SINGAPORE — Javad Nekounam starred with a hat-trick as three-time champion Iran kick-started its 2015 Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a crushing 5-0 victory over Lebanon Wednesday. The ex-Osasuna man, now with Iran's Esteghlal, slotted penalties either side of half-time and added the hosts' fifth and final goal while Standard Liege striker Reza Ghoochannejhad weighed in with a brace at Tehran's Azadi Stadium. The rousing win made Iran early favorites to join Japan, host nation Australia and South Korea, who finished first, second and third in 2011, at the Asian Cup's next edition in early 2015. The top two teams from each of five qualifying groups go through, along with the best third-placed team, with Iran already well placed at the top of Group B. Team Melli's closest group rival on the opening match day was Kuwait, which made Southeast Asian runner-up Thailand suffer in front of its own fans with a 3-1 victory in Bangkok. An early own goal rocked Thailand, beaten in December's AFF Suzuki Cup decider by Singapore, and second-half strikes by Hussain Fadhel and Hamad Aman put it virtually out of contention before Chanathip Songkrasin's late consolation. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates opened its campaign with a 2-1 win over battling Vietnam, and 10-man Hong Kong held Uzbekistan 0-0 in Tashkent in Group E. In other matches, Qatar blanked Malaysia 2-0 in doha and Bahrain beat Yemen 2-0 in Group D. In Group A, Jordan routed Singapore 4-0 and Oman edged Syria 1-0. In Group C, Iraq defeated Indonesia 1-0. Japan thrashes Latvia Forward Shinji Okazaki scored twice as Japan beat Latvia 3-0 in a friendly Wednesday. Croatia crushes South Korea Croatia captain Darijo Srna marked his 100th cap by scoring in a 4-0 friendly international win against South Korea at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground in London Wednesday. — Agencies
