Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tokyo: Tadanari Lee, scorer of Japan's winner over Australia in the final of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, scored the only goal of the game as the continental champions laboured to a 1-0 friendly win over Vietnam.
Japan, who are preparing for Tuesday's 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan, dominated the first-half but only had Lee's 25th minute strike to show for their efforts.
Japan boss Alberto Zaccheroni used Friday's friendly to give his fringe players a chance to impress but it was a disjointed performance from the Samurai Blue, with Vietnam's pace causing problems for the Asian champions in the second-half.
"We wanted to test players whom we have not been able to use. We saw poor continuity," said after the match.
Japan are currently joint-top of Brazil 2014 qualifying Group B alongside Uzbekistan, who travel to Pyongyang to face DPR Korea on Tuesday as the third Asian round of qualifiers reaches the half-way stage.