Updated: Sunday June 09, 2002 10:28 AM ET	Sun June 9 Games Ecuador 1 Mexico 2 - FINAL Japan 1 Russia 0 - FINAL Turkey 1 Costa Rica 1 - FINAL
WORLD CUP RECAP
Recap | Match Summary | Today's Scoreboard
Japan 1, Russia 0

Russia Team Page Roster Team Spotlight Team History Group H Page

Japan Team Page Roster Team Spotlight Team History Group H Page

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Ticker) -- Junichi Inamoto's second-half goal gave co-host Japan its first-ever World Cup victory, 1-0 over Russia in Group H.

Just as important is that Japan is now in good position to advance into the second stage with a favorable performance against Tunisia in the last group game on June 14. The home side has four points after draw against Belgium in the opening game.

"We came here to get three points," said coach Phillipe Troussier. "You saw a grand Japan before a grand Japanese public tonight. With four points it is logical to think that we will go through. The spirit and dynamism we had made all the difference. Im very proud of being the coach of this team."

Russia is not out of the loop with three points, but its matchup against Belgium will be a tough one the same day.

Japan, with non-stop encouragement from a fanatic crowd, controlled the pace of the match and its forward push paid off after 51 minutes. Hidetoshi Nakata launched a long pass towards the area where Shinji Ono settled the ball and threaded a pass to unmarked Inamoto 10 yards from goal. Inamoto simply had the formality to control and roof the ball into the net.

Nakata nearly doubled the advantage after a solo run 20 minutes later, but his blast from 25 yards rattled off the crossbar.

It was the first victory for an Asian team over an European side since Saudi Arabia edged Belgium, 1-0, in the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

After an impressive 2-2 draw with Belgium, Japan took the game to Russia, which could not come up with any answers but for some late pressure.

Russia's best opportunity came minutes after Japan scored and after substitute Vladimir Beschastnykh came on the field. Beschastnykh dribbled around goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki and had a wide open net in front, but booted the ball into the side net.

Dmitry Sychev also tested Narazaki midway through the second half, but the keeper held on firmly to the 30-yard shot.

It was an otherwise physical match, with each country commiting 31 fouls aside and three players booked per squad.

Every host nation of a World Cup has made it at least to the second round.