Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Muscat: A dominant second half performance saw Japan beat Syria and climb to the top of the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying Group E standings on Thursday.
Goals from Shinji Okazaki and Takashi Usami sandwiched a Keisuke Honda penalty to leave the Samurai Blue on ten points from four games, one ahead of second-placed Syria, with Singapore in third on seven points following their 1-0 win over Afghanistan.
Japan dominated the early stages at the Seeb Sports Complex in Muscat and the 2011 Asian champions came close to breaking the deadlock when Okazaki fired narrowly wide after being found by Honda’s astute pass.
Honda then drove a shot just past the post before defender Maya Yoshida sent his header from a pinpoint Honda corner flashing over the bar.
Despite struggling to establish a foothold in the game, Syria almost went into the break one goal to the good, but Omar Kharbin wasted a fine opportunity when well placed.
That profligacy was to cost them dear on 55 minutes when Ahmad Al Saleh bundled Okazaki over in the area and Honda duly dispatched the resulting penalty with ease.
Leicester City striker Okazaki then notched a goal of his own in the 70th minute following Shinji Kagawa’s fine approach play, before Usami rounded off the scoring with a neat finish after being wonderfully set up by the impressive Honda.
The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.
NEXT FIXTURES:
October 13: Singapore v Cambodia
October 13: Syria v Afghanistan