Japan blank Hong Kong
Japan brushed off jet-leg to beat Hong Kong 4-0 and stay top of their 2011 Asian Cup qualifying group on Wednesday.
Midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura was among the scorers for Japan, forced to qualify for the tournament after losing the third-place playoff to South Korea two years ago. The "Blue Samurai" have nine points from three matches in Group A, putting the three-times Asian Cup champions within reach of the finals in Qatar.
German-based midfielder Makoto Hasebe lashed a fierce right-foot shot into the top corner from 25 metres to put the visitors ahead in the 32nd minute.
Japan added a second goal in the 74th through a header from substitute Hisato Sato.
Nakamura curled in a free kick 10 minutes later before striker Shinji Okazaki converted a penalty in the last minute for his 15th goal in 20 internationals.
