7 January ~ Yemen is a country that has been in the news a lot recently. Last night their football team hosted Japan in a Asian Cup qualifier. Despite taking a 2-0 lead by the 40th minute they went on to lose 2-3 as the visitors confirmed their place at next year's tournament in Qatar. All three Japanese goals were scored by 21st minute substitute Sota Hirayama who was making his full international debut. Though an impressive start this still doesn't match up to the first appearance of Dieter Müller for West Germany in the 1976 European Championship semi-final. Tournament hosts Yugoslavia were winning 2-1 when substitute Müller equalised with his first touch, a header in the 82nd minute, and he went on to complete a debut hat-trick in extra time. Müller scored again in the final before Czechoslovakia went on to win the Championship thanks to Antonín Panenka's famous penalty shoot-out winner.

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