SYDNEY: Keisuke Honda’s penalty earned profligate Japan a 1-0 win over Iraq on Friday as Jordan’s reserve striker Hamza Aldaradreh hit four against Palestine at the Asian Cup.

AC Milan’s Honda smashed the woodwork three times but he remained the hero of the hour for the defending champions with a nerveless spot-kick in the first half.

At a hot and sticky Brisbane Stadium, there will be concerns over the finishing of the four-time winners who are still to guarantee their quarter-final spot from Group ‘D’ but are in a prime position to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the with six points, three clear of Iraq and Jordan.

“Iraq defended well and we could not penetrate,” said Japan’s Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who is battling match-fixing claims from his time working in Spain. “We had at least two or three chances to make a difference but we couldn’t score. But our rhythm of attack, we played with one or two touches, effective play.”

There were no such problems for Jordan, whose third-choice striker Aldaradreh shot to the top of the scoring charts and kept Jordan’s quarter-final hopes alive in a 5-1 win over tournament new-comers Palestine in Melbourne.

One point against Jordan in Melbourne on Tuesday will be enough for Japan to go through regardless of other results.

Iraq will play Palestine in Canberra at the same time, and are hot favourites to win against a team that conceded nine goals in two games before midfielder Jaka Hbaisha scored from a set piece against Jordan after 84 minutes — their first goal in the continental championship.

Aldaradreh’s scoring touch gave Jordan coach Ray Wilkins a selection dilemma ahead of the Japan match. He was previously third-choice striker behind Odai Al Saify and Ahmad Hayel.

“Now Hamza’s given me a horrible headache that I have to try and sort out,” Wilkins said. “Nevertheless I’m delighted for him and I’m delighted for the lads as well.”

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2015

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