TASHKENT (AFP) - Japan beat Uzbekistan 1-0 here Saturday to become the first country to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Shinji Okazaki's ninth-minute goal put Japan on 14 points on top of Asian qualifying zone Group A to assure them of a top two finish and direct qualification to South Africa.
This will be Japan's fourth appearance at the World Cup.
Australia can become the second team to qualify if they win or draw against Qatar in Doha later Saturday.
0 - 1 |
9' S. Okazaki
|
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
| I. Nesterov | |
| A. Ismailov | |
I. Suyunov
|
|
| I. Tuhtahujaev | |
| S. Djeparov | |
| T. Kapadze | |
| O. Akhmedov | |
| J. Hasanov | |
| Hamza Karimov | |
|
A. Geynrikh
|
 73'
|
|
F. Tadjiyev
|
|
| Coach: M. Qosimov | |
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
| S. Narazaki | |
| Y. Komano | |
| Y. Nakazawa | |
| M. Tanaka | |
| Y. Nagatomo |
37'
|
| Y. Endō |
59'
|
|
S. Nakamura
|
32'
|
| M. Hasebe |
 89'
|
|
K. Nakamura
|
|
| S. Okazaki |
 9'
|
|
Y. Ōkubo
|
|
| Coach: T. Okada | |
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
|
for F. Tadjiyev 61' |
|
|
for A. Geynrikh 75' |
|
|
for I. Suyunov 85' |
|
| Player | Bookings |
|---|---|
|
for K. Nakamura 66' |
|
|
for Y. Ōkubo 69' |
|
|
for S. Nakamura 90' |
|
GOAL.COM - Global football news, transfer rumours and betting editorial
Soccer news, results, live scores, football transfer rumours and fixtures - Goal.com
