NEWS

Japan failed to make an impression on South Africa after being held to a scoreless draw by next year’s World Cup hosts on Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Japan started with midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura on the bench as the Espanyol player joined the squad just one day before the game.
The visitors came close with Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe’s mid-range shot in the 11th minute, forcing South Africa goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs to punch it away with his right hand. Five minutes later, forward Shinji Okazaki, who had scored in Japan's previous three matches, just missed the post with a shot from the left side of the box.
But the Samurai Blues were pushed hard by their hosts in the middle of the park and struggled to build up their offense.
In the 30th minute, South Africa threatened the Japanese goal with a mid-range effort by midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala, but Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was alert to the danger at his near post. In the 39th minute, forward Katlego Mphela hit high from outside the box.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada brought on Nakamura and Grenoble midfielder Daisuke Matsui 15 minutes into the second half, and went on to make more substitutions in an attempt to create more chances.
The changes gave Japan more momentum and they came close with attempts by forward Yoshito Okubo, defender Yuji Nakazawa and Okazaki, as well as Marcus Tulio Tanaka. But the visitors couldn’t break through the Bafana Bafana defense to produce a goal.
Okada commented, “We couldn’t do well building up our attack in the first half. We improved that in the second half and had some chances, but our finishing should have been better.
“Although we couldn’t win the game, it has been a very valuable experience for us as we were able to play away in an atmosphere like this and tested a new [tactical] option. It was good for us that South Africa played aggressively and with high motivation.”
Japan will move to Hong Kong to play an AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Teams:
Japan—Eiji Kawasahima, Atsuto Uchida (Yuhei Tokunaga, 71), Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Yuji Nakazawa, Yuichi Komano (Yasuyuki Konno, 80), Junichi Inamoto (Daisuke Matsui, 59), Makoto Hasebe, Keisuke Honda (Shunsuke Nakamura, 59), Yasuhito Endo, Shinji Okazaki, Yoshito Okubo (Shinzo Koroki, 71). Coach, Takeshi Okada.
South Africa—Moeneeb Josephs、Anele Ngcongca, Aaron Mokoena, Morgan Gould, Tsepo Masilela, Kagisho Dikgacoi (Reneilwe Letsholonyane, 69), MacBeth Sibaya, Teko Modise (Elrio van Heerden, 69), Katlego Mphela, Siphiwe Tshabalala (Daine Klate, 69), Benni McCarthy (Bernard Parker, 74). Coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira (Brazil)
Goals—None
Cautions—MacBeth Sibaya (South Africa)
Expulsions—None
Attendance—40,000
Referee—Romualdo Do Rosario Baltazar (Angola)