DOHA: Japan romped into the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup as Shinji Okazaki scored a hat trick to demolish Saudi Arabia 5-0 on a wet and windy Monday at the Al-Rayyan Stadium on the edge of the Qatari desert. Jordan joined the Blue Samurai in the last eight as it came from behind to beat Syria 2-1 in a closely fought Group B clash at the Qatar Sports Club. The results left Japan top of the group with seven points from three matches, ahead of Jordan on goal difference, with Syria third on three and Saudi Arabia last on none. Japan will play hosts Qatar in the quarterfinals Friday with Jordan facing Group A winner Uzbekistan. The dismal result was the heaviest the Saudis had suffered to Japan and capped a woeful tournament after they sacked coach Jose Peseiro following their surprise opening defeat by Syria. The Saudis have been champions three times, in 1984, 1988 and 1996 and were runners-up to Iraq in 2007 but this is a tournament they would rather forget. “We wished to present you with a beautiful match but we did not manage a performance that would have redeemed our performance throughout the competition,” the Saudi coach Nasser Al-Jawhar said. Saudis fell behind after just eight minutes as Okazaki claimed his first after good work from Yasuhito Endo. The 24-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse forward then doubled the lead five minutes later with a diving header after a cross from Shinji Kagawa. Ryoichi Maeda capped a terrible first 20 minutes for the Saudis when he beat keeper Waleed Abdullah to Yuto Nagatomo's cross. The third goal brought about some respite for the Saudi defense as Japan eased off but after coach Alberto Zaccheroni's halftime team talk the Blue Samurai regained their composure to score twice more. Maeda added his second with a header from another cross in the 51st minute before Okazaki wrapped up his hat-trick ten minutes before the end after Abdullah failed to keep out his shot. At the Qatar Sports Club, Jordan needed just a point to make the last eight for only the second time but it fell behind to a 15th minutes goal from Mohamad Al Zino. Jordan was handed an equalizer after 30 minutes when Syrian defender Ali Dyab rose above his on-rushing goalkeeper to loft a header in to his own net after a dangerous cross from the right. Dyab was also at fault for Jordan's second goal as he failed to deal with a long punt from goalkeeper Shafi allowing Odai Al-Saify to steal in and lift an effort over the on
