Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Brussels: AFC Asian International Player of the Year nominee Keisuke Honda was on the score sheet as AFC Asian Cup holders Japan defeated fellow 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Belgium 3-2 in an international friendly played in the Belgian capital on Tuesday.
Honda (pictured) netted Japan’s second goal with a powerful 53rd minute drive to turn the match in the East Asian’s favour after a Yoichiro Kakitani header eight minutes from the interval to cancel out Kevin Mirallas’ 15th opener.
Shinji Okazaki made it 3-1 to Japan and while Toby Alderweireld reduced the deficit in the 79th minute Japan held out for an impressive win over a nation ranked number five in FIFA’s global list.
Honda, and Japan international team-mate Yuto Nagatomo who plays his club football in Italy with Inter Milan, are looking to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Shinji Kagawa, recipient of the inaugural Asian International Player of the Year award in 2012.
Korea Republic’s Germany-based star Son Heung-min is the third nominee for the AFC Asian International Player of the Year award. The winner will be unveiled at the 2013 AFC Annual Awards ceremony, which takes place at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on November 26.
Photo: AFP