Hosts Japan reached the second round of the World Cup for the first time in their history today after cruising to a 2-0 victory over Group H rivals Tunisia.
Second half goals from Hiroaki Morishima and Japanese football's Italy-based golden boy Hidetoshi Nakata handed Philippe Troussier's side a deserved win to set up a last-16 clash with Turkey next Tuesday.
Japan, who qualified as Group H winners, had started the World Cup desperate to avoid the ignominy of being the first host side to fail to reach the second round.
But after a draw with Belgium and a win over Russia they were put firmly on course, and against Tunisia today the result was rarely in doubt.
An inspired double substitution by Troussier at half-time after a low key opening 45 minutes proved crucial, the Frenchman bringing on lively striker Morishima and right winger Daisuke Ichikawa.
Ichikawa helped create the first goal, pressuring Tunisia's defence into a blunder to allow Morishima the chance to blast past goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel on 48 minutes.
Morishima came close to doubling his tally soon afterwards, directing a superb diving header past Boumnijel only to see it bounce back off the inside of the post.
Tunisia, needing a two-goal win to have any chance of going through, attempted to get back in the game but were frustrated by the slick passing of the Japanese midfield.
Again the hosts came close to scoring, Feyenoord star Shinji Ono's downward header on 65 minutes desperately saved by Boumnijel.
Then on 75 minutes Nakata made the game safe after another fine piece of work down the right by substitute Ichikawa.
The 22-year-old Shimizu S-Pulse player tormented his marker and floated in a cross to Nakata whose diving header flew into the Tunisian net.
Japan were given a scare in the dying moments of the half when midfielder Kazuyuki Toda brought down Tunisia's Hatem Trabelsi in the penalty area. Replays suggested there was contact, but French referee Gilles Veissiere waved away Tunisian appeals.
AFP