The AFC's Asian Cup 2004 finals were held in the People's Republic of China between July 17 and August 7. In the the final match in Beijing, defending champion Japan defeated host nation China 3-1. The event was marred by disruptive riots of Chinese fans around the stadium, the result of historic tensions between China and Japan, combined with controversy and disappointment with the outcome.
History
The Asian Cup is a quadrennial, premier football event of the Asian Continent, hosted by the Asian Football Confederation. The qualifying phase of the tournament was held between March and November 2003 and took place in 14 different venues. Through two rounds of qualification 14 of 41 total competing teams made it to the finals competition. China qualified automatically as hosts of the tournament and Japan as the defending champions. The first match was held in Worker's Stadium in Beijing, when China tied Bahrain 2-2, and at the final match, Japan defeated China 3-1, successfully defending her champion's title.
Qualification
The other 14 qualifying teams were:
Stadiums
Asian Cup 2004 was held in four venues:
Capacity: 66,161
Pitch size: 105m x 68m
Capacity: 27,333
Pitch size: 120m x 80m
Capacity: 58,680
Pitch size: 105m x 68m
Capacity: 43,700
Pitch size: 110m x 72m
First round
All times local (GMT + 0800)
Notes:
- Abbreviations:
- Pld: games played
- W: won
- D: drawn
- L: lost
- GF: goals for
- GA: goals against
- Pts: points
- Tie-breakers
- For teams which finish level on points, the following tie-breakers are used:
- greater number of points in the matches between the teams in question;
- greater goal difference in matches between the teams in question;
- greater number of goals scored in matches between the teams in question;
- greater goal difference in all group games;
- greater number of goals scored in all group games;
- higher coefficient derived from Asian Cup 2004 and 2002 World Cup qualifiers (points obtained divided by number of matches played);
- fair play conduct in Asian Cup 2004;
- drawing of lots.
- If tied after 90 minutes of play in a playoff match:
- Teams go into 30 minutes of extra time, and play the full 30 minutes, regardless of goals scored during the time.
- If tied after extra time (aet), a penalty shootout takes place with five shooters alternating from each team. If tied after five, sudden death penalties take place, with the first team to lead after a set the winner.
Group A
Group A matches were held in Beijing.
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:China flag large.png China | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 7 |
| File:Bahrain flag large.png Bahrain | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
 Indonesia
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3 |
| File:Qatar flag large.png Qatar | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 17 July | |||||
| China | 2 – 2 | Bahrain | 2000 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Mohd Salleh Subkhiddin (Mas) | ||||
| Zheng Zhi 58' | Hubail 41' | ||||
| Li Jinyu (pen) 66' | Ali 89' | ||||
| 18 July | |||||
| Qatar | 1 – 2 | Indonesia | 1700 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 1) | Ref: Moradi Masoud (Irn) | ||||
| Mohamed 88' | Sudarsono 26' | ||||
| Astaman 48' | |||||
| 21 July | |||||
| Bahrain | 1 – 1 | Qatar | 1830 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Kamizawa Toru (Jpn) | ||||
| Hubail 90' | Rizik (pen) 58' | ||||
| Indonesia | 0 – 5 | China | 2100 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 2) | Ref: Najm Talaat (Lib) | ||||
| Shao Jiayi 24' | |||||
| Hao Haidong 39' | |||||
| Li Ming 51' | |||||
| Shao Jiayi 65' | |||||
| Li Yi 80' | |||||
| 25 July | |||||
| China | 1 – 0 | Qatar | 1900 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Masoud Moradi (Irn) | ||||
| Xu Yunlong 78' | |||||
| Bahrain | 3 – 1 | Indonesia | 1900 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 0) | Ref: Coffi Bonaventure Codjia (Ben) | ||||
| Ali 43' | Aiboy 76' | ||||
| Hubail 57' | |||||
| Yusuf 82' | |||||
Group B
Group B matches were held in Jinan.
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:South korea flag large.png South Korea | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| File:Jordan flag large.png Jordan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| File:Kuwait flag large.png Kuwait | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| File:Uae flag large.png UAE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 19 July | |||||
| South Korea | 0 – 0 | Jordan | 1830 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Shamsul Maidin (Sin) | ||||
| Kuwait | 3 – 1 | UAE | 2100 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 3 – 0) | Ref: Naser Al Hamdan (Ksa) | ||||
| Abdullah 25' | Rashid 47' | ||||
| Al Mutwa 40' | |||||
| Saeed (og) 45' | |||||
| 23 July | |||||
| Jordan | 2 – 0 | Kuwait | 1830 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Lu Jun (Chn) | ||||
| Sa'ed 90+2' | |||||
| Al Zboun 90+3' | |||||
| UAE | 0 – 2 | South Korea | 2100 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 1) | Ref: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzb) | ||||
| Lee Dong-gook 41' | |||||
| Ahn Jung-hwan 90+1' | |||||
| 27 July | |||||
| Jordan | 0 – 0 | UAE | 1900 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Najm Talaat (Lib) | ||||
| South Korea | 4 – 0 | Kuwait | 1900 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 3 – 0) | Ref: Shamsul Maidin (Sin) | ||||
| Lee Dong-gook 25' | |||||
| Lee Dong-gook 41' | |||||
| Cha Doo-ri 45' | |||||
| Ahn Jung-hwan 76' | |||||
Group C
Group C matches were held in Chengdu.
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| File:Uzbekistan flag large.png Uzbekistan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| File:Iraq flag large.png Iraq | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| File:Turkmenistan flag large.png Turkmenistan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
 Saudi Arabia
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| 18 July | |||||
| Saudi Arabia | 2 – 2 | Turkmenistan | 1845 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Chaiwat Kunsuta (Tha) | ||||
| Al Qahtani (pen) 9' | Bayramov 7' | ||||
| Al Qahtani 59' | Kuliyev 90' | ||||
| Iraq | 0 – 1 | Uzbekistan | 2115 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 1) | Ref: Kwon Jong Chul (Kor) | ||||
| Kasimov 22' | |||||
| 22 July | |||||
| Turkmenistan | 2 – 3 | Iraq | 1830 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Saad Al Fadhli (Kuw) | ||||
| Bayramov 14' | Mohammed 11' | ||||
| Kuliyev 85' | Farhan 81' | ||||
| Munir 88' | |||||
| Uzbekistan | 1 – 0 | Saudi Arabia | 2100 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 0) | Ref: Coffi Codjia (Ben) | ||||
| Geynrikh 13' | |||||
| 26 July | |||||
| Saudi Arabia | 1 – 2 | Iraq | 1900 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Kwon Jong Chul (Kor) | ||||
| Al Montashari 57' | Akram 51' | ||||
| Mahmoud 86' | |||||
| Turkmenistan | 0 – 1 | Uzbekistan | 1900 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Mohammad Kousa (Syr) | ||||
| Kasimov 58' | |||||
Group D
Group D matches were held in Chongqing.
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.png){kind=small} Japan
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| File:Iran flag large.png Iran | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
.png){kind=small} Oman
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| File:Thailand flag large.png Thailand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| 20 July | |||||
| Japan | 1 – 0 | Oman | 1800 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 0) | Ref: Mark Shield (Aus) | ||||
| Nakamura 34' | |||||
| Iran | 3 – 0 | Thailand | 2030 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Mohammad Kousa (Syr) | ||||
| Enayati 70' | |||||
| Nekounam 80' | |||||
| Daei (pen) 86' | |||||
| 24 July | |||||
| Oman | 2 – 2 | Iran | 1800 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 2 – 0) | Ref: A. Rahman Al Delawar (Bah) | ||||
| Ali 32' | Karimi 62' | ||||
| Ali 41' | Nosrati 90+4' | ||||
| Thailand | 1 – 4 | Japan | 2030 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Fareed Al Marzouqi (Uae) | ||||
| Suksomkit 11' | Nakamura 21' | ||||
| Nakazawa 56' | |||||
| Fukunishi 68' | |||||
| Nakazawa 87' | |||||
| 28 July | |||||
| Oman | 2 – 0 | Thailand | 1815 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 0) | Ref: Lu Jun (Chn) | ||||
| Vivatchaichok (og) 11' | |||||
| Ali 49' | |||||
| Japan | 0 – 0 | Iran | 1815 (UTC+8) | ||
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Mark Shield (Aus) | ||||
Quarter-finals
| 30 July | |||||
| QF1: | China | 3 – 0 | Iraq | Beijing (2100) | |
| (HT: 1 – 0) | Ref: Shamsul Maidin (Sin) | ||||
| Hao Haidong 8' | |||||
| Zheng Zhi (pen) 79' | |||||
| Zheng Zhi (pen) 90+2' | |||||
| QF2: | Uzbekistan | 2 – 2 | Bahrain | Chengdu (1800) | |
| (HT: 0 – 0) | Ref: Kwon Jong-chul (Kor) | ||||
| (FT: 2 – 2) | |||||
| (AET: 2 – 2) | |||||
| Geynrikh 60' | Hubail 71' | ||||
| Shishelov 86' | Hubail 76' | ||||
| Bahrain wins 3 – 4 on penalties | |||||
| Penalty Shoot-Out | |||||
| 0 – 1 | goal – Ali | ||||
| Fyodorov – goal | 1 – 1 | ||||
| 1 – 1 | save – Juma | ||||
| Djeperov – goal | 2 – 1 | ||||
| 2 – 2 | goal – Baba | ||||
| Geynrikh – goal | 3 – 2 | ||||
| 3 – 3 | goal – Farhan | ||||
| Bikmoev – miss | 3 – 3 | ||||
| 3 – 4 | goal – Hubail | ||||
| Koshelev – miss | 3 – 4 | ||||
| 31 July | |||||
| QF3: | South Korea | 3 – 4 | Iran | Jinan (2100) | |
| (HT: 2 – 2) | Ref: Saad Kameel Al Fadhli (Kuw) | ||||
| Seol Ki-hyun 16' | Karimi 10' | ||||
| Lee Dong-gook 25' | Karimi 20' | ||||
| Kim Nam-il 68' | Park Jin-sub (og) 51' | ||||
| Karimi 77' | |||||
| QF4: | Japan | 1 – 1 | Jordan | Chongqing (1800) | |
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Subkhiddin Salleh (Mas) | ||||
| (FT: 1 – 1) | |||||
| (AET: 1 – 1) | |||||
| Suzuki 14' | Shelbaieh 11' | ||||
| Japan wins 4 – 3 on penalties | |||||
| Penalty Shoot-Out | |||||
| Nakamura – miss | 0 – 0 | ||||
| 0 – 1 | goal – Abu Zema | ||||
| Santos – miss | 0 – 1 | ||||
| 0 – 2 | goal – Al Awadat | ||||
| Fukunishi – goal | 1 – 2 | ||||
| 1 – 3 | goal – Aqel | ||||
| Nakata – goal | 2 – 3 | ||||
| 2 – 3 | save – Al Shboul | ||||
| Suzuki – goal | 3 – 3 | ||||
| 3 – 3 | miss – Ibrahim | ||||
| Sudden Death Penalty Shoot-Out | |||||
| Nakazawa – save | 3 – 3 | ||||
| 3 – 3 | save – Al Zboun | ||||
| Miyamoto – goal | 4 – 3 | ||||
| 4 – 3 | miss – Yaseen | ||||
Semi-finals
| 3 August | |||||||
| SF1: | Iran | 1 – 1 | China | Beijing (2100) | |||
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Najm Talaat (Lib) | ||||||
| (FT: 1 – 1) | |||||||
| (AET: 1 – 1) | |||||||
| Alawi 38' | Shao Jiayi 19' | ||||||
| China wins 4 – 3 on penalties | |||||||
| Penalty Shoot-Out | |||||||
| 0 – 1 | goal – Zheng Zhi | ||||||
| Daei – goal | 1 – 1 | ||||||
| 1 – 1 | miss – Zhao Junzhe | ||||||
| Mahdavikia – goal | 2 – 1 | ||||||
| 2 – 2 | goal – Li Xiaopeng | ||||||
| Nekounam – goal | 3 – 2 | ||||||
| 3 – 3 | goal – Sun Xiang | ||||||
| Mobali – miss | 3 – 3 | ||||||
| 3 – 4 | goal – Shao Jiayi | ||||||
| Golmohammadi – save | 3 – 4 | ||||||
| SF2: | Bahrain | 3 – 3 | Japan | Jinan (1800) | |||
| (HT:1 – 0) | Ref: Shamsul Maidin (Sin) | ||||||
| (FT: 3 – 3) | |||||||
| (AET: 3 – 4) | |||||||
| Hubail 6' | Nakata 48' | ||||||
| Hubail 71' | Tamada 55' | ||||||
| Nasser 85' | Nakazawa 90' | ||||||
| Tamada 93' (et) | |||||||
Third place play-off
| 6 August | |||||
| Iran | 4 – 2 | Bahrain | Beijing (2100) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 0) | Ref: Fareed Al Marzouqi (Uae) | ||||
| Nekounam 9' | Yusuf 48' | ||||
| Karimi 52' | Farhan 57' | ||||
| Daei (pen) 80' | |||||
| Daei 90' | |||||
Final
| 7 August | |||||
| China | 1 – 3 | Japan | Beijing (2000) | ||
| (HT: 1 – 1) | Ref: Saad Al Fadhli (Kuw) | ||||
| Li Ming 31' | Fukunishi 22' | ||||
| Nakata 65' | |||||
| Tamada 90' | |||||
|
| |||||
| Asian Cup 2004 champions: JAPAN (Squad) | |||||
Final Match
The final match between China and Japan was held on August 7, 2004. Chinese players claimed the second goal by Japan had been handled before it entered goal: Japanese player Nakata appeared to have touched the ball with his arm after the ball had skipped off Suzuki's head from a corner. China's Dutch coach Arie Haan was unhappy with Kuwaiti referee Saad Al Fadhli for making allegedly wrong calls on all three goals by Japan and in an unusual move, refused to attend the final awards ceremony.
Even before the final match, the event was clouded by the strong anti-Japanese sentiment of some Chinese fans. The PRC government called for restraint and deployed thousands of police to maintain order; the Japanese government specifically asked Japanese nationals or people of Japanese origin to not display any form of excessive pride, especially wearing Japanese Soccer Team uniforms. Throughout the tournament, members of the Chinese audience drowned out the Japanese national anthem, displayed political banners and booed when Japan got the ball.
Asian Cup 2004 All-Star Team
An Asian All Star 1st XI side was named by the AFC’s Technical Study Group. Finalists Japan and China have four and three players selected respectively, while the other four came from semi-finalists Iran and Bahrain.
Kawaguchi Yoshikatsu (Japan, Gk); Zheng Zhi (China), Miyamoto Tsuneyasu (Japan), Nakazawa Yuji (Japan); Mehdi Mahdavikia (Iran), Zhao Junzhe (China), Talal Yusuf (Bahrain), Nakamura Shunsuke (Japan), Shao Jiayi (China); A’ala Hubail (Bahrain), Ali Karimi (Iran).
Japanese midfielder Nakamura Shunsuke was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament by sponsor Emirates.
Top scoring players
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals