at the Doha 2011. Tatsuya Tanaka created the first and scored the second as Japan made a winning start to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign after a 2-1 victory over a resilient Yemen at the KK Wing Stadium. Shimizu S-Pulse forward Shinji Okazaki’s gave Japan the lead at the interval in the Group A encounter before Zaher Farid levelled early in the second-half. However, after having a hand in the opener Tanaka then struck in the 65th minute to ensure the hosts collected all three points. Japan attacked from the outset and broke the deadlock with just seven minutes on the watch when midfielder Okazaki tapped home Tanaka’s pass after the Urawa Reds forward had worked a short-corner with Kengo Nakamura. The Yemeni backline were struggling to cope with the fast pace of Japan’s passing game in the early stages and further attempts from Atsuto Uchida and Nakamura threatened to extend their lead inside the opening quarter of an hour. Another corner almost produced another goal in the 26th minute as Takeshi Aoki rose highest in the box to meet Nakamura’s delivery but the Kashima Antlers midfielder saw his header sail inches wide. Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Nakamura was at the heart of most of Japan’s good work with his incisive passing as Yemen were kept pinned back in their own half. Striker Ali Al Nono was forced to plough a lone furrow up front for the visitors and his only sight of goal in a barren first-half came in the 33rd minute when he latched onto a through ball into the box but defender Shuhei Terada snuffed out the danger. Yemen looked more threatening immediately after the break and Al Nono won a free-kick in a dangerous position when his run down the right was brought to an end by Yuichi Komano. And it produced an equaliser as Farid met Ali Al Sasi’s set-piece at the far post and headed home. Japan coach Takeshi Okada introduced Seiichiro Maki on the hour mark in a bid to regain the lead and the move almost reaped an instant reward as his header from Nakamura’s corner narrowly failed to hit the target. Five minutes later, though, they were back in front when Tanaka got the final touch to Okazaki’s header and bring the 30,654 crowd to their feet. Japan nearly widened their advantage when Okazaki twice hit the woodwork but in the end they had to settle for a 2-1 victory to claim the three points.