Japan Become First Team To Qualify For World Cup

The Blue Samurai are the first to secure their passage to South Africa.

Jun 6, 2009 1:08:33 PM

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WCQ:Shunsuke Nakamura,Japan - Bahrain

Japan have become the first nation other than the hosts to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after they beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Tashkent on Sunday evening.

Striker Shinji Okazaki’s ninth minute strike was enough to give embattled manager Takeshi Okada’s men victory away from home, securing their place at football’s showpiece event next year.

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The win takes Japan to 14 points in Group 1 of the Asian Qualifying section with two games remaining, Bahrain on seven points in third place and Australia – who play later this evening – on 13.

Okazaki’s effort, which he bundled home at the rebound after being released by a superb Kengo Nakamura ball over the top of the Uzbek defence, meanwhile has ended Uzbekistan’s hopes of qualification.

Mirjalol Qosimov’s team needed a win to keep their chances of a third place finish alive and thus a chance at a play-off with the third placed team from Asian Group 2, with the winner to play the Oceanian champions.

However, it was a Japanese team fresh from thrashing both Chile and Belgium 4-0 in recent friendlies who celebrated their fourth consecutive appearance at a World Cup at the final whistle in Tashkent.

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