Japan edges Bahrain 3-2 in World Cup qualifier
MANAMA —
Japan beat Bahrain 3-2 in a pulsating opening match of the fourth and final Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup here on Saturday. Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura, Yasuhito Endo and Kengo Nakamura scored for the winners, while Salman Isa pulled one back for the hosts late in the match.
Marcus Tanaka scored an own goal toward the end to give Bahrain a glimmer of hope. Australia, Qatar and Uzbekistan are the other teams in Group One with the winner and runner-up going through to the finals to be held in South Africa.
The third placed side will clash with its corresponding team in Group B and the winner of that match will take on New Zealand (the winner of the Oceania zone) in the final play-off for a possible fifth spot for Asia at the finals. The Qataris started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan in Doha.
Japanese coach Takeshi Okada attributed his team’s victory to a fine team effort. “We were in control right through. We want to carry this good work forward,” he said.
Wire reports
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AlfGarnett
The coach say they was in control throughout ,and they only won 3-2, he must be a simpleton. Granted if they won 3 nuffink yeah in control, but not by one goal.
No wonder Japan is rubbish at football, their coach must be some nutter they got on the cheap.
Blimey, any half decent team would be Bahrain, even Tottenham.
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northlondon
Steady on Alfie. The Dustbin Lids would have no chance of beating Bahrain. 'Oy, oy, oy, Brooking is better than Hoddle !'
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roomtemperature
Okada Japan should be warned. Australia beat Holland in a friendly. IN Holland!!
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cracaphat
2 set piece goals and a deflected one hardly inspires hope. Who's worse,Japan or England ?
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USNinJapan2
I thought the fan(s) shining the green laser pointer(s) on the Japanese players' faces was pretty poor sportsmanship. Hope the idiots that were doing it stop. It would be sad if they stopped allowing spectators at these matches...
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Osakadaz
that was extremely poor form.Apparently the South Korean fans did the same thing in their match against Italy in THAT World Cup.
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