NEWS

Shinji Okazaki earned Japan a 1-1 draw away to Uzbekistan in a Group C World Cup qualifier in Tashkent on Tuesday night.

Japan and Uzbekistan improved their points totals to four, followed by DPR Korea (three) and Tajikistan (0).
Japan will next play Tajikistan on October 11 in Osaka. Tajikistan, who replaced disqualified Syria in August, fell 1-0 to DPR Korea in Pyongyang on Tuesday.
In a rematch of a World Cup qualifier in 2009, which Japan won 1-0, the Samurai Blue were put under pressure as the Uzbeks came out aggressively from the outset.
Uzbekistan threatened the Japanese goal when Timur Kapadze hit the post in the seventh minute and went 1-0 up a minute later. Midfielder Kapadze headed down a cross from the left to Server Djeparov, who was unguarded in the box and fired home the opening goal.
Japan attempted to attack the space behind the Uzbek back line and came close with Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Tadanari Lee’s header off a Yuichi Komano cross in the 14th minute.
But the visitors struggle to connect with each other on a bouncy pitch while the hosts attacked wide with pace.
In the 17th minute, right-back Victor Karpenko hit a lob from the right flank after receiving a long feed from left-back Vitaliy Denisov and Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima had to be alert to protect his goal.
Forward Alexander Geynrikh and midfielder Odil Ahmedov were also making good attempts to keep the visitors in check.
Japan’s biggest chance in the first 45 minutes came shortly before the break when Lee took a long pass from Makoto Hasebe and hit a shot against the crossbar.
Japan boss Alberto Zaccheroni brought on Cerezo Osaka attacker Hiroshi Kiyotake at the start of the second half in place of Yuki Abe.
The changes helped the visitors find better form, and Shinji Kagawa came close off a fine cross from Kiyotake in the 58th minute.
Uzbekistan also had a clear chance four minutes later when Kapadze received an Ahmedov pass and cut inside the box, but Kawashima made a fine save.
Japan finally leveled the scores in the 65th minute after a fine passing movement. Makoto Hasebe moved the ball to Schalke full-back Atsuto Uchida, who sent in a crisp cross from the right that Stuttgart forward Okazaki finished off with a diving header.
Backed by an enthusiastic crowd, the home team threatened with Djaparov’s shot in the 68th minute, but Kawashima again reacted well to protect his goal.
The goal gave Japan added impetus and substitute forward Mike Havenaar made a good attempt in the 72nd minute before a Kagawa effort from the right was denied by Uzbekistan goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov.
Three minutes later, Havenaar had a good header, but the attempt was again saved by Nesterov.
Japan brought on defender Tomoaki Makino in the final minutes and held on for a hard-earned point.
The result helped Japan extend their unbeaten run to 13 games under Zaccheroni.