DOHA: Japan cruised into the Asian Cup last 16 on Wednesday and a possible date with South Korea, as already qualified Iraq came out on top in a five-goal thriller.
Ayase Ueda struck in each half to go with a late Indonesia own goal as pre-tournament favorites Japan won 3-1 to finish runners-up in Group D behind Iraq.
Japan will now face the winners of Group E — South Korea’s group.
Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea are currently second on goal difference behind Jordan and face Malaysia in their final group match on Thursday.
Following Japan’s shock 2-1 defeat to Iraq, coach Hajjime Moriyasu made eight changes to his starting line-up, bringing in an entirely new defense.
He kept faith in goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who was at fault against Iraq and was racially abused online after the game.
But there was still no place for Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, who was left out of the match-day squad for a third straight game as he struggles for full fitness.
Japan were awarded a penalty in the sixth minute after a VAR check ruled that Indonesia defender Jordi Amat had dragged down Ueda in the box.
The Feyenoord striker dusted himself down and dispatched the spot-kick past goalkeeper Ernando Ari.
Japan doubled their lead seven minutes after half-time when Ritsu Doan cut through the Indonesia defense down the wing and Ueda was on hand to tap home his low cross.
Ueda went looking for his hat-trick and his shot pressured Indonesia defender Justin Hubner into firing the ball into his own goal in the 88th minute.
Sandy Walsh volleyed home from close range in the 91st minute to give Indonesia a consolation.
They finished third in the group and will have to wait until the first round concludes on Thursday to see if they go through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
The 2007 champions Iraq, who had already topped the group, scored in the 12th minute of injury time against 10-man Vietnam for a thrilling 3-2 win.
Aymen Hussein scored twice, including the decider at the death from the penalty spot, to take his tally to a tournament-leading five goals.
Vietnam led three minutes before the break when Bui Hoang Viet Anh poked home off a Khuat Van Khang free-kick.
That would be Khuat’s last major attacking involvement — he was sent off in first-half stoppage time for a second yellow card.
Rebin Sulaka equalized immediately after the restart and then Hussein, on as a substitute, made it 2-1.
Hussein missed a penalty and it looked like he would be made to regret it when Nguyen Quang Hai got behind the Iraqi back line to score on the stroke of the 90th minute to make it 2-2.
But Vietnam gave away another penalty deep in added time and on this occasion Hussein did not miss.
Japan into Asian Cup last 16 as Iraq win five-goal thriller
https://arab.news/8zj4p
Japan into Asian Cup last 16 as Iraq win five-goal thriller
- Japan will now face the winners of Group E — South Korea’s group
- The 2007 champions Iraq scored in the 12th minute of injury time against 10-man Vietnam for a thrilling 3-2 win
PSG star Hakimi faces trial for alleged rape
- The 27-year-old Moroccan international denies any wrongdoing
- “I contest it and everything proves that it is false,” Hakimi wrote on X
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain footballer Achraf Hakimi, a key player in their Champions League-winning side last season, is to stand trial charged with raping a young woman, his lawyer and a French prosecutor told AFP Tuesday.
In February 2023, a woman then aged 24 told police in Val-De-Marne southeast of Paris that Hakimi had raped her.
The 27-year-old Moroccan international, who played a pivotal role in Morocco becoming the first African and Arab side to reach the World Cup semifinals when they made the last four in 2022, denies any wrongdoing.
“Today, a rape accusation is enough to justify a trial, even though I contest it and everything proves that it is false,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
“I await this trial calmly, which will allow the truth to come out publicly.”
Hakimi’s lawyer Fanny Colin said a trial had been ordered and the prosecutor in the Nanterre suburb of Paris confirmed it.
“A trial has been ordered on the basis of an accusation that rests solely on the word of a woman who obstructed all investigations, refused all medical examinations and DNA tests, refused to allow her mobile phone to be examined, and refused to give the name of a key witness,” Colin said.
The plaintiff said she met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram and went to his home in a taxi ordered by the player, a police source said at the time.
She claimed that the player kissed her, touched her without her consent and then raped her.
She said she managed to push him away and text a friend, who came to pick her up.
PSG coach Luis Enrique when asked about it at Tuesday’s press conference, ahead of the Champions League play-off second leg match with Monaco, said: “This matter is in the hands of the authorities.”
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, said her client was relieved to hear the case was going to court.
She said the judiciary had been exemplary in handling the case.
But its treatment in general showed “there are still areas where the #MeToo movement has not yet breached the sound barrier, chiefly in men’s football,” she added.
Hakimi, born in Spain to a Moroccan mother, trained with Real Madrid making his senior debut for them in 2017.
He was also one of Morocco’s superstars during the Africa Cup of Nations, with the host team making it to the final where they lost in a chaotic climax to the tournament to Senegal.
Hakimi joined PSG in 2021, after stints with Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
