Super sub strikes for Japan

Substitute Masashi Oguro pounced with 14 minutes to go to give Japan a 1-0 win over Greece on Sunday and keep the Asian champions in contention at the Confederations Cup. Japan had looked set to pay a high price for bad finishing, with strikers Atsushi Yanagisawa and Keiji Tamada guilty of a series of appalling misses in a one-sided game.

But Zico8217;s team showed patience as well as masterly technique and they took the lead when Oguro ran on to a pass from Shunsuke Nakamura and tucked the ball past Antonis Nikopolidis. Angelos Haristeas brought one good save from keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi with six minutes to go but otherwise Japan were untroubled by a disappointing Greece display.

Victory gives Japan three points from two Group B matches, while Greece are left without points. Japan8217;s midfield carved through the Greek defence with the same panache shown by Brazil in their 3-0 win over the European champions.

Germany, Argentina in semis

The two Group A favourites reached the Confederations Cup semi-finals in a flurry of goals on Saturday, Germany beating Tunisia 3-0 and Luciano Figueroa netting a hat-trick in Argentina8217;s 4-2 win against Australia. The results left Germany and Argentina top of the table with six points apiece.