UPDATE 1-Soccer-Japan first team into World Cup finals

* Japan first team to reach 2010 World Cup

* Uzbeks left with uphill struggle to qualify (Updates after later games, adds quotes)

TASHKENT, June 6 (Reuters) - Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when they scraped past Uzbekistan 1-0 in a Group One Asian qualifier on Saturday.

Shinji Okazaki struck the only goal early in the game to secure Japan's place at their fourth finals. They were also the first team through to the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Japan were joined in the finals by Group One rivals Australia and South Korea of Group Two.

"This is just the start for us," Japan coach Takeshi Okada told reporters. "I'm grateful that we have got this opportunity."

The top two in each of the two Asian groups qualify directly for South Africa, with the two third-place teams meeting to decide who goes through to a play-off with the Oceania champions.

Bahrain, in third place with seven points, Qatar (5) and Uzbekistan (4) are still in with a chance of third place from Group One.