Holder Japan Cruises Past Debutant Palestine


Holder Japan Cruises Past Debutant Palestine

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Defending champion Japan began the 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign with a 4-0 victory over debutant Palestine in Newcastle on Monday.

Yasuhito Endo opened the scoring just after eight minutes into the match.

Shinji Okazaki was on target in the 25th minute. Keisuke Honda made it 3-0 just before the half time from the penalty spot. And Maya Yoshida scored Japan’s fourth goal in the 49th minute.

Palestine had Ahmed Harbi sent off in the 73rd minute for a second yellow card and its best chance to score came eight minutes later when Abdallatif Al Bahdari powered a header just wide of the goal from a free-kick.

Despite his team's comfortable win, Javier Aguirre will surely expect more a polished performance against Iraq on Friday.

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