Qatar, Jan 15 (News On Japan) - In a dramatic start to their quest for Asian Cup supremacy, Japan's Samurai Blue, eyeing their first title in three appearances, battled from behind to clinch a 4-2 victory against Vietnam in their group stage debut.
Kicking off on January 12 in Qatar, the 24-team Asian Cup witnessed a high-octane Sunday clash between 17th-ranked Japan and 94th-ranked Vietnam, led by former Japan coach Philippe Troussier. The Japanese squad, featuring key players Wataru Endo and Junya Ito, along with rising stars from the Paris Olympic generation such as Masahiro Hosoya and Ayane Suzuki, showcased their depth and versatility.
Japan drew first blood in the 11th minute through Takumi Minamino, pouncing on a rebound from the game's initial corner. Vietnam, however, struck back quickly with a corner header, taking a surprising lead with a 33rd-minute free-kick. Japan managed to equalize just before the end of the first half when Minamino scored his second goal after receiving a through pass in the penalty area. Shortly after, Keito Nakamura scored with a brilliant right-footed shot into the right corner of the goal, putting Japan ahead. Later in the second half, substitute Kisei Ueda added another goal, securing Japan's 4-2 victory, extending Japan's international A-match winning streak to 10 games. The Blue Samurai next face 63rd-ranked Iraq on January 19.
Double scorer Minamino shared his thoughts: "Overcoming the deficit and taking the leading again showed our resilience. We're not through yet, so we'll keep our focus sharp for Iraq."
Captain Endo, pivotal in Minamino's second goal, reflected: "Despite early setbacks, we stayed composed, regrouped, and turned the tide. This win sets a significant tone for our campaign."
Keito Nakamura commented on Vietnam's strategy and his winning goal, "We knew Vietnam would play defensively and look for counterattacks, but once the game started, it was more intense than I had imagined."
Coach Hajime Moriyasu reflected on the match as a valuable lesson, "The first game taught us that there are no easy battles in the Asian Cup. We have to reflect on the fact that we fell behind, but it's a confidence booster for the future that the players stayed calm and managed to turn the game around when it didn't go as planned."
Source: NHK
