China and Japan off to winning starts

Ming Zhao(R) of China vies with Iraq's Mustafa Abdullah during the men's second round Group E football match between China and Iraq at the 15th Asian Games in Doha. China won 1-0.

Rivals China and Japan got their Asian Games football gold medal campaigns off to flying starts while holders Iran buried their recent problems to also grab three points.

Ten-man China, inspired by teenager goalkeeper Wang Dalei, held out for a 1-0 win over Iraq in a bad-tempered Group E match.

China, under new Olympic coach Ratomir Dujkovic who took Ghana to the World Cup finals this year, had Zhou Haibin to thank for the sole goal of the encounter.

Zhou scored in the seventh minute after his side had dominated possession in the opening exchanges.

Japan, the runers-up to Iran in Busan four years ago, saw off Pakistan in Group F but they were given a shock before scraping home 3-2.

Iran's Jalal Akbari Kelishadi(R) and Maldive's Faruhad Ismail fight for the ball during their second round group D football match at the 15th Asian Games in Doha. Iran won 3-1.

Having led 2-0 and 3-1 thanks to goals by Keisuke Honda and a double by Hiroyuki Taniguchi they were pegged back to 3-2 with eight minutes remaining.

Their nerves were not helped by the sending off for a second bookable offence of Naoaki Aoyama.

Muhammad Rasool and Naveed Akram were on target for Pakistan.

"My goal helped the team to relax," said Honda. "We were all very nervous before the start."

Defending champions Iran got the defence of their title off to a winning start with a 3-1 win over the Maldives.

But at least the Indian Ocean side didn't suffer as they did the last time these two sides met when Iran racked up a 17-0 scoreline in a World Cup qualifier in 1997.

Iran went into the match in a state of turmoil having been banned then reinstated by FIFA at the weekend in a row with the Tehran government over interference in footballing affairs.

Pakistani captain Muhammad Essa(C) kicks the ball while challenged by Japan's Takuya Honda(L) and Hiroyuki Taniguchi during their Asian Games Round 2 Group F football match at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium in Doha. Japan beat Pakistan 3-2.

Iran, coached by veteran Brazilian Rene Simoes, were always on top in the Group D clash but will regret not adding to their total.

"I am upset that we only won 3-1," said Simoes.

"It's worth three points. We are the defending champions, but this is a new team, it's not the same as the one four years ago."

Arash Borhani and Mazyar Zare Eshghdoost gave Iran a 2-0 lead at the break but the Maldives pulled one back in the 78th minute through Arshad Ali.

Iran made sure of the points four minutes from time with a goal from substitute Adel Kolahkaj.

In other matches played Wednesday, India and Hong Kong drew 1-1, Oman saw off Malaysia 3-1 while North Korea and Syria battled out a 0-0 draw.