Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuala Lumpur: Japan eased to a comfortable 4-0 win over Malaysia on Wednesday with a polished and professional performance in their penultimate match in Group C in the third round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2012 London Games.
A shock 2-1 defeat to Syria in their previous Group C fixture meant that Japan missed the chance to seal their place in the Olympics for the fifth successive tournament and Takashi Sekizuka was determined there would be no slip ups against a Malaysian side that were already out of the reckoning for a ticket to London.
Malaysia looked reasonably composed in the opening exchanges until experienced right-back Mahalli Jasuli, who has been capped 16 times at senior international level, landed awkwardly and had to be substituted in the 18th minute.
Japan eventually capitalised on the reshuffle in the Malaysian defence when Hiroki Sakai opened the scoring in the 35th minute before Yuya Osako added the second a minute from the interval.
Genki Haraguchi made it 3-0 ten minutes into the second half before debutant Manabu Saito sealed the win on the hour mark with his first goal for the under 23s.