Host crushed

Argentina defeats Japan 4-1 in Kirin Cup

OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Substitutes Bernardo Romeo and Maximiliano Rodriguez netted second-half goals Sunday as Argentina cruised to a 4-1 win over Japan in the opening match of the Kirin Cup.

Romeo settled the matter in the 78th minute when he deflected a pass from Juan Roman Riquelme over the head of Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki to make it 3-1 Argentina.

Rodriguez then gave the visitors a comfortable three-goal cushion four minutes later when his blast from the top of the area bounced in off of Narazaki after hitting the far post.

"These are very skilled players," said Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa. "I think it was just a coincidence that they came off the bench and scored."

Trailing 2-0 at the half, Japan coach Zico sent in substitutes Alessandro Santos, Takashi Fukunishi and Yoshito Okubo.

The moves paid off in the 54th minute when defender Yutaka Akita rose above the Argentine defenders and headed in a Santos corner but the momentum Japan got from Akita's goal was lost when Romeo scored.

Argentina went up 2-0 seconds before the break when captain Javier Zanetti played a nifty one-two with Javier Saviola and beat Narazaki with a right-foot blast just inside the post.

Bielsa's side took a 1-0 lead on 30 minutes. Pablo Aimar stepped around a Japan defender and fed a cross to Saviola, who fired a low shot past a diving Narazaki.

"Those players play very well together," said Bielsa. "Having them up front along with (Santiago) Solari gave us a lot of opportunities."

It was another frustrating loss for Japan coach Zico, who has yet to win on home soil since taking over from Philippe Troussier.

"We didn't play at all well in the first half," said Zico. "I don't think it's a question of skill or technique but just a feel for the game."

Both teams got off to a tentative start before a capacity crowd at Nagai Stadium. The first scoring chance didn't come until 17 minutes in when Saviola fired a close-range shot into the hands of Narazaki.

Junichi Inamoto had Japan's only solid chance in the first half when he beat several Argentine defenders but his low shot was smothered by goalkeeper Pablo Cavellero.

Coming off a 1-0 loss to rival South Korea a week ago, Zico called up four Europe-based players for the Kirin Cup and is hoping the veterans add some spark for the games against Argentina and Paraguay.

Parma's Hidetoshi Nakata created his share of chances but Japan continues to have problems finishing.

Japan came into Sunday's match having lost four straight to the two-time World Cup winners.

Zico's debut last October was spoiled by Japan's lackluster 1-1 draw with Jamaica, followed by a 2-0 loss to Argentina a month later. Japan then tied Uruguay 2-2 in Tokyo before last month's 1-0 win over South Korea.

 

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