Striker Yoshito Okubo scored a second-half winner as Japan got its Athens Olympics qualifying campaign back on track by beating minnow Lebanon 2-1 in Asian zone Group B on Tuesday.
Japan under-23 striker Yoshito Okubo (right) celebrates with teammate Sota Hirayama after scoring the winner in the Asian Group B qualifier against Lebanon. Japan won 2-1.
Looking to bounce back from its shock defeat to Bahrain on Sunday, Japan dominated from start to finish at National Stadium and captain Yuki Abe set the host on its way with a stunning free-kick after 14 minutes.
Lebanon grabbed a shock equalizer from Abbas Ali Atwi in the 67th minute after a mistake from Japan defender Naoya Kondo but Okubo headed home the decisive goal almost immediately after the restart to keep Japan on top of the group on goal difference with 10 points from five games.
Masakuni Yamamoto's men lead surprise-package Bahrain, which pulled off another shock win by beating the United Arab Emirates 2-0 at the same venue earlier in the day. UAE is in third on seven points with Lebanon bottom with one point.
"I told the players not to be pessimistic (after the Bahrain defeat) and just stay calm tonight and give it everything you've got and try and win the last two games," said Yamamoto.
"The final game will be tough and I want the players to try and squeeze out every last ounce of their strength and get the win."