Japan coach Ivica Osim lamented his side's inability to turn chances into goals after the defending Asian Cup champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in their Group B clash at the My Dinh National Stadium on Monday.
Naohiro Takahara had lifted a below-par Japan side with a 62nd-minute opener after Yasuyuki Konno had latched on to a through ball from Kengo Nakamura to cross for the Eintracht Frankfurt striker to make no mistake with a neat close range finish.
But Sebastian Quintana grabbed an equaliser for Dzemaludin Musovic's Asian Games gold medalists with an 88th-minute deflected free-kick from the edge of the area.
Qatar were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time as Hussein Yasser was sent-off after lunging at substitute Hideo Hashimoto, but Japan were unable to take advantage to leave co-hosts Thailand sitting alone at the top of Group B after their 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
"We must learn how to take our chances when we create them in front of goal," Osim said.
"Winning is not easy, but each game is different. We must now concentrate on the next game."
Japan must re-group for Friday's meeting with the UAE as Osim's side look to follow-up their AFC Asian Cup victories in Lebanon in 2000 and China three years ago.
"It would have been easier to lift the team if we had won," added Osim. "Today we could not show our true potential, we did not play very well."
Qatar coach Musovic was pleased with his players' performance and admitted a draw was beyond his wildest dreams.
"I am satisfied with the result and with the way my team tried to play today. It is hard for players to adapt to playing in the first game. Japan have very good individual players," Musovic said. "I must be honest, I did not expect us to draw today."
Boosted by the unexpected result against Japan, Musovic is confident ahead of his side's remaining Group B games against Vietnam and the UAE, starting with the co-hosts on Thursday.
"We are in an excellent position now, but it is only one game. We must now play well against Vietnam and also in the last game against the UAE, because this will decide who will qualify, but we now have a lot of motivation," he added.
Musovic was sent to the stands by referee Matthew Breeze following Yasser's dismissal and will be forced to wait for a decision from the AFC disciplinary committee.
"He (Yasser) tried to make contact with the ball, and it was not his intention to foul. We will now lose a player for the next game," he said.
"The referee must realise it is the last minute and also it was an attacking player who did not make many fouls during the game."
But Sebastian Quintana grabbed an equaliser for Dzemaludin Musovic's Asian Games gold medalists with an 88th-minute deflected free-kick from the edge of the area.
Qatar were reduced to 10-men in stoppage time as Hussein Yasser was sent-off after lunging at substitute Hideo Hashimoto, but Japan were unable to take advantage to leave co-hosts Thailand sitting alone at the top of Group B after their 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
"We must learn how to take our chances when we create them in front of goal," Osim said.
"Winning is not easy, but each game is different. We must now concentrate on the next game."
Japan must re-group for Friday's meeting with the UAE as Osim's side look to follow-up their AFC Asian Cup victories in Lebanon in 2000 and China three years ago.
"It would have been easier to lift the team if we had won," added Osim. "Today we could not show our true potential, we did not play very well."
Qatar coach Musovic was pleased with his players' performance and admitted a draw was beyond his wildest dreams.
"I am satisfied with the result and with the way my team tried to play today. It is hard for players to adapt to playing in the first game. Japan have very good individual players," Musovic said. "I must be honest, I did not expect us to draw today."
Boosted by the unexpected result against Japan, Musovic is confident ahead of his side's remaining Group B games against Vietnam and the UAE, starting with the co-hosts on Thursday.
"We are in an excellent position now, but it is only one game. We must now play well against Vietnam and also in the last game against the UAE, because this will decide who will qualify, but we now have a lot of motivation," he added.
Musovic was sent to the stands by referee Matthew Breeze following Yasser's dismissal and will be forced to wait for a decision from the AFC disciplinary committee.
"He (Yasser) tried to make contact with the ball, and it was not his intention to foul. We will now lose a player for the next game," he said.
"The referee must realise it is the last minute and also it was an attacking player who did not make many fouls during the game."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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