Six goals in the first game of third matchday at the Asian Cup. Result of the match Japan – Vietnam

In Qatar, the Asian Cup continues its unfolding drama. The first match on the third day brought us the clash between Japan and Vietnam in Group D.

The favorites of the encounter were the representatives of the Land of the Rising Sun, a status they promptly confirmed by netting the opening goal as early as the eleventh minute. Striker Takumi Minamino, plying his trade at Monaco, was the one who found the back of the net.

However, the narrative took a swift turn when, in the sixteenth minute, Vietnamese forward Đinh Bac Nguyễn from Quang Nam leveled the score. Just seventeen minutes later, striker Tuấn Hải Phạm from Hanoi propelled the Vietnamese national team ahead.

The Japanese players rallied their strengths and managed to equalize, eventually taking the lead before halftime. Firstly, in the 45th minute, Minamino secured a brace following a delivery from Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo. In injury time of the first half, the same Monaco striker provided an assist to Reims forward Keito Nakamura, who once again put Japan in front.

The final touch in the match was delivered by Feyenoord's forward Ayase Ueda. After a pass from his partner Takefusa Kubo, who plies his trade at Real Sociedad, Ueda doubled his team's advantage.

The match concluded with a scoreline of 4-2, propelling Japan to the top position in Group D. The second match in this quartet between Indonesia and Iraq is slated for tomorrow.

Asian Cup
Group D
Matchday 1
Japan – Vietnam 4:2
Goals: Minamino 11’, 45’, Nakamura 45+4’, Ueda 85’ – Nguyễn 16’, Phạm 33’