Japan holds Uruguay in friendly

TOKYO (AP) -- World Cup hero Junichi Inamoto scored a second-half goal Friday as Japan and Uruguay played to a 2-2 draw in an international friendly at Tokyo's National Stadium.

Fulham's Inamoto, who scored twice for Japan at the 2002 World Cup, pulled the hosts even shortly after the break when he took a pass from Parma's Hidetoshi Nakata and fired a low blast past Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

Japan, playing with all their Europe-based stars, outplayed the South Americans for most of the match but couldn't get the win for Zico, who replaced Philippe Troussier after the World Cup.

"I was pleased that we scored two goals," said Zico. "I think we showed a lot of character in coming back tonight."

Defender Alejandro Lembo put the visitors up 2-1 in the 25th minute when he picked up a loose ball off a corner kick and chipped the ball through the hands of Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Uruguay got on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute when Diego Forlan headed in a Pablo Lima cross from close range.

Japan pulled even seconds later when Takayuki Suzuki was hauled down in the area and Reggina's Shunsuke Nakamura scored on a penalty.

Japan drew 1-1 with Jamaica in Zico's debut in October and then lost 2-0 to Argentina at home in November with Zico attending his mother's funeral in Brazil.

 

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