KUMAMOTO, Japan, Jan 20: Three-time former champions Japan got off to a flying start in their campaign to regain the title with a 2-1 victory over Yemen in the final qualifying round for the 2011 Asian Cup on Tuesday.

Striker Tatsuya Tanaka headed home the decider in the 65th minute when he dived for Shinji Okazaki’s last pass on a right corner from Kengo Nakamura.

The Japanese exchanged quick passes to overwhelm the visitors from the outset and encamped in the Yemen field for most of the time, outshooting Yemen 28-1.

They took an early lead in the seventh minute with Okazaki striking home on a Tanaka cross.

But Yemen evened the score only two minutes into the second half when defender Zaher Farid Al-Fadhli hit a header on a free kick by Ala Al-Sasi -- the first shot on goal and the last one for Yemen. After regaining the lead, the Japanese also created several chances but Okazaki narrowly missed his shots, one hitting the bar, while a Yemen clearance hit the post.—AFP