Japan got off to a winning start on the last road to the 2014 World Cup following a 3-0 win over Oman in Saitama.
Al-Habsi helpless to prevent Oman from suffering defeat
Japan got off to a winning start on the last road to the 2014 World Cup following a 3-0 win over Oman in Saitama.
It was the first match in the last section of Asian qualifying, which includes two groups, and goals from Keisuke Honda, Ryoichi Maeda and Shinji Okazaki secured a comfortable win.
Japan were in front in the 12th minute of their Group B encounter with Oman, when Honda finished past Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi.
The score remained the same until half-time, but, in the 51st minute, Maeda made it 2-0 when converting a cross from Manchester United target Shinji Kagawa.
Okazaki completed the scoring in the 54th minute when he followed up his own shot after Al Habsi had saved an initial effort.
Japan now host Jordan in a Group B qualifier on Friday in Saitama, before travelling to Australia the following Tuesday.
The top two finishers in each of the final two Asia World Cup qualification groups will book a spot at Brazil 2014, while the two third-placed teams enter into a play-off round.
