Nishizawa strike sees off Slovakia
Monday, April 29, 2002
Article summary
FIFA World Cup co-hosts Japan beat Slovakia 1-0 in the Kirin Cup on Monday in Tokyo.
Article body
Cerezo Osaka FC striker Akinori Nishizawa scored a first-half winner as 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosts Japan beat Slovakia 1-0 in the Kirin Cup today.
Nishizawa winner
Nishizawa applied the final touch after his low cross was deflected goalwards by a combination of Hiroaki Morishima and Slovakian defender Marian Cisovský at the National stadium in Tokyo. Japan almost doubled their lead three minutes into the second-half when substitute Takashi Fukunishi headed a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick against the crossbar.
Wood to the rescue
The woodwork rescued Slovakia again in the 75th-minute when Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Tatsuhiko Kubo was sent clear by Mitsuo Ogasawara, only to see his clever lob from the edge of the box come back off the bar.
Close call
However, Japan almost paid for their missed chances four minutes later when striker Lubomir Talda volleyed wide from point-blank range with the goal at his mercy.
Group Seven
Slovakia have been drawn in Group Seven alongside England, Liechtenstein, Turkey and F.Y.R. Macedonia for the qualifiers for EURO 2004™.
