DOHA: Japan came from behind to defeat Vietnam 4-2 in their opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 on Sunday.
Takumi Minamino scored twice for the Samurai Blue, while Keito Nakamura and Ayase Ueda also got on the scoresheet. Vietnam took the lead through goals from Nguyen Dinh Bac and Pham Tuan Hai, but Japan were able to turn the game around in the second half.
The result gives Japan a valuable three points in Group D, while Vietnam will be looking to bounce back in their next match against Saudi Arabia.
Match summary
Japan started the game brightly and took the lead in the 11th minute through Minamino. However, Vietnam hit back with two goals in quick succession, first through Dinh Bac in the 16th minute and then through Hai in the 28th minute.
Japan equalized just before half-time through Minamino, and then took the lead for the first time in the second half through Nakamura in the 50th minute. Ueda sealed the victory for Japan in the 86th minute with a deflected shot.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was pleased with his team’s performance. “I’m happy with the win,” he said. “It was a difficult game, but we showed great character to come back from behind.”
Vietnam coach Philippe Troussier was disappointed with the result, but he praised his team’s performance. “We played well,” he said. “We had our chances, but we couldn’t take them. Japan took their chances and that’s the difference.”
What’s next?
Japan will play their next match against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, while Vietnam will play Oman on the same day.
Japan were the better team on the night and deserved the win. They were more clinical in front of goal and were able to take advantage of Vietnam’s mistakes.
Vietnam will be disappointed with the result, but they can take heart from their performance. They showed that they can compete with the best teams in Asia and will be looking to bounce back in their next match.
The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ is a major tournament for Asian football and is being held in Qatar from January 6 to February 1.
A total of 24 teams are competing in the tournament, which is being held for the 18th time.
The final will be held at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on February 1.
