Japan knocks India out of Asian Games football

GUANGZHOU: Continental powerhouse Japan gave India a lesson in football, thrashing them 5-0 in the pre-quarterfinals of the Asian Games here on Wednesday.

Kensuke Nagai (17th, 51st), Ryohei Yamazaki (28th), Kazuya Yamamura (45th) and Kota Mizunuma (63rd) scored for Japan who were leading 3-0 at the break.

Jeje Lalpekhlua could have got a consolation goal for India towards the fag end of the match, but his well directed header was brilliantly saved by Japanese goalkeeper Shunsuke Ando.

Japan will now face the winners of the quarterfinal clash between Thailand and Turkmenistan in the last eight stage.

To their credit, the Indians displayed good fighting spirit and created a few scoring chances. But they were let down by poor finishing.