Japan beat Vietnam 1-0 in Olympic qualifier

22 August 2007 16:24

Japan´s defender Naoaki Aoyama (C) jumps to avoid a tackle by Vietnam´s midfielder Vo Duy Nam during their qualifying match for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Tokyo. Japan overwhelmed Vietnam, but managed to score only one goal for a 1-0 win in a frustrating match in the Asian final qualifying round for the Beijing Olympics next year.

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan overwhelmed Vietnam, but managed to score only one goal for a 1-0 win in a frustrating match on Wednesday in the Asian final qualifying round for the Beijing Olympics next year.

Japan outshot Vietnam 16-2 on shots at goal, but the home crowd had to wait until injury-time of the first-half for something to indicate their team's dominance, Naoaki Aoyama heading home Yosuke Kashiwagi's cross into the Vietnam goal.

"It was the first game and we were under heavy pressure. It was a difficult match," said under-fire Japan coach Yasuharu Sorimachi.

"It's easy to say that we need more accurate shots at goal. If we don't improve it, it will be difficult to win the final round. The next game is an away game. We are determined to do our best to gain three points from a win."

Aoyama said: "I knew I would be free in that position. I always tried to score whenever I had a chance."

Japan will take on Saudi Arabia on September 8, while Vietnam will play Qatar the same day in the home-and-away round robin in the Asian final qualifying round for the Beijing Olympics next year.

Only one team of the four in Group C can go to Beijing.