Own goals help England defeat Japan

Japan 1-2 England
England needed two own goals to defeat Japan in their final friendly before the FIFA World Cup.

With seven of Fabio Capello's 30-man provisional squad to be shorn when the Italian announces his final 23 on Tuesday, England appeared nervous throughout. Tulio Tanaka gave Japan a first-half lead but both he and Yuji Nakazawa struck at the wrong end in the second period as the rain poured down in Graz, Austria.

England conceded from a set piece in their 3-1 win against Mexico on Monday, and were undone in similar fashion after seven minutes when Tanaka met a corner with splendid timing and fired past David James from 12 metres.

Although Capello's five half-time changes invigorated England, substitute goalkeeper Joe Hart needed an athletic save to deny Keisuke Honda. Japan No1 Elji Kawashima was even more impressive five minutes later, diving to his right to deny Frank Lampard from the penalty spot after the Chelsea FC midfielder's free-kick had struck a hand.

Kawashima was finally beaten after 72 minutes as Tanaka inadvertently turned the ball into his own net having flung himself at Joe Cole's cross. His defensive partner Nakazawa followed suit with seven minutes left when diverting Ashley Cole's low cross beyond Kawashima.

Emile Heskey should have made it three but headed wide late on for England, who begin their World Cup campaign against the United States on 12 June.