Japan became the first country to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals Wednesday after goals from Atsushi Yanagisawa and Masashi Oguro gave it a 2-0 win over North Korea behind closed doors in a qualifier in neutral Bangkok.
Japan forward Masashi Oguro outduels North Korea keeper Kim Song Chol to score a goal in the
90th minute Wednesday at Bangkok's Supachalasai Stadium. Japan won 2-0 and, barring host
Germany, became the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.
Japan, which made its World Cup debut at France '98 and co-hosted the 2002 finals with South Korea, needed only a draw in the politically charged Group B encounter to be sure of a third World Cup appearance.
But Serie A striker Yanagisawa struck 18 minutes from time and substitute Oguro added a second late on as Japan completed its mission in sizzling heat in the Thai capital.