Japan's defender Maya Yoshida (2nd-L) runs to celebrate after scoring during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final football match between Vietnam and Japan at the Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on January 23, 2019. AFP / Karim Sahib
Dubai: Maya Yoshida's goal for Japan against Vietnam was ruled out as the video assistant referee (VAR) came into play just 24 minutes after its introduction in the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Thursday.
The Southampton defender appeared to head the ball into the net from a corner but replays showed it came off his arm, prompting referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan to cancel the goal.
VAR is being used for the first time at the Asian Cup from the quarter-finals onwards. Japan against Vietnam is the first last-eight fixture, with China playing Iran later on Thursday and two more games on Friday.
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