Asian Cup: Qatar 2 Japan 3

A last-minute Masahiko Inoha goal gave 10-man Japan a dramatic 3-2 victory over Qatar in a thrilling Asian Cup quarter-final on Friday.

Qatar twice went ahead through Sebastian Soria and Fabio Cesar Montezine, but Shinji Kagawa equalised on both occasions before Inoha’s 90th minute strike secured victory for the three-time Asian Cup winners.

While Japan made three changes headlined by Eiji Kawashima’s return from suspension, Qatar made just the one, with Mesaad Ali Al Hamad starting in place of the suspended Mohammed Kasola.

Qatar lost left-back Ibrahim Majid in the 11th minute to a hamstring injury, but were undettered by the setback and went ahead just a minute later.

The goal came when Sebastian Soria was inexplicably allowed to turn onto his left foot in the Japanese penalty area, before squeezing his shot past Eiji Kawashima for his first goal of the tournament.

Japan fought back in the 27th minute when Borussia Dortmund’s Kagawa produced the equaliser.

A chip into the penalty area from Keisuke Honda set Shinji Okazaki free, who lofted the ball over the oncoming Qasem Burhan in the Qatar goal.

Okazaki’s chip was headed for the back of the net but with the presence of Ali Al Hamad, Kagawa was required to bundle it home from the goal-line to level proceedings.

The lively Yousef Ahmad had a chance to put Qatar in front but dragged his shot wide, while Burhan made two good saves within a minute, denying Okazaki and Makoto Hasebe.

Japan came out with an attacking mindset after the interval, and Okazaki went close to scoring but his header flashed just wide, before Nagatomo’s 20-yard strike was well saved by Burhan.

Qatar were given a boost after the hour mark following the dubious sending off of Japan’s Maya Yoshida, who received his marching orders after a questionable second yellow card when he tried to tackle Ahmad.

Qatar deepened the wound when substitute Cesar Montezine scored from the resultant free-kick after a poor piece of goalkeeping from Kawashima.

Rather than pressing on and looking for a third goal, Qatar went on the defensive and allowed Japan time and space on the ball.

And they were quickly made to pay when Kagawa pounced on a ball that spilt on the edge of the box before sending a neat finish to equalise with 20 minutes to play.

Just as it seemed the match was heading for extra time, Inoha popped up to crush Qatar’s hope of a first Asian Cup semi-final appearance, slotting the ball home into goal following Khaled Muftah’s challenge on Kagawa.