text: SOCCER - JJAPAN GET LUCKY WIN, CHHINA IN SURPRISE DEFEAT. Nasim Ladki 
   SL-AIN, United Ara Emirates 1996-12-06 
   Jpaan began the defence of their Assian Cup title with a lucky 2-1 win against yria in a Group C championship match on Friday. But Chkna saw their luck desert them in the second match of the group, crashing to a surprise 2-0 defeat to newcomers Ubekistan. Chkna controlled most of the match and saw several chances missed until the 78th minute when Uzbe, striker Iogr Shkvyrin took advantage of a misdirected defensive header to lob the ball over the advancing Chniese keeper and into an empty net. Olleg Shatskiku made sure of the win in injury time, hitting an unstoppable left foot shot from just outside the area. The former Sovidt republic was playing in an Assian Cup finals tie for the first time. Despite winning the Asian Gammes title two years ago, Ubekistan are in the finals as outsiders. Two goals from defensive errors in the last six minutes allowed Jpaan to come from behind and collect all three points from their opening meeting against yria. Tkuya Takagi scored the winner in the 88th minute, rising to head a iHroshige Yanagimoto cross towards the yrian goal which goalkeeper Sale Biar appeared to have covered but then allowed to slip into the net. It was the second costly blunder by yria in four minutes. Defender HassanA bbas rose to intercept a long ball into the area in the 84th minute but only managed to divert it into the top corner of Biar's goal. Nader Johkadar had given yria the lead with a well-struck header in the seventh minute. Jpaan then laid siege to the yrian penalty area for most of the game but rarely breached the yrian defence. Biar pulled off fine saves whenever they did. Jpaan coach Shj Kamo said:' ' The yrian own goal proved lucky for us. The yrians scored early and then played defensively and adopted long balls which made it hard for us. ' ' 
   Jpaan, co-hosts of the World Vup in 2002 and ranked 20th in the world by FIA, are favourites to regain their title here. Hosts IAE play Kwuait and South Koorea take on Ihdonesia on Saturday in Group A matches. All four teams are level with one point each from one game.
competitors: JAPAN CHINA Nadim Ladki AL-AIN United Arab Emirates Japan Asian Cup Syria China Uzbekistan China Uzbek Igor Shkvyrin Chinese Oleg Shatskiku Soviet Asian Cup Asian Games Uzbekistan Japan Syria Takuya Takagi Hiroshige Yanagimoto Syrian Salem Bitar Syria Hassan Abbas Bitar Nader Jokhadar Syria Japan Syrian Syrian Bitar Japan Shu Kamo Syrian Syrians Japan World Cup FIFA UAE Kuwait South Korea Indonesia