Japan beats Yemen 3-2 in Asian Cup qualifier

Even better than the victory is the fact that no one was blown up during the match...

Sota Hirayama scored all three goals

My new hero, must check his profile on the net, never heard of him.

...was the victory worth taking risk? Now every Japanese will say "yes."

.....Declining football standards for Okada's team. That's all I see at present

they beat Yemen, big deal, The 3rd division club i used to play for in the Netherlands could easily beat this Japanese team.

beating Yemen is nothing to gloat about, how about they play a real team?

Beating Yemen should be no news for Japan so the situation before the World Cup does not seem so good. On the positive side it is nice to see Hirayama getting back to his level after several years of substandard play.

I bet it was hard to play in the midst of violence, and with the thought that bombs and such could have been headed their way.

Beating Yemen under these circumstances is indeed a big deal. I'm not talking about the violence there. But because of the fact that 13 (thirteen!!!) players got an invitation for the A-squad for the first time. Too bad that people immediately start thinking that a Dutch amateur team could easily beat the number 43 of the world. But hey...that happens when you open your mouth without checking the facts first.