10 Oct 2010

Japan beat Argentina 1-0

3:39 pm on 10 October 2010

The Japan football team has shocked Argentina 1-0 in their first match under new Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

Star striker Lionel Messi proved Argentina's most dangerous weapon, despite only just recovering from an ankle injury.

But it was Japan who took a surprise lead early in the game.

Striker Shinji Okazaki's goal in the 19th minute ended up being the winner, to give the Japan side its first ever victory over the twice World Cup winners, in front of a 57,000-strong home crowd in Saitama.

The new Japan Coach Zaccheroni says it was an important test facing such big opponents, but he told the players if they believed in themselves, they could win.