Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni hailed his players' determination to try and finish off Uzbekistan after the Asian champions came from behind to earn a share of the spoils in a World Cup qualifying 1-1 draw in Tashkent on Tuesday.
Japan was outplayed on a bumpy pitch for much of the first half after Uzbekistan's star midfielder Server Djeparov fired the home side in front in a cauldron-like atmosphere at Pakhtakor Stadium.
But Uzbekistan found Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima in inspired form and after Shinji Okazaki leveled on what is fast becoming something of a happy hunting ground for the Stuttgart striker, Japan threw caution to the wind and went for the jugular.