Japan edge Bahrain in Gulf thriller

MANAMA - Japan beat Bahrain 3-2 in a pulsating opening match of the fourth and final Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup here on Saturday.

Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura, Yasuhito Endo and Kengo Nakamura scored for the winners while Salman Isa pulled one back for the hosts late in the match.

Marcus Tanaka scored an own goal toward the end to give Bahrain a glimmer of hope, but time ran out for the hosts leaving a packed home crowd disappointed.

Australia, Qatar and Uzbekistan are the other teams in Group A with the winners and runners-up going through to the finals to be held in South Africa.

The third placed side will clash with its corresponding team in Group B and the winner of that match will take on New Zealand (the winner of the Oceania zone) in the final play-off for a possible fifth spot for Asia at the finals.

The crunch match played in stifling desert heat and humidity was a bruising affair but Japan adapted to the conditions better than their hosts and made the best of the opportunities that came their way to make a head start in their attempt for a fourth successive World Cup berth.

The game came alive after 15 minutes of hit-and-chase forays between these two familiar but fiercely bitter foes and peaked in excitement and tension in the last five minutes.

But in between it was clear that Japan was superior, more resourceful and increasingly resilient.

Japan kept asserting its superiority with Saint Etienne striker Daisuke Matsui and Makoto Hasebe keeping the Bahrain defenders Sayed Mohammed Adnan and Mohammed Hussain busy.

Matsui in particular looked increasingly dangerous on the left flank with his cunning footwork and clever change of pace.

Japan's perseverance and patience finally paid off in the 18th minute and Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura, who was till then hardly given any space or time to make his trademark, defence splitting moves, struck in telling fashion scoring off a free kick.

Nakamura stayed cool as the free kick, from 10 metres outside the penalty area, was delayed with the Bahrainis taking their time in setting up a defensive wall.

Endo ran a dummy which unsettled the Bahrainis further and Nakamura struck a powerful left-footer past Bahrain goalkeeper Jaffar.

Bahrain made a brave attempt to bounce back two minutes later when the hard working Salman Isa made a solo effort down the middle. But Japanese goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki fended off Isa's powerful long ranger.

That was Bahrain's best attempt in the first-half as the hosts struggled to match the fast-moving and quick-passing Japanese.

Moreover, Ala'a Hubail's inability to break free upset the rhythm of the midfielders and left Isa desperately short of supply at the top of the attack.

Japan doubled the lead in the 44th minute with Nakamura starring again when his shot at goal off a pass from Endo struck Fouzi Aaish's right hand.

Singapore referee Bashir Abdul Malik had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Endo converted the penalty.

Japan, however, could not be denied a third goal and Kengo Nakamura obliged with a fine strike with five minutes left to play.

But it was still not all over as Isa pulled one back with three minutes to go and then Japan goalkeeper Narazaki misjudged a headed back pass by Tanaka and let the ball pass him for an own goal.