This Week 10 Years Ago – Japan’s biggest Asian Cup Finals win

October 19th, 2010 | by: Aidan | Comments Off

Ten years ago this week Japan were embroiled in the early stages of what would prove to be a successful Asian Cup campaign in Lebanon. Sunday (17th) was the anniversary of Japan’s biggest win in the Asian Cup Finals, an 8-1 hammering of Uzbekistan.

It could have been even more too, given Japan began with a penalty miss after just 5 minutes, following a spectacular foul by the Uzbek keeper. A mere two minutes later though Japan went in front through Morishima Hiroaki, and by the 24 minute mark were 5-0 up.

Uzbekistan got one of their own to round off a mostly one-sided first half. Needless to say the second half was a stroll in the park for Japan, who added another three goals and finished up with two players bagging hat-tricks, Akinori Nishizawa, and Naohiro Takahara.

This consolidated Japan’s great start in the group, having already beaten Saudi Arabia 4-1 in the opener, and would ultimately lead to facing the Saudis again in the Final.

More on that to follow next week…

The full Japan line-up against Uzbekistan 10 years ago this week was:

1-Kawaqguchi Yoshikatsu; 4-Morioka Ryuzo; 6-Mattori Toshihiro; 9-Nishizawa Akinori; 10-Nanami Hiroshi; 12-Morishima Hiroaki (30-Ono Shinji 53); 14-Nakamura Shunsuke; 17-Inamoto Junichi; 22-Nakazawa Yuji; 24-Myojin Tomokazu; 29-Takahara Naohiro (27-Kitajima Hideaki 69)

And the goalscorers:

- Morishima Hiroaki 7, Nishizawa Akinori 14, 24, 49, Takahara Naohiro 17, 20, 57, Kitajima Hideaki 78