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Japan made a statement of their intent to defend their Asian Cup title, handing tournament debutants Palestine a football lesson with a 4-0 win in the teams’ opening Group D clash.
Yasuhito Endo put the Samurai Blue in front after just eight minutes at Hunter Stadium and it was 3-0 before half-time, with Shinji Okazaki and Keisuike Honda also scoring.
Maya Yoshida completed Monday’s rout four minutes after the interval as Japan’s attacking stars dominated in front of a crowd of 15,497.
Japan coach Javier Aguirre was pleased with his team’s defensive performance but said, given the number of chances they spurned, his players needed work on attack before playing Iraq in Brisbane on Friday.
“In modern football it’s not very often a team scores four goals, so I am very happy,” Aguirre said.
“But there are some points we can improve upon in attack, like our mid-range shots, and we will work on those at training.”
Aguirre also praised Palestine, who faced a huge step up in class.
“It was not an easy game because of the wind, but also Palestine,” he said.
“They drew with China and only conceded one goal against Uzbekistan. They are not easy to score against.”
Honda nearly found the net in the first minute when he shot wide off the end of a flicked-on cross from Takashi Inui, but Japan got their first goal when Endo ran through the middle of the park and blasted home from 25 metres.
Japan camped in the opposition half for 58 per cent of the first half and, when Palestine countered with the pace of strikers Mahmoud Dhadha and Musab Battat, chances were quickly snuffed out by the Japanese defenders and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who was quickly off his line throughout.
It was 2-0 on 25 minutes, Okazaki touching in a fierce strike on goal by Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa. Kagawa’s half volley looked to be heading in but Okazaki was credited with the goal.
Only some fine saves from Palestine goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh kept Japan out but, when Inui was manhandled in the area by Ashraf Alfaghawa, he could do nothing as Honda sent him the wrong way from the penalty spot.
There was more of the same in the second half as Japan continued to boss the game, even without Inui, who was substituted at the break.
Four minutes into the half, Southampton defender Yoshida rose above the pack to head home and make it 4-0.
Palestine’s passing let them down frequently and gave Japan plenty more chances, but it was the frustrations of the Palestine players that cost them dearly.
Ahmed Mahajina got his second yellow card in the 72nd minute and was sent off, ruling him out of the next game against Jordan.
But Palestine coach Ahmed Al Hassan praised his team given the gulf in class between the sides.
“We have some mistakes we will work on ahead of the game against Jordan,” he said.
“I didn’t think the referee was up to the level of the match, but he did not affect the result.”
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