NEWS

Shinji Okazaki scored his second hat trick in a week as Japan romped over Togo 5-0 in a Kirin Challenge Cup friendly international on Wednesday evening at Miyagi Stadium in Miyagi Prefecture.

The Shimizu S-Pulse striker got on the scoresheet early – in the fifth and eighth minutes – while Catania forward Takayuki Morimoto netted in the 11th minute as Japan streaked into an early 3-0 lead.
Okazaki found the target again in the 65th minute to complete his hat trick. He also scored three against Hong Kong in last Thursday’s Asian Cup qualifier.
VVV Venlo midfielder Keisuke Honda, a halftime substitute, completed the scoring four minutes from time.
Looking ahead to next year’s World Cup, Japan coach Takeshi Okada and his side were hoping to play a full-strength Togo team, but the Togo side was made up of younger players. Only four players were present from the starting line-up of Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Cameroon, which Togo lost 3-0. The result meant that Togo missed out on a chance to play in next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Okada brought in newcomer Morimoto alongside regulars such as Shunsuke Nakamura of Espanyol and Makoto Hasebe of Wolfsburg.
Only five minutes into what turned out to be a one-sided game, the hosts opened the scoring when Okazaki converted a low pass from Yasuhito Endo on the left and flicked it past Togo goalkeeper Dodji Obilale.
Three minutes later, the Shimizu striker made the score 2-0 with a slick reverse flick after a penetrating ball from Kengo Nakamura.
In the 11th minute, Morimoto made it 3-0 for Japan when he turned his man and fired home a low shot from near the penalty spot.
The home team could have widened the lead further before halftime if attempts from Kengo Nakamura, Okazaki or Morimoto had been more accurate.
Togo, who only arrived in Japan on Tuesday evening and looked tired, managed to create a chance when Monaco forward Serge Gakpe cut into the box after receiving a pass from midfielder Guillaume Brenner, but Gakpe’s attempt was blocked.
Okada made three substitutions at halftime, but Japan’s domination continued, with Kengo Nakamura playing aggressively near the box.
Okazaki found the target again in the 65th minute by rising to head home a Hasebe cross.
After a shot by half-time substitute Yoshito Okubo was blocked in the 85th minute, Honda fired in the rebound to complete the scoring for Japan.
“We went into the game aiming to do what we had to do, and our players showed their high awareness in achieving that,” Okada said.
“However, we still need to improve our threatening power up front. We have eight months to go to the World Cup and will move into a crucial period from here on.”
Asked about Okazaki, the 53-year-old coach said, “He’s amazing. He’s making rapid progress with his game and he can get better.”
“Our new players have had a short period of time with us, but showed their character. That has added depth to my squad,” Okada noted.
Togo coach Hubert Velud commented: “We had some disadvantages today – playing after a long journey and fielding a young team against a high-level Japan lineup. As a result, we gave up early goals.”
“We could have given some problems to Japan if we had come with our full squad, so I feel sorry for that.”

Teams:
Japan—Eiji Kawashima, Yuji Nakazawa, Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Yuhei Tokunaga (Atsuto Uchida, ht), Yuto Nagatomo, Shunsuke Nakamura (Naohiro Ishikawa, 82), Yasuhito Endo (Keisuke Honda, ht), Kengo Nakamura (Yasuyuki Konno, 69), Makoto Hasebe, Shinji Okazaki (Hisato Sato, 78), Takayuki Morimoto (Yoshito Okubo, ht). Coach, Takeshi Okada
Togo—Dodji Obilale, Senah Mango, Serge Akakpo, Boussari Akinsola, Assimiou Toure (Jonathan Tokple, 78), Magnima Tawali, Sapol Mani, Guillaume Brenner, Euloge Ahodikpe (Dove Wome, 69), Libe Kpatoumbi, Serge Gakpe. Coach, Hubert Velud (France)
Goals—Shinji Okazaki (5, 8, 65), Takayuki Morimoto (11), Keisuke Honda (85) for Japan
Cautions—Guillaume Brenner (Togo), Yoshito Okubo (Japan)
Expulsions—none
Attendance—32,852
Referee:Tomasz Mikulski (Poland)