July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

HANOI, July 16: Holders Japan stormed into the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a clinical 4-1 demolition of co-hosts Vietnam on Monday. However, Vietnam joined Japan in the last eight after Qatar lost 2-1 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the other Group B game.

Japan’s reward for finishing top of their group is a grudge quarter-final against Australia, who avoided an early exit with a 4-0 win over Thailand in Bangkok later on Monday.

A Keita Suzuki own goal put Vietnam ahead after just seven minutes and triggered riotous celebrations among a crowd of 40,000, but it took Japan just five minutes to restore normal service. Shunsuke Nakamura found space on the left to float over a perfect cross for Seiichiro Maki.

Yasuhito Endo put Japan ahead just after the half hour, rifling a free kick into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Nakamura added a third seven minutes into the second half with a superb right-foot strike before Maki headed in his second from close range in the 59th minute.

Japan, bidding for a third straight title, finished top of Group B on seven points with Vietnam runners-up on four.

Japan play Group A runners-up Australia in Hanoi on Saturday, while Vietnam travel to Bangkok to face Iraq.

Meanwhile, in another Group B match the UAE struck in stoppage time through Faisal Khalil to beat Qatar 2-1 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Qatar needed to win to reach the quarter-finals after drawing their games against Japan and co-hosts Vietnam, and defeat left them bottom of the standings.

The UAE, out of contention after losing to Japan and Vietnam, leapt above Qatar into third place.

Qatar had looked to be on their way into the last eight when Uruguay-born striker Sebastian Quintana converted a penalty three minutes before halftime.

The UAE went on the attack after the interval and were rewarded on 59 minutes when striker Saeed Alkas headed home a cross.

They continued to enjoy the bulk of possession and the pressure told deep into stoppage time when Ismail Mataar’s free kick was headed into the net by Khalil following a deflection.

Also on Sunday, Iraq reached the quarter-finals for the fourth time in a row after holding spirited Oman to a goalless draw in their final Group A match in Bangkok. They play Group B runners-up Vietnam in Bangkok on Saturday.

In the meantime, Australia put a dismal start to their first Asian Cup campaign behind them by thrashing co-hosts Thailand 4-0 to reach the quarter-finals in Bangkok.

Captain Mark Viduka scored two late goals in a ruthless display by the Socceroos which set up a mouth-watering last-eight clash with Japan.

Michael Beauchamp opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Viduka sealed victory with goals in the 79th and 83rd minutes. Harry Kewell completed the rout with a goal in the last minute of normal time.—Reuters