Asian Cup round-up: Japan down Iraq, Aldaradreh slams four past Palestine

Sport360 staff 15:14 16/01/2015
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  • Star man: Keisuke Honda of Japan scores the winning goal during the Asian Cup match against Iraq at Suncorp Stadium.

    Keisuke Honda's first-half penalty proved the difference as defending champions Japan downed Iraq 1-0 in their Asian Cup Group D match on Friday.

    Honda coolly converted from the penalty spot in the 23rd minute to give the Blue Samurai a well-deserved win in front of almost 23,000 fans at Brisbane Stadium.

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    The 1-0 scoreline flattered 2007 winners Iraq, who were under immense pressure throughout and could have conceded a hatful if the Japanese had converted their many chances.

    Honda was guilty of a glaring miss when he hit the post in the second half with the goal begging – the third time he hit the woodwork.

    Keisuke Honda of Japan and Dhurgham Ismael of Iraq compete for the ball during their match in Brisbane.

    However, he managed the decisive kick of the game with his well-taken penalty, when he sent Jalal Hassan the wrong way and rolled the ball into the opposite corner.

    Japan will be favourites to progress to the quarter-finals alongside Iraq in their final Group D games against Jordan and Palestine respectively.

    Hamza Aldaradreh scored the first hat-trick of the Asian Cup on Friday as Jordan hammered Palestine 5-1 to keep themselves alive in the competition.

    Aldaradreh finished with four goals, helping Jordan end a miserable run of 11 games without a win, but their hopes of advancing still hang in the balance with defending champions Japan to come in their final Group D game on Tuesday.

    Hamza Aldaradreh of Jordan celebrates his third goal during the Group D Asian Cup football match against Palestine.

    Yousef Ahmad scored with a superb curling effort after 33 minutes, before Aldaradreh doubled Jordan's advantage moments later.

    The striker grabbed his second in first-half stoppage time to leave Palestine with a mountain to climb and completed his treble with a clinical strike in the 75th minute. Adrenalin pumping, he piled on the misery for Palestine with another goal from point-blank range.

    But Palestine carved out a little piece of history for themselves from a pulsating match when Jaka Hbaisha smashed home a consolation goal five minutes from time.

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