World NewsJapan Edge Out Bahrain |
JAPAN enjoyed a winning start to the final round of the Asian World Cup qualifiers, surviving a late fightback for a 3-2 victory over 10-man Bahrain at the National Stadium.
First-half goals by Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo gave Takeshi Okada's side a 2-0 lead and they looked set for the three points when Kengo Nakamura extended the advantage to three with six minutes remaining.But Bahrain almost snatched an unlikely point as a Salman Isa strike and Marcus Tulio Tanaka's own goal narrowed the deficit in the dying minutes.
Shunsuke Nakamura gave Japan the lead after 17 minutes with an exquisitely executed free-kick after Mohamed Hussain had fouled Keiji Tamada 25 yards out.
The dead-ball expert stepped up to drill a left-footed shot into the bottom corner beyond keeper Sayed Mohamed, who took a couple of steps to his left and was unable to scramble back in time.
Bahrain enjoyed more possession as half-time approached but fell further behind after 43 minutes when Nakamura's mis-hit shot struck Faouzi Aaish on the arm and Endo sent Mohamed the wrong way from the resulting penalty.
Hussain was dismissed after 66 minutes for a second yellow card for tugging back Tanaka and the match looked to have been settled when Japan netted a third after 84 minutes as substitute Kengo Nakamura fired a powerful left-footed strike from 25 yards which took a deflection off Sayed Adnan, leaving Mohamed stranded.
However, there was late drama as Isa pulled a goal back after 86 minutes when a low cross from the right found its way through to the midfielder, who controlled it excellently before slotting home.
Barely a minute later, a hopeful long ball was inadvertently headed past onrushing Japan keeper Seigo Narazaki by Tanaka into his own net to narrow the deficit to one.
However, the visitors weathered more late pressure from Bahrain to claim three points.
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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