JAPAN 1 UZBEKISTAN 1

STRIKER Keiji Tamada scored a crucial equaliser as a disappointing Japan struggled to a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan in Asian World Cup Qualifier last night.

After a prolonged bout of Uzbek pressure, Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura lofted the ball into the box where striker Yoshito Okubo got a touch before Tamada stabbed it in from close range in the 40th minute.

Uzbekistan were the better side early on and deservedly took the lead. Midfielder Dildar Magdeev passed to Timur Kapadze who produced a cross that Maksim Shatskikh latched onto for the opener in the 28th minute.

'It was our first game at home, so we really wanted to win. I was very disappointed,' said Tamada. 'Yoshito did very well to catch Shunsuke's pass. I just needed to flick it in.'

Nakamura put on a brave face despite a poor Japanese performance against a side who had lost their two previous games, against Australia and Qatar.

He said: 'They defended solidly and tried to counter-attack quickly, but they were successful only once when they scored the goal.'

Japan had the better chances in the second period, but were unable to convert, leaving them on four points in Group 1.

AFP