Japan National Team: 2000 Asian Cup
Japan 4 - 1 Iraq

Date: Oct 24, 2000 Location: Beirut Lebanon Japan 4 3 1H 1 1 2H 0 1 Iraq Nanami (8') Takahara (12') Nanami (29') Myojin (63') Scoring Abbas Jasim (4) -- Cautions -- Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Yuji Nakazawa, Ryuzo Morioka, Toshihiro Hattori, Junichi Inamoto (Shigeyoshi Mochizuki 67'), Tomokazu Myojin, Hiroshi Nanami, Shunsuke Nakamura (Shinji Ono 80'), Hiroaki Morishima (Daisuke Oku 71'), Akinori Nishizawa, Naohiro Takahara. < TBA

Japan stumbled out of the gate in their quarterfinal match against Iraq, conceding a goal after just four minutes. But they quickly made amends, with Hiroshi Nanami and Naohiro Takahara striking in quick succession to put Japan on top after just 12 minutes. A third goal from Nanami in the 29 minute put this contest beyond doubt, and the team spent the remainder of the match cautiously looking to extend the lead. Tomokazu Myojin put the finishing touches on the victory with a set-play header in the 63 minute.