Asian Cup 2015: Japan defeat Iraq thanks to Keisuke Honda penalty

DESPITE wasting a host of chances, defending champions Japan took a huge step towards the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Iraq.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 16: Keisuke Honda of Japan celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2015 Asian Cup match between Iraq and Japan at Suncorp Stadium on January 16, 2015 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

DESPITE wasting a host of chances, defending champions Japan took a huge step towards the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Iraq at Suncorp Stadium.

A draw in their final Group D clash against Jordan in Melbourne on Tuesday will guarantee Japan — 4-0 winners over Jordan last Monday — a place in the last eight.

FOUR-GOAL HAUL AS JORDAN SMASH PALESTINE

CAHILL: SOCCEROOS FOCUSED, TOGETHER, HUNGRY

KRUSE FACES ‘ROCK STAR’ MATE SON

Shinji Okazaki was one of a number of Japan players to miss the target.

It could have been a similar scoreline in Brisbane, with Japan too often failing to complete their impressive build-up play with goals.

They had to rely on a penalty to secure the three points, with star attacker Keisuke Honda converting a 23rd-minute spot kick he earned to maintain Japan’s 100 per cent record at the tournament.

Honda could have had at least a hat-trick, hitting the woodwork on three occasions.

Despite their loss, Iraq’s cause is far from lost, with the Lions of Mesopotamia to meet Group D minnows Palestine on Tuesday.

A win over Palestine, thrashed 5-1 by Jordan, is likely to be enough for the Iraqis to reach the quarter-finals.

But they will need to improve their attack, having rarely threatened in the humid Brisbane conditions in front of a healthy crowd of almost 23,000.

It was the woodwork that stopped Japan taking the lead in the 16th minute.

Italy-based pair Yuto Nagatomo and Honda combined, with Inter fullback Nagatomo finding Milan attacker Honda with a beautifully weighted cross to the back post.

Another chance goes begging as Honda misses an open goal.

The unmarked Honda’s header was too good for Iraq goalkeeper Jalal Hassan but hit the base of the post.

But Honda only had to wait another five minutes to put his side ahead, converting a penalty.

Seconds after Hassan did well from close range to deny Shinji Kagawa, Honda was crunched by Iraqi pair Ali Adnan and Saad Abdul-Amir.

Referee Alireza Faghani had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, with Honda dusting himself off to send keeper Hassan the wrong way and give Japan a deserved lead.

Iraq struggled to get into the game.

It could have been 2-0 10 minutes later but striker Shinji Okazaki directed his header straight at Hassan.

Japan continued to attack early in the second half, with Honda again unfortunate when his sizzling 20-metre strike smashed into the crossbar.

Later in the half he blew a golden chance to put Japan two goals ahead, hitting the post from inside the six-yard box, much to the frustration of coach Javier Aguirre, who would have wanted a bigger win.

Reports out of Japan yesterday suggested that coach Javier Aguirre would be sacked after the tournament due to being named in a match-fixing scandal during his time coaching Real Zaragoza in Spain.