Australia Vs Japan - World Cup Special

Japan who will feel a little harshly done by failed to tuck away their chances and despite controlling the midfield area for large portions of both halves they could not find a second goal to kill off the Australian fight back

The debutants from down under started with many English based names and managed by Guus Hiddink fancied their chances of starting their first campaign with a win.

Backed by the usual industrious crowd of supporters decked out in gold and green the Australians started the better and felt they should have taken the lead within the first ten minutes after chances from Viduka and Kewell were driven wide.

After a rocky first twenty the Japanese started to pass their way into the game and with Celtic's Nakamura and the impressive Nakata slotting balls though at any opportunity to their forwards who looked sprightly and full o energy in the opening period.

Gaining confidence from some assured goalkeeping by one time Portsmouth stopper Kawaguchi they built on their period of dominance and took the lead through a controversial strike from Hoops midfielder Nakamura. The goal was a soft one for the Aussies to let in as the red-booted started floated in a hopefully free kick for a member of his team to get their head on, the ball didn't touch anyone else on the way in but the Australians were furious as they felt their goalkeeper was challenge unfairly by Fukunishi who appeared to have his arms in a position restricting the goalkeepers view.

Despite numerous protests to the Egyptian official the Australians began becoming frustrated and the game was in danger of slipping away from them before Kewell grazed the top of the bar with a shot to give the emphasis back to the men from down under.

In the second half Australian coach Hiddink threw on ex-England based man Aloisi as well as Tim Cahill and six footer Kennedy to attempt to trouble the Japanese backline. Initially the ploy failed as Komano and Miyamoto held firm, if only Japan's strikers could have been reliable as their defense they would perhaps be considering three points at the current moment.

Instead wasteful final ball cost the Asians badly and just as another Nakata run fizzled out the Australians were awarded two free kicks in dangerous positions to test Kawaguchi.

The Japanese stopper did well on both occasions however stopping Viduka and then Aloisi despite struggling to see the ball behind his wall with both chances. The second free kick however led to their first Australian goal as a bad decision from the goalkeeper in coming for a throw in meant a bobbling ball in the box was punished by Tim Cahill. A long throw set up the chance, with Kawaguchi choosing to come for the ball and getting no where near it, it was somewhat inevitable that the ball would find its way into the net.

It was the prolific Everton man's second goal since returning from injury and it appeared to have rescued a satisfactory point for the gold shirted team.

Unflustered by their predicament Japan went forward and should have been awarded a penalty when full back Komano took on Chipperfield before being tripped by hero Cahill in front of the referee. The official however declined to award the Japanese a spot kick and a minute later Cahill doubled his tally with a near finish from the edge of the area. Aloisi held up the ball before playing it to Cahill who from twenty yards out took a touch and found the corner of the net via the post.

Still somewhat outraged that a decision was not made in their favour regarding the penalty the Japanese finally ran out of energy and despite having a good chance through Fukunishi were made to pay for their errors by Aloisi in the final minute.

The tall striker picked full of energy as a substitute picked up the ball, sped past a tired Japanese tackle and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give Australia three points.