Saudi Arabia go in a day of shocks

Doha: Two red cards and two penalties featured in Japan's 2-1 win over Syria while Thursday's biggest shock was the early exit of Saudi Arabia who lost 1-0 to Jordan depriving the Asian Cup of their fan presence.

But the Group B is wide open among the remaining three teams with Jordan and Japan level on four points while Syria are on three as two teams advance to the last eight.

Saudi Arabia have only once before made such an early exit. Organisers admitted that Saudi Arabia's exit will deprive them of thousands of Saudi fans, while for the national team, even a change of coach could not lift them out of trouble. Meanwhile in the second match, Syria continued to impress though they trailed by a 35th minute goal by Japan skipper Makoto Hasebe.

But a disputed penalty award to Syria and the ejection of Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima for a foul on Sanharib Malki Sabah helped the team to equalise through Firas Al Khatib.

A man short and with another draw looming, Japan looked in danger of following the path of Saudi Arabia but in the 82nd minute their World Cup hero Keisuke Honda came to their rescue, converting a penalty to make it 2-1.

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