Three-time champions Japan escaped with a point after a last-minute equalizer against Jordan, but Saudi Arabia were stunned by Syria in their Asian Cup Group B matches on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia soccer chiefs sacked coach Jose Peseiro immediately after his demoralized side slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of unheralded Asian Cup outsiders Syria.
The 2007 finalists and three-time champions announced that Nasser al Johar will take over from the 50-year-old Portuguese for the remainder of the showpiece event in Doha.
PHOTO: AFP
Saudi Arabia, beaten finalists four years ago, desperately wanted a winning start to their campaign.
However, it was not to be as Syria scored one of the biggest wins in their history.
Abdulrazak al Husein was the hero after bagging two goals — both off deflections.
Underdogs Jordan looked destined for an upset victory over Japan after Hasan Abdel Fattah’s strike on the stroke of halftime, before Maya Yoshida saved the Blue Samurai’s blushes with a goal in the 92nd minute.
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has also found himself under pressure after suggesting his side were using the tournament as a testing ground to “grow further,” rather than being in Qatar to win the title.
It was a narrow escape for one of the pre-tournament favorites, who are eager to lift a record fourth continental title after -losing to Saudi Arabia in the 2007 semi-finals.
Jordan opened the scoring, with Fattah’s strike coming in the 45th minute when he picked up a cross from the left by fellow midfielder Amer Deeb just outside the box, cleverly dodged a defender and shot.
The ball bounced off Yoshida’s left foot to beat goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
However, the Blue Samurai never gave up and kept pressing.
As the clocked ticked down and all seemed lost, they finally equalized when Yoshida powerfully headed in a cross from Makoto Hasebe to the clear relief of Zaccheroni.
Syria had to hold on for grim life in their match and survived several scares, but ultimately it was a deserved victory.
Roared on by vocal and fanatical support, al Husein got the breakthrough on 38 minutes when his shot from just outside the box deflected in off the head of Abdullah Shuhail.
The Saudi Arabia equalizer came on the hour — a moment of horror for Syria ’keeper Mosab Balhous. His unconvincing punch from a corner was headed back toward goal by substitute Taiseer al Jassam.
The captain inexplicably flapped at the ball, letting it slip between his legs and into the net.
However, Saudi Arabia were level for just three minutes, as al Husein grabbed his second off of a sloppy clearance.
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