Asian Cup: Japan 1 Jordan 1

A last-minute equaliser from Maya Yoshida salvaged a 1-1 draw for Asian Cup favourites Japan in their Group B opener with Jordan on Sunday.

The number two ranked team in Asia, Japan dominated possession throughout at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium but went behind to a Hassan Abdel Fattah strike a minute before the break.

Japan piled on the pressure in the second half, but Jordan – ranked a lowly 104 in the world – looked to be holding on for a famous upset until VVV Venlo defender Yoshida rose at the back post to head home and break Jordanian hearts.

The best of Japan’s early chances came in the 24th minute, when Jordan goalkeeper Amer Sabbah Shafia was forced to parry a long-range strike from opposition captain Makoto Hasebe.

Yoshida had the ball in the back of the net from the follow-up, but the goal was disallowed due to offside.

It took Jordan 29 minutes to register their first shot, but they soon had two good opportunities to take the lead against the run of the play.

Abdel Fattah shot straight at Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima on the half-hour mark, and eight minutes later Basem Fathi headed wide despite being unmarked at the back post.

Kagawa spurned a clear sight of goal two minutes before half-time and, less than 60 seconds later, Japan were made to pay for failing to capitalize on their dominance.

Al-Wahdat forward Abdel Fattah cut inside to beat a defender, advanced into the box and struck a low effort that deflected off the boot of Yoshida and carried beyond a stranded Kawashima, handing the underdogs a shock lead.

Jordan mounted an increasingly desperate rear-guard action in the second half, but somehow held their defensive shape in the face of considerable pressure.

Yasuhito Endo struck a half-volley just wide of the post, and – together with Yuto Nagatomo – rained in a succession of crosses that failed to beat the first defender.

Endo and Keisuke Honda both broke into the box but were closed down before being able to shoot.

With the clock fast ticking down, it looked like Jordan would survive to register a remarkable and hard-fought upset.

But a minute into injury-time, Hasebe crossed from a short corner and Yoshida rose above the Jordan defence to crash a header into the net.

Substitute Tadanari Lee might have won it for Japan with seconds left, but defeat would have been harsh on a Jordan side that deserved at least a point against the pre-tournament favourites.