NIIGATA -- Japan got off to a good start in the Confederations Cup, beating Canada 3-0 in a Group B game Thursday night at Big Swan Niigata Stadium.
Urawa Reds midfielder Shinji Ono curled in a free kick in the 57th minute and Espanyol forward Akinori Nishizawa knocked in a header in the 60th before Hiroaki Morishima struck in the 88th.
"This is an important win, especially from the opening game," Japan manager Philippe Troussier said afterward. "As I said before the game, the opening game is always the hardest in the tournament and we got stuck a little bit in the first half."