Takahara double lifts Osim"s Japan

Japan put their quest for a third straight AFC Asian Cup back on track with a comfortable 3-1 win over the United Arab Emirates at the My Dinh Stadium on Friday evening.

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara scored twice in five minutes before Shunsuke Nakamura smashed home a penalty to give Japan a three-goal advantage at the end of the first half.

The win moves Japan onto four points from their opening two games and to the top of the Group B standings, ahead of co-hosts Vietnam on goals scored.

Japan can win the group with victory over the Vietnamese in their next game, which will take place on Monday.

Ivica Osim”s side needed to pick up all three points against the Gulf Cup holders after drawing 1-1 with Qatar in their opening game, but it was the Emirates who had the better start.

In the 18th minute, Ismail Matar threatened the Japanese goal with his powerful effort, but the shot went into the arms of Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Four minutes later, however, Japan went in front when Takahara claimed his first of the game.

Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura received the ball from Yasuhito Endo”s corner and sent in a cross from the touchline towards Takahara and the Frankfurt forward made no mistake.

Five minutes later Takahara doubled Japan”s advantage with his third goal in two games when he stabbed home Akira Kaji”s cross from the right.

With 40 minutes on the clock, the Japanese were awarded a penalty when Endo was upended by goalkeeper Majed Nasser and Nakamura made no mistake, firing the ball into the roof of the net.

The UAE”s hopes were further dented when Basher Saeed was sent off six minutes into the second half after a lunge at Keita Suzuki that left the Urawa Reds midfielder in a heap in the centre circle.

Nakamura then threatened the UAE goal with a superb curling free kick in the 55th minute, only to see Saeed pull out a top quality save, push the ball away at full stretch to deny the former Reggina midfielder.

Bruno Metsu”s side pulled a goal back in the 66th minute when Saeed Alkas slid the ball past Kawaguchi, but any hope of a come back was snuffed out when Japan goalkeeper denied Ismail Mattar with a fine save.

The Japanese dominated possession in the dying minutes and, as a result, the Emirates are the first team to be eliminated from the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.