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Japan edge past Malta in final World Cup warm-up
(AFP)
Updated: 2006-06-05 09:25
DUSSELDORF, Germany - Japan completed their World Cup build-up with a 1-0 victory over lowly Malta thanks to a first-half strike from Keiji Tamada.

Tamada was on target in the second minute at Dusseldorf's LTU Arena, settling a low-key match that saw a re-shuffled Japanese side start without injured strikers Atsushi Yanagisawa and Naohiro Takahara.

The Asian champions had looked superb against Germany in midweek, when they rocked the World Cup hosts by going two goals ahead before Jurgen Klinsmann's side fought back for a 2-2 draw.

But with Takahara and Yanagisawa both missing, the Japanese struggled to find their way through a dogged Maltese defence, which recovered well after Tamada buried Alessandro Santos' early on.

Japan dominated play thereafter, with Masashi Oguro testing Justin Haber with a rasping shot on 15 minutes before crashing a low effort against the post near the half-hour mark.

Oguro squandered another goalscoring opportunity just before half-time, shooting tamely at Haber after being released by Bolton Wanderers midfielder and former Asian player of the year Hidetoshi Nakata.

With Japan dominating proceedings, Malta were forced to live off scraps but enjoyed a brief spell at the end of the first half when they hit the woodwork twice.

Their best goalscoring opportunity came in the closing minutes of the half when Steve Wellman's free-kick was parried onto the bar by Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Malta skipper Gilbert Agius rattled the bar from distance shortly afterwards but Japan preserved their lead at the break.

Malta's resistance was fleeting however and Japan regained control in the second half, but with their makeshift strike-force were unable to convert the pressure into goals.

Japan play Brazil, Croatia and Australia in Group F of the World Cup, kicking off their campaign against the Socceroos on June 12.