OSAKA -- The Japan Olympic team overcame a sluggish first half to beat Kuwait's Olympic team 6-0 in a friendly tuneup ahead of the Sydney Games at Osaka's Nagai Stadium on Saturday night.
Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura scored two goals, including one penalty, and substitute forward Kota Yoshihara of Gamba Osaka also struck twice. Midfielder Junichi Inamoto, another local hero from Gamba, and substitute forward Tomoyuki Hirase of the Kashima Antlers each scored once in Japan's second-half attack. But AS Roma's Hidetoshi Nakata failed to convert a penalty in the 51st minute, his shot saved by Kuwait goalkeeper Shehab Kankone.
Japan will play Morocco in Tokyo on Tuesday in its final Olympic tuneup match.