The Samurai Blue of Japan played their second match of the AFC Fourth Round at home to Jordan in Saitama. It was Keisuke Honda's world, and everyone else on the pitch was just living in it. Japan found their opening goal off a Ryoichi Maeda header off a Honda corner. Honda then scored the next two himself, put Japan up 3-0 after thirty minutes. Not helping matters for Jordan was the sending off of Abdallah Deeb in minute 27 for his second yellow card. With ten minutes to go in the half, new Manchester United signee Shinji Kagawa (pictured, blue) gave the Samurai Blue their fourth goal for a 4-0 halftime lead.
The second half was a mere formality, but Japan continued to add goals. Honda sealed his hat trick on a penalty kick after Maeda was chopped down in the box. With less than two minutes to play, Yuzo Kurihara scored his first international goal off Yuto Nagatomo's second assist of the day. Japan win 6-0 and look to be in impeccable form going into their upcoming showdown in four days away to group favorites Australia.
For the second time in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Australia paid a visit to Oman in Muscat. The previous encarnation of this fixture resulted in a 1-0 Oman victory, but this time around the Socceroos started strong out of the gates. Oman goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi made three crucial saves in the first period, this first on a long distance shot by David Carney, and the next two from the boot of Carl Valeri. The first half ended scorless.
In the second period, it was the time to shine for Mark Schwarzer, goalkeeper of Australia. Amad Al Hosni will not be sending Schwarzer any gifts any time soon after Schwarzer robbed him of two goals. Al Hosni's second attempt came off a diving header on target that was stopped by a diving save. Surprisingly, Australia were the fresher team as the match drew to its close, with the heat having sapped the reserves of the hosts. Oman had all their players in their own half during second half stoppage time, and the 0-0 tie was preserved, giving both teams their first points of the AFC Fourth Round.
Japan 6 pts +9
Iraq 1 pts 0
Australia 1 pts 0
Oman 1 pts -3
Jordan 1 pts -6
Goals
Japan
Ryoichi Maeda 19
Keisuke Honda 25, 30, 53 PK
Shinji Kagawa 35
Yuzo Kurihara 89
Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/photogallery/gallery=1645859.html#1645831
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/06/08/2080.ap.soc.japan.jordan.1st.ld.writethru.330/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1646023/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/06/08/2080.ap.soc.oman.australia.1st.ld.writethru.396/index.html
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgvIBT0Qgzs&feature=g-all-u (Japan v. Jordan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Njhc74HB9g&feature=g-all-u (Oman v. Australia)
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