Japan wear down Yemen for 2-0 win

NIIGATA, Japan, Aug 16 (Reuters) Second-half goals from Yuki Abe and Hisato Sato gave Japan a 2-0 win over Yemen in an Asian Cup qualifier today.

Japan have a maximum six points from their first two games and are level with Saudi Arabia in Group A.

The hosts dominated possession in the first half but failed to breakthrough to the disappointment of the 40,913 fans at Big Swan Stadium in the northern city of Niigata.

The opening goal for Ivica Osim's team came in the 69th minute when Abe headed home an Alex corner from the right.

As Japan continued to attack, substitute Sato buried his own rebound with a right-foot shot from close range after a header from an Alex free-kick was saved by Yemen goalkeeper Salem Saeed in the second minute of injury time.

The match was only Osim's second in charge of the national team since he replaced Zico last month. The former JEF United Chiba manager won his first match a week ago when Japan beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 in a friendly.

REUTERS DH KN1906