Japan made a comfortable start to the final round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Oman on Sunday night.
Keisuke Honda settled Japan's nerves in front of 63,551 at Saitama Stadium with an exquisite left-footed volley in the 11th minute, before goals from Ryoichi Maeda and Shinji Okazaki early in the second half made the game safe for the reigning Asian champions.
Japan plays Jordan in the same stadium next Friday before traveling to face Australia in Brisbane on June 12, and with two teams qualifying automatically from a group that also includes Iraq, manager Alberto Zaccheroni was understandably pleased at securing three early points.