Japan youngsters down India

India, returning to Asian Games after 12 years and with modest ambitions, played far better than expected with a well functioning defence managing to thwart the speedy Japanese forwards on many occasions.

Japan, one of the strong contenders for the title after their country8217;s impressive run in reaching the World Cup finals in France, could not dominate the way they did while thrashing Nepal, the other team in the group, 5-0 in their opening clash on November30.

The Japanese side, comprising under-21 players, posted their second straight win in the three-team group to top the pool and move into the next round while India can look forward to beating Nepal when they clash in the final Group C match on December 5 at the same venue, over 700km south of Bangkok.

Coach Syed Nayeemuddin8217;s tactics of tightening the defence with the mid-fielders falling back in support helped India hold their rivals at bay.

Captain IM Vijayan mostly played in a mid-field role and the skillful Bhutia sparkled with his dribbles and body feints which saw two Japanese defenders earn the yellow card for clumsy fouls on him.

India started with first choice goalkeeper Hemanta Dora, after the latter was not certain to even make the trip as he was nursing a knee injury, and the diminutive Dora came up with assured collections in the first half.

India, who held a 3-3 head to head record against Japan going into the match, looked like they would take a point off the match.

But Japanwent ahead in the 55th minute through a quick move down the right, Fukinda shaking off his marker by darting in to meet a header on to his path and beating Dora with a first time left-footer.

India, who last played in the Asian Games in 1986 and were reluctantly cleared at no cost to government going by their world ranking of around 120, also had their moments.

Bhutia almost equalled twice, on the first occasion Basudeb Mondal split two defenders on the left wing and centred, but the Indian striker was just beaten to the ball by the advancing Minami.

Vijayan, playing a withdrawn role, then played a sharp one-two with Bhutia, but his final try into the box was neither directed straight to the goal nor fed into the path of Bhutia with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Bhutia almost paved the way for a goal when Japanese defender Miyamoto fouled him to the right of the penalty box. But Vijayan8217;s free-kick went well over the bar.

The last time India met Japan was in the 1970 Bangkok Games when they beat themto claim the bronze after losing to them in the preliminary stage.