The Asian Cup thread [R]

[beachesl]

Japan sink arch-rivals China as trouble flares

By Alastair Himmer

BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Holders Japan overcame bitter rivals China 3-1 in a highly-charged Asian Cup final on Saturday to win the tournament for the third time.

Chinese fans vented their fury at the final whistle after Japan scored twice in a controversial second half, one group of several hundred hurling bottles and burning Japanese flags.

Koji Nakata had given Japan a 2-1 lead in the 65th minute with a hotly-disputed goal, the midfielder bundling in a Shunsuke Nakamura corner though replays showed he used his hand.

Keiji Tamada added a fine solo goal in stoppage time to give the scoreline a flattering look for Japan after a tension-filled match laced with political and historical overtones.

China coach Arie Haan refused to collect his runner-up medal in protest at the officiating of Kuwaiti referee Saad Kameel.

"The first goal was from a free kick to Japan that should have gone to us, the second was handball and the third was after a foul on Sun Jihai," fumed the Dutchman.

"I didn't feel ready to take the medal. How can you win when this happens? I will say Japan have more experience, experience to make fouls the referee does not see."

Japan coach Zico praised his team for battling through the intimidation factor.

"It was important to stay calm against the hosts and 60,000 fans," said the Brazilian. "Nobody thought we could win this tournament but we kept faith in ourselves and made it to the top."

Japan weathered an early storm before taking a 22nd-minute lead against the run of play following a questionable foul on Nakamura by defender Wei Xin.

Nakamura whipped in a dangerous free kick and Takashi Fukunishi headed in from close range after a knockdown from Takayuki Suzuki to silence a hostile crowd of 65,000.

China struck back in the 37th minute, however, midfielder Li Ming sweeping home a superb left-foot shot from 25 metres after good work from Yan Song.

BOOED RELENTLESSLY

Japan have been booed relentlessly during the tournament and they were subjected to similar treatment again, their national anthem drowned out by a cacophony of noise before kickoff.

The Japanese players were jeered as they celebrated but more than 6,000 security staff, including riot police, armed troops and SWAT teams, were on call to prevent violence.

Trouble flared outside the stadium after the match, however, with police in riot gear battling to restore order among furious Chinese fans amid wailing sirens and flashing police lights.

A bus carrying delegates was attacked, with bottles and garbage thrown, and police charged the crowd with batons and riot shields to clear a path.

Meanwhile, around 2,000 Japanese fans, heavily protected during the match by security officials, were locked inside the stadium for over almost three hours to save them from being attacked.

The road outside the Japanese embassy in eastern Beijing was also cordoned off, while there was a heavy police presence at the Japanese ambassador's residence in the northeast of the city and at the hotel where both teams are staying.

Chinese harbour bitter resentment over Japan's military invasion and brutal occupation of parts of the country from 1931 to 1945, when tens of millions died.

China, who have never won the Asian Cup, finished runners-up for the second time after losing 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in the 1984 final. Japan also won the Asian Cup in 1992 and 2000.

[Former Champ]

It would have been nice to see an Iran-Iraq final. The Americans could have invaded the pitch to look for WMD.

[nolando]

Funny CC...Well well, Zico gets to keep his job- for the time being. Qualifying for Germany will be no piece of cake for Japan, especially without the tactical discipine of Troussier, and with Zico's Holger-esque exclusions of key members of Japan's core group.