NEWS

Japan downed Hong Kong 4-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday at Hong Kong National Stadium in their final game of the year.

Makoto Hasebe, substitute forward Hisato Sato, Shunsuke Nakamura and Shinji Okazaki scored for Japan.
With the win, Japan improved their points total to nine from three wins, while Hong Kong have yet to pick up a point.
Japan's next Asian Cup qualifier will be in Yemen in late January.
Playing four days after a 0-0 draw in South Africa, Japan faced tough resistance from Hong Kong, who changed six of their players from the team that faced Japan in October.
But the visitors found their rhythm around 20 minutes into the game and Makoto Hasebe opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a powerful mid-range strike after being set up by Atsuto Uchida.
The Samurai Blue went on to create a number of chances with their good passing work and came close with efforts from Okazaki, forward Yoshito Okubo and Marcus Tulio Tanaka late in the first half.
Hong Kong attempted to rally by making a substitution at halftime, but Japan widened their lead in the 74th minute when substitute forward Sato headed in a neat cross by Yasuhito Endo.
Ten minutes later, Nakamura made it 3-0 by curling in a free-kick from 20 meters.
With the clock winding down, Okazaki was brought down in the box and the Shimizu S-Pulse striker converted the penalty himself, his 15th goal for Japan this year.
Japan boss Takeshi Okada commented: “Hong Kong played a wonderful game and competed hard, and I don’t think we played badly either.
“In a game like this, there's always the danger of giving away a goal easily, but our players played patiently and attacked to the very end so I'm happy about that. We owe our performance to the great competitiveness of the Hong Kong team.”
Okada added, “It is nice to finish the season with an official competitive match and a good final game. I think the team has developed to some extent, as we are now capable of drawing away or playing with patience to beat opposing teams. I am happy about that.”

Teams:
Japan—Eiji Kawashima, Atsuto Uchida, Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Yuji Nakazawa, Yuichi Komano (Yuhei Tokunaga, 84), Makoto Hasebe, Yasuhito Endo (Yuki Abe, 86), Shunsuke Nakamura, Daisuke Matsui, Shinji Okazaki, Yoshito Okubo (Hisato Sato, 60). Coach, Takeshi Okada
Hong Kong—Zhang Chunfui, Lee Chi-ho, Gerard Ambassa Guy, NG Wai-chiu (Man Pei-tak, 83), Chan Wai-ho, Poon Yiu Cheuk (Wong Chin-hung, 36), Li Haiqiang (Au Yeung Yiu-chung, ht), Lo Kwan-yee, Kwok Kin-pong, Bai He, Chang Siu-ki. Coach, Kim Pan Gon (Korea Republic)
Goals—Makoto Hasebe (32), Hisato Sato (74), Shunsuke Nakamura (85), Shinji Okazaki (91+, pen)
Cautions—Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Japan), Gerard Ambassa Guy (Hong Kong)
Expulsions—None
Attendance—13,254
Referee—Peter Green (Australia)