Soccer-Japan held 1-1 by Venezuela in Sapporo

TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Asian champions Japan were held

1-1 by Venezuela on Wednesday in the first of two warm-up

matches before the resumption of the final round of regional

World Cup qualifiers.

Yasuhito Endo put the Blue Samurai in front in the 14th

minute at a sellout Sapporo Dome, sweeping home after a dazzling

run down the right from Yuichi Komano.

Spain-based striker Miku pegged Japan back, twisting while

on the ground to deftly poke the loose ball past goalkeeper Eiji

Kawashima with the outside of his right boot.

Keisuke Honda could have put Japan 2-0 up well before the

halftime whistle, only for his left-foot drive to thump off the

post.

Manchester United's pre-season signing Shinji Kagawa flashed

a header just past the post on the hour mark. It proved costly

as Miku struck moments later.

Kagawa also contrived to miss an open goal in the 75th

minute, his shot looping up against the crossbar with the goal

at his mercy.

Alberto Zaccheroni's Japan meet the United Arab Emirates on

Sept. 6 in their final tune-up for a World Cup qualifier against

Iraq on Sept. 11.

They overpowered Oman 3-0 and Jordan 6-0 at home before

being held 1-1 in Australia in June in their first three games

in the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by Clare Fallon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/soccer-japan-held-1-1-venezuela-sapporo-123109300--sow.html

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