Keisuke Honda was named the Toyota Top Goal Scorer for the final round of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup after netting five goals during Japan’s successful campaign.
Honda finished two goals clear of team-mates Ryoichi Maeda and Shinji Okszaki as well as Jordan’s Ahmad Hayel, Iranian duo Javad Nekounam and Reza Ghoochannejhad, Korea Republic’s Lee Keun-ho and Australia Tim Cahill to claim the 3,000,000JPY prize money.
Hayel was the only player with a realistic chance of overhauling Honda at the top of the charts, but the Jordan striker failed to add to his three goals netted during the final round in the first leg of the intercontinental play-off against Uruguay.
Honda had made a flying start to the final round campaign with four goals in his first two games in Group B, which included a hat-trick against Jordan at Saitama Stadium in June last year.
And having also netted Samurai Blue’s first goal of the final round in the win over Oman, Honda ended the campaign in style with a stoppage time equaliser from the penalty spot against Australia at Saitama Stadium in June which sealed Japan’s qualification for Brazil 2014 as Group B winners.
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