2006 WORLD CUP ASIAN QUALIFIER

                         Zico's men rule the roost


By ANDREW MITCHELL, Staff Writer

Final score: JAPAN 2-1 IRAN

YOKOHAMA-Goals in either half from Akira Kaji and Masashi Oguro lifted Japan over Iran 2-1 in the teams' final World Cup qualifier at Nissan Stadium on Wednesday night.

With the win, Japan finished two points clear of Iran at the top of Group B, which also includes Bahrain and North Korea. Japan and Iran both qualified for next year's World Cup in Germany.

"It was a good win. Iran was strong and they came back in the second half, but we took our chances and it was a great game," Japan coach Zico said. "Our only loss in qualifying came in Tehran, so tonight's victory was all the more sweet."

Japan finished with 15 points from five wins and a loss.

Iran looked out of sorts for most of the first half and was confined to its own half for long stretches by a dogged Japan.

The home side kept keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour busy with a spate of chances early on. Masashi Oguro set up strike partner Keiji Tamada 11 minutes in, but the 26-year-old keeper uncoiled his 190-centimeter frame to make the save.

Seconds later, Alessandro Santos launched a blistering drive from the left side of the area that Mirzapour just managed to get a hand to.

Oguro had a go himself on the next play, drilling a shot from the edge of the area that the Iranian backstop did well once again to block.

Japan, playing in a 3-5-2 formation, passed confidently throughout and were tireless in attack.

Kashima Antler midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara teamed up well with Oguro throughout the match. In the 23rd minute, Ogasawara air-lifted the ball to Oguro down the right flank that the speedy striker collected before dancing around his marker and sending an ambitious effort wide of the goal.

Ogasawara sprang Oguro loose again 15 minutes into the second half, but fellow attacker Tamada made a hash of Oguro's eventual cross with the goal beckoning.

Iran's first shot on target came in the 26th minute when defender Mohammad Nostrati headed a free kick straight into the arms of an ever-watchful Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Japan's first goal came a minute later, when a Tamada cross slipped past Oguro and under the keeper to fall invitingly to Kaji, who shoveled in his first international goal.

The visitors came close to tying the game in the waning moments of the first half, but the woodwork came to Kawaguchi's rescue.

Aging giant Ali Daei beat Kawaguchi with a well-struck shot from 20 yards out, but as the 36-year-old striker raised his hands in the air in jubilation, the ball slapped off the right post.

Alex was back on the prowl 30 minutes into the second half and his efforts would eventually pay dividends.

The Brazilian-born midfielder danced around the ball before smacking a left-footed drive to the near side that Mirzapour parried wide of the net. That set up the corner kick that led to Oguro's fifth international goal.

Santos delivered the corner, Oguro jumped high to meet it, and the ball wound up in the back of the net after bouncing off the keeper.

(IHT/Asahi: August 18,2005)