Saudis in shock Cup exit
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE-TIME winners Japan and Saudi Arabia experienced contrasting fortunes at the Asian Cup on Thursday.
For only the second time since 1984, Saudi Arabia will not appear in the tournament final after a shock 0-1 loss to Jordan sent the team crashing out in the first round.
Japan, which needed a last-minute strike to scrape a draw against Jordan in its opening game, once again relied on a late goal as Keisuke Honda's 82nd-minute penalty earned his side a 2-1 win over Syria in the day's second game. That was enough to send Japan top of Group B ahead of Jordan, which also has four points, and Syria on three points.
Saudi coach Nasser al-Johar, brought in for a fifth stint after Jose Peseiro was fired in the wake of the opening loss to Syria, blamed his team's loss to Jordan on bad luck, but that was unlikely to appease critics in his home country, who were already upset by Saudi Arabia's failure to qualify for last year's World Cup.
The Saudis failed to break down the Jordan defense, and then saw goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah hopelessly out of position as Baha' Abdelrahman's deep cross from the left floated over his head and into the net in the 42nd minute.
For Japan, Honda scored a penalty eight minutes from time after Syria equalized with a controversial spot kick of its own in the 76th. Sanharib Malki was flagged offside before he was brought down by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in the box, but the referee pointed to the spot and Kawashima was sent off.
For only the second time since 1984, Saudi Arabia will not appear in the tournament final after a shock 0-1 loss to Jordan sent the team crashing out in the first round.
Japan, which needed a last-minute strike to scrape a draw against Jordan in its opening game, once again relied on a late goal as Keisuke Honda's 82nd-minute penalty earned his side a 2-1 win over Syria in the day's second game. That was enough to send Japan top of Group B ahead of Jordan, which also has four points, and Syria on three points.
Saudi coach Nasser al-Johar, brought in for a fifth stint after Jose Peseiro was fired in the wake of the opening loss to Syria, blamed his team's loss to Jordan on bad luck, but that was unlikely to appease critics in his home country, who were already upset by Saudi Arabia's failure to qualify for last year's World Cup.
The Saudis failed to break down the Jordan defense, and then saw goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah hopelessly out of position as Baha' Abdelrahman's deep cross from the left floated over his head and into the net in the 42nd minute.
For Japan, Honda scored a penalty eight minutes from time after Syria equalized with a controversial spot kick of its own in the 76th. Sanharib Malki was flagged offside before he was brought down by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in the box, but the referee pointed to the spot and Kawashima was sent off.
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