Japan blow as Kagawa injured in Syria draw
Print Edition
JAPAN’S World Cup qualifying preparations were dealt a blow yesterday when playmaker Shinji Kagawa suffered a shoulder injury in a 1-1 home draw with Syria.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder was stretchered off just 9 minutes into the Tokyo friendly clutching his left shoulder after an awkward fall, and could be in doubt for next week’s Asian qualifier against Iraq.
Japan football chief Kozo Tashima insisted the Blue Samurai would fly to neutral Tehran today for that game as planned, despite yesterday’s deadly terror attacks in Iran’s capital.
Gunmen and suicide bombers stormed Iran’s parliament and the shrine of its revolutionary leader, killing 12 people in attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.
“We will go under the assumption that we will play the game as scheduled,” Tashima told local media.
Syria took a shock lead early in the second half when forward Mardik Mardikian climbed above Japan captain Maya Yoshida to power home a header. Japan equalized after 59 minutes, Inter Milan left-back Yuto Nagatomo squaring for Yasuyuki Konno to apply a simple finish from point-blank range.
Keisuke Honda and Takashi Inui went close as Japan pushed for a winner, but the home side produced little that will strike fear into Iraq when the teams square off in Tehran on Tuesday.
“We struggled at the start, in part due to Kagawa’s injury,” Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic told reporters.
“I have concerns over Shinji of course, which isn’t helpful as we travel tomorrow. This result has provided us with a timely warning for the game with Iraq.”
Japan currently tops Group B in the final round of Asian 2018 World Cup qualifiers with 16 points from 7 games, ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference.
Australia, the reigning Asian champion, is 3 points behind the leaders with 3 matches still to play. It hosts Saudi Arabia at the Adelaide Oval today.
The top two teams from each of the two groups qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup in Russia.
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