Japan and Iran wrap up Asian Cup preparations with wins

Home Sport Japan and Iran wrap up Asian Cup preparations with wins 04-01-2015 11:48 PM Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Holders Japan beat Oceania club champions Auckland City 2-0 while three-times winners Iran edged old foes Iraq 1-0 as half of the Asian Cup finalists played final friendly matches on Sunday before next week’s kick-off in Australia. Japan coach Javier Aguirre fielded a strong side for the fixture in Newcastle with the Blue Samurai’s most capped player Yasuhito Endo opening the scoring with a deflected shot in the 33rd minute. Striker Shinji Okazaki completed the victory over the semi-professional New Zealand outfit, who reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup last month, with a stoppage time effort after being put through. Japan begin the defence of their title on Jan. 12 against Palestine, with further Group D matches against Jordan and Iraq to come. Jordan have been in woeful form since the appointment of former England captain Ray Wilkins in September, with their wait for a first victory under his guidance extended after a 1-0 loss to Bahrain in Victoria. Faouzi Aaish scored the winner with six minutes remaining. Iraq are also short on victories and their confidence would not have been helped by a 1-0 loss to Iran on Sunday. The Lions of Mesopotamia fell 1-0 behind to an experimental Iranian side in the 55th minute after Russia-based striker Sardar Azmoun swiftly nipped past the defender and poked home. The 2007 Asian champions had a fantastic opportunity to level just seven minutes later but skipper Younis Mahmoud chipped his penalty kick over the bar after a failed panenka effort.Iran will take on Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in an all West Asian Group C. Elsewhere, South Korea recorded a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia to boost their confidence ahead of Group A challenges against Kuwait, Oman and the hosts. An own goal by Osama Hawsawi in the 68th minute set them on their way with striker Lee Jung-hyub notching in stoppage time from close range to make the game safe with a debut goal. The Saudis were thumped 4-1 by Bahrain on Tuesday and look ill prepared ahead of Saturday’s Group B opener against China and follow up clashes with North Korea and Uzbekistan. *Reuters

Home Sport

Japan and Iran wrap up Asian Cup preparations with wins

04-01-2015 11:48 PM

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Holders Japan beat Oceania club champions Auckland City 2-0 while three-times winners Iran edged old foes Iraq 1-0 as half of the Asian Cup finalists played final friendly matches on Sunday before next week’s kick-off in Australia.

Japan coach Javier Aguirre fielded a strong side for the fixture in Newcastle with the Blue Samurai’s most capped player Yasuhito Endo opening the scoring with a deflected shot in the 33rd minute.

Striker Shinji Okazaki completed the victory over the semi-professional New Zealand outfit, who reached the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup last month, with a stoppage time effort after being put through.

Japan begin the defence of their title on Jan. 12 against Palestine, with further Group D matches against Jordan and Iraq to come.

Jordan have been in woeful form since the appointment of former England captain Ray Wilkins in September, with their wait for a first victory under his guidance extended after a 1-0 loss to Bahrain in Victoria.

Faouzi Aaish scored the winner with six minutes remaining.

Iraq are also short on victories and their confidence would not have been helped by a 1-0 loss to Iran on Sunday.

The Lions of Mesopotamia fell 1-0 behind to an experimental Iranian side in the 55th minute after Russia-based striker Sardar Azmoun swiftly nipped past the defender and poked home.

The 2007 Asian champions had a fantastic opportunity to level just seven minutes later but skipper Younis Mahmoud chipped his penalty kick over the bar after a failed panenka effort.Iran will take on Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in an all West Asian Group C.

Elsewhere, South Korea recorded a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia to boost their confidence ahead of Group A challenges against Kuwait, Oman and the hosts.

An own goal by Osama Hawsawi in the 68th minute set them on their way with striker Lee Jung-hyub notching in stoppage time from close range to make the game safe with a debut goal.

The Saudis were thumped 4-1 by Bahrain on Tuesday and look ill prepared ahead of Saturday’s Group B opener against China and follow up clashes with North Korea and Uzbekistan.

*Reuters

no comments

Notice

All comments are reviewed and posted only if approved.
Ammon News reserves the right to delete any comment at any time, and for any reason, and will not publish any comment containing offense or deviating from the subject at hand, or to include the names of any personalities or to stir up sectarian, sectarian or racial strife, hoping to adhere to a high level of the comments as they express The extent of the progress and culture of Ammon News' visitors, noting that the comments are expressed only by the owners.

name : *
email
	show email
comment : *
Verification code :	Refresh write code :