time winner Saudi Arabia was stunned by Syria 2-1 as another three-time champion Japan escaped with a point after a last minute equalizer against Jordan in their Asian Cup Group B matches Sunday. Underdogs Jordan looked destined for an upset victory over Japan after Hasan Abdel Fattah's strike on the stroke of half-time before Maya Yoshida saved the Blue Samurai's blushes with a goal in the 92nd minute. The Saudis, beaten finalists four years ago, are also triple champions and desperately wanted a winning start to their campaign. But it was not to be as the Syrians scored one of the biggest wins in their history. Abdulrazak Al-Husein was the hero after bagging a brace – both off deflections. The defeat cost Saudi Arabia's Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro his job and Saudi coach Nassir Al-Jawhar was tasked to manage the team in the remaining matches of the championship. In 2000, the Saudi team lost its first encounter but succeeded to reach the final. Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has also found himself under pressure after suggesting his side was using the tournament as a testing ground to “grow further”, rather than being in Qatar to win the title. He had Yoshida to thanks for salvaging a point against Jordan as the clock ticked into stoppage time. Syria had to hold on for grim life in the match and survived several scares, but ultimately it was a deserved victory. Roared on by vocal and fanatical support, Al-Husein got the breakthrough on 38 minutes when his shot from just outside the box deflected in off the head of Abdullah Shuhail. The Saudi equalizer came on the hour – a moment of horror for Syrian keeper Mosab Balhous. His unconvincing punch from a corner was headed back towards goal by substitute Taiseer Al-Jassam. It should have been a routine save, but the captain inexplicably flapped at the ball, letting it slip between his legs and into the net. But the Saudis were level for just three minutes, as Al-Husein grabbed his second, the ball again going in off a Saudi defender after the midfielder followed up just inside the box on a sloppy clearance. It was a narrow escape for Japan, who is eager to lift a record fourth continental title after losing to Saudi Arabia in the 2007 semifinals. “I am not satisfied with the result, especially in the first half,” said Zaccheroni, who replaced Takeshi Okada as Japan coach after the Blue Samurai reached the World Cup last
