ID :
204972
Fri, 09/02/2011 - 18:51
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/204972
The shortlink copeid
Soccer: Yoshida late show gives Japan winning start to World Cup q'fying+
SAITAMA, Japan, Sept. 2 Kyodo -
Defender Maya Yoshida conjured another crucial goal in the depths of injury time as Japan edged North Korea 1-0 in their opening qualifier for the 2014 World Cup on Friday.
Japan were frustrated by a disciplined defensive performance by North Korea, who looked to have done enough to claim a point, despite having Pak Kwang Ryong sent off seven minutes from time.
But the home side piled on the pressure in the dying stages and were rewarded when Yoshida headed home to steal all three points for Alberto Zaccheroni's side.
''We were able to keep a clean sheet but the main thing was that we started with three points,'' said Yoshida, whose only previous goal for Japan rescued a 1-1 draw against Jordan in their opening game of the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
''This result will give us something to build on for our next game,'' said the VVV Venlo man.
With North Korea content to sit back and wait for an opening on the break, Japan dictated proceedings in front of over 54,000 but were unable to create any chances of note in the first period.
Yosuke Kashiwagi, filling in for injured CSKA Moscow star Keisuke Honda, crossed for Tadanari Lee to send a glancing header straight at North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk after 33 minutes before Shinji Kagawa fizzed a shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Kashiwagi had earlier smashed the crossbar but the goal would have been ruled out in any case as referee Ali Hamad Albadwawi had spotted an infringement and awarded North Korea a free kick.
Japan continued where they left off in the second half and Ri did well to hold a rasping drive from Makoto Hasebe in the 47th minute.
Zaccheroni threw on Mike Havenaar with 20 minutes left and the lanky striker nearly marked his debut with the winner when he hit the bar in the 74th minute.
Hiroshi Kiyotake and Kagawa both went close before Yoshida won it in the fourth minute of added time when he headed in Kiyotake's cross.
''North Korea defended very well with good rhythm for the whole 90 minutes. There is never a guarantee that a goal is going to come, but I was always sure that we would score,'' said Zaccheroni.
North Korea coach Yun Jong Su praised his players' efforts and was confident his team would still qualify for the final round of qualifiers.
''The goal we conceded came from a mistake but the players really tried hard until the end.''
The top two from each of the five Asian groups advance to the year-long final qualifying campaign starting in June 2012.
Japan next face Uzbekistan away on Tuesday in Tashkent. The Blue Samurai have also been drawn with Tajikistan, who replaced Syria after they were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in the second round of the competition.
The 10 teams in the final round will be split into two groups, with the top two from each group automatically qualifying for Brazil. The third-place sides face off for a spot in the intercontinental playoff against a team from South America for a potential fifth place from Asia.
Defender Maya Yoshida conjured another crucial goal in the depths of injury time as Japan edged North Korea 1-0 in their opening qualifier for the 2014 World Cup on Friday.
Japan were frustrated by a disciplined defensive performance by North Korea, who looked to have done enough to claim a point, despite having Pak Kwang Ryong sent off seven minutes from time.
But the home side piled on the pressure in the dying stages and were rewarded when Yoshida headed home to steal all three points for Alberto Zaccheroni's side.
''We were able to keep a clean sheet but the main thing was that we started with three points,'' said Yoshida, whose only previous goal for Japan rescued a 1-1 draw against Jordan in their opening game of the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
''This result will give us something to build on for our next game,'' said the VVV Venlo man.
With North Korea content to sit back and wait for an opening on the break, Japan dictated proceedings in front of over 54,000 but were unable to create any chances of note in the first period.
Yosuke Kashiwagi, filling in for injured CSKA Moscow star Keisuke Honda, crossed for Tadanari Lee to send a glancing header straight at North Korea goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk after 33 minutes before Shinji Kagawa fizzed a shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Kashiwagi had earlier smashed the crossbar but the goal would have been ruled out in any case as referee Ali Hamad Albadwawi had spotted an infringement and awarded North Korea a free kick.
Japan continued where they left off in the second half and Ri did well to hold a rasping drive from Makoto Hasebe in the 47th minute.
Zaccheroni threw on Mike Havenaar with 20 minutes left and the lanky striker nearly marked his debut with the winner when he hit the bar in the 74th minute.
Hiroshi Kiyotake and Kagawa both went close before Yoshida won it in the fourth minute of added time when he headed in Kiyotake's cross.
''North Korea defended very well with good rhythm for the whole 90 minutes. There is never a guarantee that a goal is going to come, but I was always sure that we would score,'' said Zaccheroni.
North Korea coach Yun Jong Su praised his players' efforts and was confident his team would still qualify for the final round of qualifiers.
''The goal we conceded came from a mistake but the players really tried hard until the end.''
The top two from each of the five Asian groups advance to the year-long final qualifying campaign starting in June 2012.
Japan next face Uzbekistan away on Tuesday in Tashkent. The Blue Samurai have also been drawn with Tajikistan, who replaced Syria after they were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player in the second round of the competition.
The 10 teams in the final round will be split into two groups, with the top two from each group automatically qualifying for Brazil. The third-place sides face off for a spot in the intercontinental playoff against a team from South America for a potential fifth place from Asia.
