KOBE — Japan warmed up for next week's crunch World Cup qualifier against Qatar with a straightforward 3-1 friendly win over Syria on Thursday night.
Takeshi Okada's weakened side, missing Europe-based players as well as Gamba Osaka's Asian Champions League-winners, took a third-minute lead through Yuto Nagatomo before Keiji Tamada doubled the advantage in the 26th minute with a well-taken volley.
Yoshito Okubo added another in front of his home crowd at Kobe's Home's Stadium, before Mohamad Alzino pulled one back from the penalty spot for a limited Syrian side which nonetheless gave Japan a nervy final 10 minutes after a rash of substitutions from both teams.