It was Japan’s first Asian Cup group-stage defeat in 26 matches and set them on a potential collision course with South Korea in the last 16 in Qatar Aymen Hussein scored two first-half headers as Iraq stunned Asian Cup favourites Japan 2-1 on Friday to reach the knockout rounds.
It was Japan’s first Asian Cup group-stage defeat in 26 matches and set them on a potential collision course with South Korea in the last 16 in Qatar, assuming they still progress.
Iraq — ranked 63 in the world to Japan’s 17 — endured a nervous finish after Liverpool’s Wataru Endo pulled one back in the third of eight minutes of injury time.
But they held on and now have six points after beating Indonesia 3-1 in their opening match.
They play Vietnam in their final group game on Wednesday.
Four-time champions Japan have three points after beating Vietnam 4-2 in their opener and face Indonesia, also on Wednesday.
Hajime Moriyasu’s side went into the game in Doha on the back of a 10-game winning streak in which they scored 43 goals.(HT)