Asian Cup Q: Hirayama hat-trick rescues Japan
SOTA Hirayama grabbed a hat-trick as Japan came from two goals down to beat Yemen 3-2 at the Ali Mohsen Al Muraisi Stadium and secure their place at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
The hosts had taken a commanding lead in the Group A encounter after Basem Al Aqel opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Sami Karama doubled their advantage in the 38th minute.
However, Hirayama pulled a goal back four minutes before the break and then equalised 10 minutes into the second-half with an accomplished finish. Hirayama then converted from close range with 11 minutes to go to complete both his treble as well as a stirring comeback by the visitors.
Yemen stunned their more illustrious rivals inside the opening quarter of an hour when Akram Al Wrafi delivered a corner from the left that Al Aqel managed to turn past Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.
Japan’s youthful line-up gradually recovered from the early setback, though, and had a chance to level in the 23rd minute when Hirayama found space in the area but he fired over.
Yemen skipper Ali Al Nono saw a long-range effort fly wide on the half-hour mark but the hosts then went further ahead seven minutes before half-time as midfielder Karama found the top corner of the Japanese goal with a fine strike from 25 yards.
However, Japan pulled a goal back just three minutes later when Hirayama headed home Mu Kanazaki’s corner to make the score 2-1.
Yemen came agonisingly close to a third goal deep into first-half stoppage time when Khaled Baleid collected a ball inside the area but his effort hit the crossbar.
Japan began the second half on the offensive and threatened three minutes after the break when Takuji Yonemoto’s header drifted just wide of the post.
However, Japan eventually equalised in the 55th minute when Hirayama scored his and his side’s second goal of the night as the striker picked up the ball inside the box with his back to goal before turning and firing a powerful shot past keeper Salem Awadh.
The visitors then grabbed the winning goal with 11 minutes to go when Hirayama got on the end of Takashi Inui’s cross from the right and beat Awadh from close range.
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