Japan vs Tunisia, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup

Japan

48': Hiroaki Morishima
75': Hidetoshi Nakata

FT
2 - 0

Tunisia

About

Japan are hosting Tunisia at Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Nagai, Japan, starting on . The match is a part of the FIFA World Cup.

Match Timeline

0': So Japan are on the brink of their first ever appearance in the last 16 of the World Cup. But can Tunisia spring a surprise - a two-goal win would put them through.
0': Tunisia bring in Clayton for Gabsi while Japan, unsrurprisingly, are unchanged
1': Tunisia kick off and win an early throw
1': Toda chips it forwadd for Japan and it falls to Yanagisawa who has a shot but it hits Trabelsi
2': Japanese possession - and the host nation again look very comfortable on the ball
3': Free kick for Ono's foul on Melki and Tunisia have the ball for a short spell
4': Suzuki has his heels clipped and it's a Japanese free kick about 40 yards out
5': Ono takes but the referee penalises Japan for a push in the box
6': Jaziri is offside - he's leading the line again for Tunisia and will hope for more support from midfield runners
7': Neat passing from Japan and the ball comes to Suzuki about 30 yards out. He goes for goal and it sails some way over
8': Inamoto makes a little burst and Japan are looking more lively
9': And Belgium lead in the other group. Johan Walem has scored and as things stand, Belgium top the group with Japan second
10': Yanagisawa brings down Jaziri - he's perhaps lucky to escape a booking as Jaziri could be hurt
11': Inamoto is crowded out by two Tunisians and the Africams try to counter attack but Japan soon have the ball back
12': ... but Myojin's cross is too deep and Boumnijel claims it
12': Suzuki is upended clumsily by Clayton and again that could have been a booking
13': Ono or Nakata could take..
13': ... it is Hide Nakata and it deflects off the wall and then one of his team-mates as Tunisia scramble it away
14': But Japan have another free kick in a dangerous situation as Bouzaiene fouls Myojin
15': But this time Ono hits the wall - disappointing delivery from the Feyenoord man
16': Trabelsi and Benachour combine well but Jaziri can't reach the through ball
17': End-to-end stuff with both sides attacking in the last few minutes even if there haven't been many chances
18': Was that a shot or a pass? Badra belts it wide from 50 yards
19': Nakata looks for Myojin down the right touchline but his pass is overhit
20': Japan have had the better of the first 20 minutes without reaching the high standard they performed at against Russia and Belgium
21': Bouzaiene whips in a cross which Toda heads away and Japan break with Yanagisawa. he is tugged back by Bouazizi rather needlessly and the Tunisian becomes the first player booked
22': Ono's cross is deflected behind by Badra - corner for Japan
23': Koji Nakata whips it across and it is another japan corner as Bouazaine heads behind
23': ... and they win a third, which is too long for everyone
24': Tunisia look to release Jaziri and the masked Miyamoto makes a fine challenge
25': It's a corner, which Bouzaiene takes and Narazaki comes a long way to claim that
26': Japan have had the majority of the possession so far but they've yet to create a real chance
27': Nakata switches play well to Suzuki and Bouzaiene is penalised for climbing all over him
28': Nakata takes but it hits the wall and Japan have another corner
28': Inamoto rises but Badra heads Nakata's corner away
29': Almost a shooting chance for Inamoto there but Ghodhbane got back at him quickly
30': Inamoto curled in a cros looking for Yanagisawa, but it was a little to close to Boumnijel who came out quickly to catch it
31': Inamoto's long pass is shepherded out for a goal kick by Bouzaiene
32': Jaziri battles with Ono and the Tunisian striker concedes the throw
33': Japan press again but Tunisia are defending deep and in numbers
34': Yangisawa turns to fire a low left-footed shot from 20 yards. Boumnijel parries it and gathers at the second attempt
34': Ono plays a fine one-two with Yanagisawa but his run is ended by a fine tackle from Badra
35': Melki's deep cross is misjudged by Narazaki but the Japanese keeper was saved by the absence of Tunisians at the back post
36': Nakata looks for Yanagisawa. Jaidi concedes a corner
37': Ono will take and it's punched away from under his own bar by Boumnijel
38': Melki plays a one-two with Benachour and the ball falls to Jaziri who shoots on the turn - but it's well wide
39': Nakata plays a great long pass for find Suzuki - and Jaidi comes across to cover and concedes a corner
40': Shinji Ono will take again but Tunisia head away
41': Bouzaiene puts in a low cross but it's too near Narazaki.
41': Trabelsi brings down the lively Suzuki and the referee warns the right wing back
42': Koji Nakata tugs back Benachour - and the Japanese defender is fortunate to avoid a caution
43': Tunisia pass it around at the back before Melki goes forward to win a throw
44': Trabelsi takes it near the corner flag but the ndustrious Suzuki comes back to intercept. But Tunisia win the ball back and Matsuda's tackle on Jaziri results in a corner
45': Benachour whips it in, and it's deflected behind. A second corner...
45': ... and a better one. Badra rises highest to head at goal - and it could come to Jaidi at the far post.. but it evades him and goes wide
45': Trabelsi bursts into the box and goes down after Toda's challenge. Not a penalty, but Toda didn't make contact with the ball
45': And that's half time. Japan 0 Tunisia 0 in quite an uneventful half. The visitors had a couple of late chances and Japan haven't hit top form but they are on course to go through
46': Double change for Japan - on come Morishima and Ickikawa for Inamoto and Yanagisawa. Can the subs provide the breakthrough?
46': Tunisia need to win by two goals to go through, but will they even try? On comes Zoubaier Baya, off goes Melki
46': Japan kick off and Badra is immediately strugglign after a Suzuki challenge
47': Suzuki chaesea a long ball but it goes out for a goal kick
48': Suzuki can't reach Nakata's pass but the touch takes it to Morishima...
48': GOAL! He fires it across Boumnijel and into the fire corner
49': Japan lead and surely they will go through. They are currently on course to top the group
50': Nakata is fouled by Bouazizi as Japan push for a second
50': They have a free kick 30 yards out which Nakta and Ono are behind
51': Ono knocks it to Nakata but his deflected shot is easy for Boumnijel
52': Goal for Russia - it's Vladimir Beschatnykh. They are level and as things stand, Belgium will go out
53': Ichikawa acclerates down the right and whips in a low cross which Morishima makes a diving header to reach. It goes across the stationary Boumnijel... and roll onto the post
54': Japan so close to 2-0 and Troussier's half-time changes have worked superbly
55': Bouazizi fouls Suzuki again and it's another Japan free kick
56': Trabelsi makes a burst down the right and three Japanese players crowd him out
57': Nakata releases Suzuki down the right win. He lays it back to Ichikawa, but his cross is blocked
58': Clayton puts in a cross as Tunisia go forward but one of his team-mates is adjudged offside
59': Japn are very confidently passing the ball aroudn now they have the lead. A poor cross from Ichikawa ends a fine move
59': Jaziri breaks and puts in a low cross which the unchallenged Narazaki claims
60': and Tunisia give it away to Morishima who finds the other substitute Ichikawa with room to shoot - but that is a poor effort, well wide of goal
61': Tunisia change - Clayton departs and on comes Mhedhebi
62': Tunisia are struggling with the Japanese pace and movement now - they're getting little time on the ball as the Japanese press
63': Nakata crosses as Japan go for another - they work the ball out to Koji Nakata on the left and Bouazizi does very well at the back post to stop his cross reaching Morishima
64': Another foul gives Hidetoshi Nakata another free kick - he withces it to his namesakeKoji at the back post - he picks out Ono who heads it down and the diving Boumnijel palms it past the post
65': ... and the corner comes back to Myojin who fires wide from 30 yards
66': Ono is brought down now - Ghodhbane was the offender there
66': ... but Nakata puts it way over the bar
67': Good move from the Tunisians and Benachour finds Jaziri in the box. He goes for the shot and Miyamoto deflecte it behind
68': The corner is cleared but Mhedhebi goes down the left flank again to put in another cross which Miyamoto puts behind
69': Japan clear the second corner, but this has been one of Tunisia's better spells
70': Another fine interception Miyamoto - he's had another good game today
72': Tunisia press a little more but Japan are defending doggedly
73': The pace of the game has dropped a bit to the more gentle stroll of the start of the first half
74': More Japanese possesion and Troussier's side are lookign comfortable now
75': Ichikawa is in room on the right again and he crosses for Nakata to head...
76': GOAL! Boumnijel got a hand to it but he could not stop Hidetoshi Nakata doubling Japan's lead
76': And surely that has killed off any hopes Tunisia had of qualification
77': Good skill by Baya, nutmegging Matsuda. The defender brings him down
78': Benachour curls in a cross which Narazaki comes out to catch
78': Another Tunisia free kick, but they'll make a change first
79': Zitouni replaces Bouzaiene
79': ... and his first contribution is an overhead kick which went wide after Jaidi had headed back Benachour's free kick
80': And Wesley Sonck of Racing Genk scores Belgium's second against Russia - as things stand, Belgium will go through
81': Badra brings down Suzuki quite cynically - free kick and a yellow card
82': Nakata will take, but it's straight at Boumnijel
82': And Belgium lead 3-1 now. It's their talismanic skipper Marc Wilmots who has surely sealed the win
82': ... and Zitouni almost scores here. Benachour finds him and the sub turns and fires his shot against the bar
83': Benachour come forward again and looks for Zitouni but Miyamoto cuts it out
84': Morishima finds Suzuki alone up front. He turns and shoots with his left foot - but it's just wide
84': Japan take off Nakata and bring on Ogasawara
85': Ono goes for the volley with his right foot. He connected well and the ball just goes wide of the far post
86': Baya to take a Tunisian free kick. He curls it in and it's not far from the top corner, with Narazaki a bit stranded. Goal kick
88': Great skill by Benachour before Myojin brings him down - the young midfielder has been one of Tunisia's best players this tournament
88': And Russia are back in it in the other game - Sychev makes it 3-2 and if Romantsev's side can equalise, they will go through
89': Japan on the break Ogaosawara but he can't find Suzuki
89': Morishima goes for the spectacular with a 50-yard shot. Boumnijel retreats to claim
90': Just one minute has been added on as Tunisia have 60 seconds of their World Cup left
91': Benachour cracks one from 25 yards - into the side-netting but a good attempt
91': And that's it! Japan win 2-0 and go through as group winners. They face Turkey in the last 16. Tunisia, with just one point, are out. Troussier's fine half-time substitutions proved decisive and Japan win only their second ever World Cup game

Statistics

TUN		JPN
20	Fouls	16
2	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
2	Offsides	1
4	Corner Kicks	9
4	Saves	0
0	Possession	0
8	SHOTS	14
1	ON GOAL	7
0.1	On Target %	0.5
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
0	Accurate Passes	0
0	Passes	0
0.0	Pass Completion %	0.0
0	Accurate Crosses	0
8	Crosses	7
0.0	Cross %	0.0
0	Long Balls	0
0	Accurate Long Balls	0
0.0	Long Balls %	0.0
0	Blocked Shots	0
0	Effective Tackles	0
0	Tackles	0
0.0	Tackle %	0.0
0	Interceptions	0
0	Effective Clearances	0
4	Clearances	2

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup

Venue: Yanmar Stadium Nagai
Location: Nagai, Japan

FIFA World Cup Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Spain	0	0	0
2	Cape Verde	0	0	0
3	Saudi Arabia	0	0	0
4	Uruguay	0	0	0

Full Table

Line-Ups

Japan

No.	Name
12	Seigo Narazaki (GK)
3	Naoki Matsuda
17	Tsuneyasu Miyamoto
16	Koji Nakata
5	Junichi Inamoto
20	Tomokazu Myojin
7	Hidetoshi Nakata
18	Shinji Ono
21	Kazuyuki Toda
11	Takayuki Suzuki
13	Atsushi Yanagisawa

Japan Substitutes:

Daisuke Ichikawa, Hiroaki Morishima, Mitsuo Ogasawara.

Tunisia

No.	Name
1	Ali Boumnjiel (GK)
2	Khaled Badra
12	Raouf Bouzaiene
15	Radhi Jaidi
6	Hatem Trabelsi
18	Selim Benachour
13	Riadh Bouazizi
23	Clayton
10	Kais Ghodhbane
5	Zied Jaziri
21	Mourad Melki

Tunisia Substitutes:

Zoubaier Baya, Imed Mhadhebi, Ali Zitouni.

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