Waleed Al Hubaishi (right) and Yoshiaki Takagi contest possession during Yemen's 2-1 win over Japan.TASHKENT – Ahmed Al Baidhani scored in the last minute of stoppage time as Yemen snatched top spot in Group D at the AFC U-16 Championship away from Japan after a dramatic 2-1 win at Pakhtakor Stadium on Thursday.
Tatsuya Uchida opened the scoring for Japan shortly after the break, but Yemen responded before the hour mark as captain Mohammed Al Shamsi converted from the penalty spot.
And in fifth minute of stoppage time, Al Baidhani produced a brilliant piece of individual skill to send Yemen through to a quarter-final meeting with Saudi Arabia, while Japan will face Australia.
Regardless of the result across town at MHSK Stadium where Malaysia faced United Arab Emirates, Japan only needed a draw to top the group while Yemen had to avoid defeat to advance.
The contest reflected the fact with neither side willing to commit too much in attack. Japan had the majority of possession and always looked the more likely to break the deadlock as they forced a number of corners.
But Japan’s first effort on target came 10 minutes before the break as Kenyu Sugimoto sent a weak header from Kyohei Uchida’s cross safely into the arms of Yemen goalkeeper Mohammed Waleed.
Japan broke the deadlock seven minutes after the break when Koji Takano’s header from a corner was palmed away by Mohammed into the path of Tatsuya Uchida and the defender gave the Yemen goalkeeper no chance as he fired high into net from the edge of the six yard area.
But Yemen were back on level terms just four minutes later as Waleed Al Hubaishi was bundled over inside the area as he attempted to muscle his way past Tatsuya Uchida after cutting in from the left wing.
Captain Al Shamsi calmly stepped up and fired high into net out of the reach of Ken Tajiri’s dive.
Japan had the ball in the net with six minutes remaining, but Takumi Miyayoshi clearly used his hand to punch the ball past Mohammed from Kyohei Uchida’s cross as he rose to challenge the goalkeeper on the edge of the six yard area.
And they were made to pay as Al Baidhani picked the ball up on the edge of the area, skipped past the diving challenge of Yoshiaki Takagi to fire into to the roof the net past Tajiri with virtually the last touch of the game.
Source:The AFC.com
