Monday, Nov. 16, 2009

Compiled from Kyodo, AP

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Japan held 2010 World Cup host South Africa to a 0-0 draw in a friendly in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Takeshi Okada's men had the better of the game, with in-form striker Shinji Okazaki and Wolfsburg midfielder Makoto Hasebe both going close to breaking the deadlock in the first half.

Espanyol playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura also created chances from set pieces after being introduced as a second-half substitute but Japan was unable to capitalize in its first meeting at senior level with the South Africans.

"It was a shame that we couldn't win but it was good to gain the experience of playing in this kind of atmosphere," said Japan coach Okada.

"South Africa gave us a rough ride and that was a big plus for us," he said.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said afterward there was still plenty of room for improvement in his team.

"As a beginning it was OK," he said. "We were well organized . . . but we must hold onto our possession more. We can't do it all at once, but a lot of improvement needs to be done."

Bafana Bafana's only serious shot on goal came from midfielder MacBeth Sibaya in the 30th minute, when he unleashed a powerful shot from five meters outside the penalty area, which was saved by diving Eiji Kawashima.

Parreira is in his second stint as coach of South Africa after replacing fellow Brazilian Joel Santana late last month. The change was made after South Africa had lost eight of its previous nine games.

Japan plays Hong Kong away on Wednesday in the final round of qualifiers for the 2011 Asian Cup, the team's final game of this year.

LONDON (AP) New Zealand reached the World Cup for the first time since 1982, with Cameroon and Nigeria also qualifying Saturday for next year's showcase in South Africa.

Algeria was seconds from qualifying in Cairo, but Emad Meteab headed in a goal in the fifth minute of second-half injury time, giving Egypt a 2-0 victory over the visitors that forced a tiebreaker playoff between them on Wednesday in Sudan.

Egyptian fans greeted the Algerian team at the airport on Thursday by pelting its bus with stones, and Algerian officials said two team members were injured. On Saturday, both Khaled Lemmouchia and Rafik Halliche wore head bandages while playing.

"We played under warlike conditions," Algerian Football Association president Mohammad Rawrawa said. "It was difficult to perform well, but we will win on Wednesday in Sudan because the atmosphere will be calmer."

In the first leg of European playoffs, France won 1-0 at Ireland on a deflected goal by Nicolas Anelka, Portugal beat visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 on a goal by Bruno Alves, Russia won 2-1 at home against Slovenia as Diniyar Bilyaletdinov scored twice and Greece was held to 0-0 by visiting Ukraine.

"We have seen that the Irish team are a very difficult team to beat," said French forward Thierry Henry, who is bidding to play at his fourth World Cup. "They didn't lose a game in qualification, so what we did tonight is nice. But it's still 90 minutes to go, and it's going to be a tough game for us in Paris."

In the first leg of the South American-North and Central American and Caribbean playoff, Uruguay beat 10-man Costa Rica 1-0 on Diego Lugano's 23rd-minute goal, giving Uruguay, a two-time world champion, the big advantage in the second leg at home in Montevideo.

In World Cup tuneups, Brazil beat England 1-0 at Doha, on Nilmar's goal early in the second half, Spain won 2-1 against visiting Argentina as Xabi Alonso scored twice, and defending world champion Italy was held 0-0 at home by the Netherlands.

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