorer Philip Chan Siu Kwan etched his name in AFC Asian Cup history by scoring the 1,000th goal of the continental showpiece.

Preview - Group D: Indonesia v Iraq

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Preview - Group D: Indonesia v Iraq

Al Rayyan: Indonesia have to focus on long-term development as well as results, according to head coach Shin Tae-yong, whose side are preparing to take on Iraq in Group D of the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023 on Monday.

Team Garuda are the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament, sitting just five places above 150th ranked Hong Kong, China in the most recent FIFA rankings, with their upcoming opponents nearly 80 places above them, but Shin insists his side cannot afford to just sit deep and defend.

Preview - Group E: Malaysia v Jordan

Tue, 16 Jan, 2024

Preview - Group E: Malaysia v Jordan

Al Wakrah: Head coach Hussein Ammouta wants Jordan to be fully focused when they open their AFC Asian Cup Qatar™ 2023 Group E campaign against Malaysia at the Al Janoub Stadium on Monday.

Ammouta, who led Morocco to the 2020 African Nations Championship title, believes that Malaysia have improved since their last encounter in 2021.

Preview - Group E: Korea Republic v Bahrain

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Preview - Group E: Korea Republic v Bahrain

Doha: Jurgen Klinsmann wants to take Korea Republic all the way in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ but will take it game by game, starting with Monday’s clash against Bahrain.

The 1990 FIFA World Cup winner, who had previously steered Germany to third place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and guided the United States to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, is now looking to make his mark on the Asian stage.

Tiredness not a factor for Korea Republic’s Hwang; Al Aswad counting on Bahraini teamwork

Sun, 14 Jan, 2024

Tiredness not a factor for Korea Republic’s Hwang; Al Aswad counting on Bahraini teamwork

Doha: Hwang Hee Chan has no intention of using fatigue as an excuse when Korea Republic embark on their journey to win their first AFC Asian Cup™ title since 1960 when they take on Bahrain in Group E on Monday.

Komail Alaswad, meanwhile, wants his Bahrain side to relish the challenge of facing one of Asia’s best and prove themselves worthy of a place in the knockout stage of Qatar 2023.

Malaysia’s Davies has high expectations; Haddad wants Jordan to remain grounded

Sun, 14 Jan, 2024

Malaysia’s Davies has high expectations; Haddad wants Jordan to remain grounded

Al Wakrah: Mathew Davies expects Malaysia to produce a strong performance when they take on Jordan in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar™ 2023 Group E tie at the Al Janoub Stadium on Monday.

Jordan’s Ehsan Haddad, however, said his team will adopt a cautious attitude despite having the psychological advantage of winning their last two encounters against the Southeast Asian side.

Iraq’s Rashid wary of Indonesia, Mangkualam ready for the challenge

Sun, 14 Jan, 2024

Iraq’s Rashid wary of Indonesia, Mangkualam ready for the challenge

Doha: Iraq midfielder Osama Rashid warned his side against the threat of Indonesia’s attack ahead of the two teams’ AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group D clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday.

The Lions of Mesopotamia had run riot in a 5-1 triumph over their upcoming opponents two months ago in the Preliminary Joint Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, but Rashid believes the task will not be as easy this time around.