Roundup: Japan progress in Asian Cup with narrow victory over Iraq

Japan guaranteed qualification for the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup with a slender 1-0 victory over Iraq here on Friday.

Keisuke Honda scored from the penalty spot and hit the woodwork three times as an often unlucky Japan side strolled to victory.

It followed Jordan's 5-1 hammering of Palestine earlier in the day, with striker Hamza Aldaradreh becoming only the fourth player in the tournament's history to score four goals in a single match.

Amid intense speculation surrounding the future of manager Javier Aguirre, Japan succeeded in focusing their attentions on the job at hand, recording a professional victory.

They threatened early and struck the frame of the goal through Honda inside the first 20 minutes. Following Yuto Nagamoto's fine cross, Honda met the ball firmly, but directed his header against the base of the post.

But moments later he earned his side a penalty and opened the scoring unerringly.

After Shinji Okazaki was denied by Jalal Hassan's point-blank save, Iraqi midfielder Ali Adnan barged down Honda, who dusted himself off and sent the keeper the wrong way from 12 yards.

Japan continued to pepper the target and were clearly the better side in the first 45 minutes, but couldn't double their advantage prior to the interval.

Following a half of lamentable missed opportunities, it took Japan just seconds after the break to curse their luck again. This time Honda's 20-yard snapshot crashed against the bar, with Hassan beaten.

Sensing an opportunity to strike against the run of play, Iraq would begin to control the ball and press Japan with a sustained period of pressure.

However, sending numbers forward, the Iraqis were vulnerable on the break. A swift Japanese counter-attack led to another close-range opportunity for Honda. But again the AC Milan star would strike the woodwork, as Japan's woes in front of goal continued.

Shinji Kagawa also had a powerful effort bunted away by Hassan as Iraq desperately clung to life in the contest.

But, facing temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), Iraq's legs faded and Japan held on to progress in the competition.

Earlier, Hamza struck four times as Jordan thrashed Asian Cup minnows Palestine 5-1 in Melbourne.

The striker took advantage of his teammates' superb delivery, scoring four fine goals to add to Yousef Ahmad Mohammad's opener.

Palestine would create their own piece of history in the process, with Jaka Hbaisha scoring a late consolation goal to notch the country's first ever goal in a major international tournament.

Backed by a large contingent of Palestinian fans, the underdogs nearly got off to the perfect start. Hisham Salhi worked his way into a pocket of space and tried his luck from 30 yards, only for Amer Shafi to touch the dipping shot onto the crossbar.

However, Jordan was soon on top and could have led earlier, if not for some wasteful finishing.

But they need not rue the missed opportunities, as a whirlwind two minutes saw the Jordanians score two breathtaking goals to gain complete control of the match.

The first came through Yousef, who gained possession in a wide area before taking a touch inside and curling his shot into the far corner of the goal.

Just seconds later and Abdallah's close control and trickery created a chance, with the winger's attempted shot putting the ball on a plate for Hamza, who finished easily at the back post.

Hamza couldn't have asked for better delivery into the box, but yet Odai Al Saify was determined to provide it once again. Beating his marker down the right, the Jordanian whipped an inch-perfect cross to the feet of the striker, who touched home for his second of the night and Jordan's third for the half.

Sparked into action following a dismal first period, Palestine began the second period with renewed intent. Ashraf Alfawaghra turned his opponent inside out on the byline and squared for Abdulhamid Abuhabib.

With the goal gaping, the strong arm of Shafi kept out Abuhabib's shot.

After that scare, Jordan was quick to re-establish the pattern of the first half. Oday Zahran nearly deceived the Palestinian keeper with a drifting 25-yard effort, before Hamza sealed what was a stunning hat-trick.

Outmuscling one defender before outpacing a second, Hamza slid a precise finish into the bottom corner to complete his treble.

His day would only get better, scoring a fourth a few minutes later. This time Zahran was the architect, finding his striker with a fantastic cross, before Hamza applied the simple finish.

"He's a goal scorer and he can frustrate the life out of you sometimes, but that's what they're there for, that's what they get paid their money for," Jordan manager Ray Wilkins said of Hamza after the match.

"I'm delighted for him, because he's not had too many chances to play, but I thought he did very well for us."

Palestine, too, would finish the match on a positive note, creating their own slice of history as Hbaisha converted a deep free-kick for the nation's first ever Asian Cup goal. Endi