5-star Japan brush aside Syria

AFP, SAITAMA (JAPAN): Japan thrashed Syria 5-0 to finish top of their World Cup qualifying group on Tuesday but they needed a flurry of late goals to give the scoreline a flattering complexion.
A freak own goal from Hamdi Al Masri after 17 minutes put Japan in front before Shinji Kagawa scored twice and Syria crumbled in the second half as the home side topped Group E in the second round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup.
Japan finished with 22 points from their eight games -- four more than Syria, who will also advance to the next round as one of the four best-performing group runners-up.
The Blue Samurai scored 27 goals and conceded none from their eight home and away games with Syria, Singapore, Afghanistan and Cambodia.
But they struggled to stamp their authority on a Syria team missing four key players, axed by coach Fajr Ibrahim for breaking a team curfew after last week's 6-0 win over Cambodia.
And Japan survived a scare when Mahmoud Al Mawas smashed a long-range drive against the post, moments before Kagawa's volley on 66 minutes effectively put the game beyond Syria's reach.
Keisuke Honda headed Japan's third with four minutes left but there was still time for Kagawa to stab home his second and for substitute Genki Haraguchi to grab a stoppage-time fifth.
Honda told Japan's NHK Television: "It was a goal to go through qualifying with no goals against so that was satisfying.

 

5-star Japan brush aside Syria

AFP, SAITAMA (JAPAN): Japan thrashed Syria 5-0 to finish top of their World Cup qualifying group on Tuesday but they needed a flurry of late goals to give the scoreline a flattering complexion. A freak own goal from Hamdi Al Masri after 17 minutes put Japan in front before Shinji Kagawa scored twice and Syria crumbled in the second half as the home side topped Group E in the second round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup. Japan finished with 22 points from their eight games -- four more than Syria, who will also advance to the next round as one of the four best-performing group runners-up. The Blue Samurai scored 27 goals and conceded none from their eight home and away games with Syria, Singapore, Afghanistan and Cambodia. But they struggled to stamp their authority on a Syria team missing four key players, axed by coach Fajr Ibrahim for breaking a team curfew after last weeks 6-0 win over Cambodia. And Japan survived a scare when Mahmoud Al Mawas smashed a long-range drive against the post, moments before Kagawas volley on 66 minutes effectively put the game beyond Syrias reach. Keisuke Honda headed Japans third with four minutes left but there was still time for Kagawa to stab home his second and for substitute Genki Haraguchi to grab a stoppage-time fifth. Honda told Japans NHK Television: It was a goal to go through qualifying with no goals against so that was satisfying.