Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Japan continued their march towards the finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over an inexperienced Iraq at Saitama Stadium on Tuesday thanks to a solitary goal by Ryoichi Maeda.
The 2000 AFC Young Player of the Year struck 25 minutes into the first half with a close-range header to score the only goal of the game against an Iraqi side that impressed throughout despite missing the majority of the nation's stellar names from the starting line-up.
The victory ensured the AFC Asian Cup holders and four-time FIFA World Cup finalists remain unbeaten in qualifying in Group B, with 10 points from four matches, and meant it was a disappointing return to Japan for Zico to Japan, who led the Samurai Blue to continental glory in 2004.
"I'm happy with the result and I think we're in a good position in the group," said Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who was without Shinji Kagawa after the Manchester United midfielder picked up a back injury in training on Monday.
"It was not an easy game and I think the Iraqis used the space well and it was hard to create any space in the centre of the field.
"Iraq were very strong physically and we had to play compactly because they were very strong.
"I think if we were able to score a second it might have been easier for us overall but in that situation we weren't sure what was going to happen and we had to remain focused throughout the game, although it's not as if we didn't try.
"I don't think we gave up going for the second goal and in a way I wish we had scored a second. The game against Australia was 1-0 and we conceded a penalty kick, so 1-0 is always a dangerous situation."
Iraq boss Zico made a host of changes which saw Younis Mahmood, Nashat Akram, Ali Erhaima and Kerrar Jasim all on the bench for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners, who fielded a side with an average age of less than 23 and drawn largely from the country's Olympic squad.
Despite their inexperience, however, the Iraqis were not overawed by the atmosphere in front of another sold-out crowd of 60,593 at Saitama Stadium and facing the impressive talents of the continental champions.
Ahmed Ibrahim almost opened the scoring for the visitors as early as the fourth minute, only for Samsung Man of the Match Eiji Kawashima to push his header of Ahmed Yaseen's corner over the bar while Hammadi Ahmed dragged his volley wide as the half approached the midway point.
The Japanese had looked sluggish in the opening exchanges but eventually the reigning Asian champions took the lead as Yuichi Komano's quickly taken throw-in caught the Iraqi defence flat-footed and Shinji Okazaki's clever cross found Maeda unmarked and he headed home from close range.
Kawashima was called upon again just before the break to keep out a curling effort from the impressive Sweden-based striker Yaseen and the Iraqis were unfortunate to go into the break trailing.
Japan asserted their authority in the second half and Zaccheroni's team went closest to adding to the scoreline when Keisuke Honda sent a header over the bar midway through the second period.
And, ten minutes from time, Noor Sabri dropped to his left to keep out another headed attempt from the CSKA Moscow man while the belated introduction of Mahmoud, Akram and Jasim was not enough to swing the game in favour of the Iraqis.
"It was a very tough game for the Iraqi side however our players put in very good effort and created a lot of chances but we weren't able to take those chances," said Zico.
"Looking at how Japan scored, it came from our mistake and at the throw-in we had to be very careful of that kind of start from Japan. I am disappointed we lost a goal in that way but otherwise I'm very happy with the performance of our players."