Japan began their final push to Brasil 2014 in Saitama against Oman. Judging by the first of their eight matches, Japan's push very well should end up with the Samurai Blue featuring at Brasil 2014. Fullback Yuto Nagotomo broke down the left side in the twelfth minute to float a perfect cross to Keisuke Honda for a finish and a 1-0 lead for the hosts. Japan were unable to further translate their dominance on the field to goals in the first period, so the score at the break remained 1-0.
Six minutes after the restart, Shinji Kagawa made a cut inside to his right before rolling a pass into the slashing Ryoichi Maeda, who finished off the inside of the post and past a diving Ali Al Habsi (pictured, green) for 2-0. A loose ball three minutes after that fell into the path of Shinji Okazaki (pictured, blue) who made a composed finish for 3-0. Ali Al Habsi had a wonderful double save twenty minutes later on Honda and Hiroshi Kiyotake, but it did not change the course of the match. Japan win 3-0.
Though Iraq were the road team on their visit to Amman to face Jordan, they certainly outplayed their hosts. Nashat Akram was a pest all day, and he scored Iraq's opener one quarter hour into the match from just outside the box. With the halftime whistle near, Jordan pounced on a dropped ball by Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid, leading to an undeserved equalizer that made the halftime marker 1-1.
In the second period, Iraq continued to be dominant. Jordanian goalkeeper Amer Sabbah earned himself high honors with two magnificent diving saves to his right, the second off a short stoppage-time free kick from Akram. The scoreline did not budge in the second half, so the match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving Iraq to ponder what could have been had it not been for Kassid's blunder.
Goals
Japan
Keisuke Honda 12
Ryoichi Maeda 51
Shinji Okazaki (pictured, blue) 54
Iraq
Nashat Akram 14
Jordan
Ahmad Ibrahim 43
Match Reports:
http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/men-a-youth/fifa-world-cup/39352-japan-vs-oman
http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/men-a-youth/fifa-world-cup/39354-jordan-vs-iraq
Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjHmJSlF9ZQ&feature=relmfu (Japan v. Oman)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2bowSKDKDU&feature=relmfu (Iraq v. Jordan)
Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt6XhJd4DfU (Japan v. Oman)
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