Japan freeze out Thailand in 2010 qualifier

By Alastair Himmer

SAITAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Japan beat Thailand 4-1 in freezing conditions to win their opening 2010 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Thailand's players, normally accustomed to tropical heat, were given little chance with snow falling in Saitama but they made life difficult for Japan in the first half.

Midfielder Yasuhito Endo gave Japan the lead in the 21st minute with a superb curling free kick from 30 metres.

However, Thailand stunned the home side by equalising within a minute when forward Teerathep Winothai smashed a ferocious shot past Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi from the edge of the box.

Japan, booed off at halftime by the crowd of 35,000, went back in front 10 minutes after the interval when striker Yoshito Okubo prodded home from close range after an attempted Thai clearance fortuitously ricocheted into his path.

Thailand had acclimatised for the wintry Japanese weather with a training camp at Manchester City but Okubo's freak goal effectively ended the visitors' resistance.

"It was a very lucky goal," Japan coach Takeshi Okada told reporters. "But the players began the second half pressing for a goal so maybe deserved that bit of luck."

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