Doha, Qatar: Japan kickstarted their Asian Cup title bid with a 4-2 comeback victory against spirited Vietnam, thanks to a brace by Takumi Minamino at Al Thumama Stadium yesterday.
Vietnam, coached by Philippe Troussier who guided Japan to the Asian title back in 2000, gave the Samurai Blue a run for money by snatching the lead in a pulsating first half after Minamino took the Hajime Moriyasu’s side ahead in the 11th minute.
The Golden Star Warriors – ranked 94th as compared to Japan’s 17th position in the FIFA rankings – fought back through strikes from Nguyen Dinh Bac and Pham Tuan Hai to thrill their fans.
The title favourites, however, came back into the match with Minamino’s second goal before a fabulous strike by Keito Nakamura just before the half-time whistle brought Japan back into the lead.
They wrapped up the hard-fought victory late in the sedate second half with substitute Ayase Ueda scoring their last goal.
Moriyasu said he was sure of Japan’s fightback following Vietnam’s second goal as his team got off to a winning start in their quest for a record-extending fifth Asian Cup title.
“They stayed calm despite going behind because they knew we had the whole 90 minutes and injury time to get the win. They never let their concentration drop,” he said.
The match, attended by over 17000 spectators gave an exciting start to Group D action with Japan hitting seven shots on target while Vietnam took three shots as most of the attempts came in the opening half.
Missing Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma owing to an ankle injury, Japan relished a strong start with Minamino smashing the opener on the rebound after Yukinari Sugawara’s ball inside the box deflected off a defender.
Vietnam responded within five minutes with Dinh Bac stunning the Japan defence with a looping header from Do Hung Dung’s corner kick, leaving no chance for goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Tuan Hai then put Vietnam ahead in the 33rd minute smashing the ball in from a close range after Suzuki saved Bui Hoang Viet Anh’s header.
But Japan were back in the match 12 minutes later with Minamino slotting a first-time low drive in the right corner after receiving a ball from captain Wataru Endo inside the box.
Nakamura put the Samurai Blue back into the lead with a stunning hit from just outside the box into the top corner in the fourth minute of injury time in the first half.
Vietnam couldn’t match their first-half show as Japan sealed the win through Ueda’s deflected effort in 86th minute after goalkeeper Filip Nguyen denied Hidemasa Morita and Minamino.
Former Liverpool striker Minamino praised Vietnam’s fight in the match after Japan’s victory.
“I’ve been playing against Vietnam since I was young so I know how good a team they can be,” he said. “But it wasn’t just in defence -- they were really good in attack as well. I was surprised by how good they were.”
Despite the loss, Troussier was pleased with his side’s performance in the opening game.
“When you see where the Japanese players are coming from, when you see their experience, when you see their bodies, it’s clear that we are not boxing at the same level,” said the Frenchman.
“But with our means and our potential we tried our best, that’s why I am so satisfied.”
Former champions Iraq will take on Indonesia in the other opening match in Group D at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium today.
