Defending champions Japan [Images] taught India a lesson in football, handing them a 6-0 drubbing in the first qualifying match of the 2007 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Yokohama on Wednesday.

Leading by a solitary goal at half-time, the Japanese turned on the heat against the Indians in the last 15 minutes of the contest to end up with a tennis scoreline.

But the final score did not reflect the fact that the Indians kept the nippy Japanese forwards at bay for most of the game.

Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin employed an ultra-defensive 4-5-1 formation as even the most ardent Indian fans would not have hoped for a victory or draw which would have made the team eligible for the bonus, promised by AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi.

Goalkeeper Sandip Nandy was inarguably India's man of the match and if he had not been in top form under the bar, the scoreline could well have been in double figures.

Most of the game, expectedly, was played deep in the Indian half, with skipper Baichung Bhutia left to fend for himself as sole attacker.

Tatsuhiko Kubo was a thorn in the Indian flesh as he repeatedly found himself in goal-scoring positions. It was only some resolute defending that kept his numerous attempts out.

India's first meaningful shot on goal came after 25 minutes when a curling free-kick from Bhutia found the side of Kawaguchi's net.

The hosts took the lead around the half-hour mark thanks to a defensive blunder by N Manju, whose overhead clearance handed the ball back, leading to captain Shinji Ono, who used to ply his trade in the Netherlands for Feyenoord, tapping in from close range to record the team's 100th goal under the supervision of Brazilian legend Zico.

The Indians otherwise gave a spirited display in the first 45 minutes and it seemed to be their best performance in a long time.

The Japanese side, which looked disjointed in the first half, came out all guns blazing after the break and the Indians could not match the pace.

The lead was doubled around the hour mark when Hasebe's fierce shot was deflected off Maki to leave Nandy flatfooted.

That seemed to open the floodgates and Fukinishi headed home an Alex Santos corner 10 minutes later.

Kubo could have added to India's woes but his bullet shot hit the upright with the custodian beaten.

But he was not denied for long, as slick Japanese passing ended in him chipping the ball past the goalkeeper from close range in the 79th minute to make it 4-0.

Substitute Hisato Sato scored his first goal for Japan in the 83rd minute when his powerful shot from just inside the box beat Nandy on his near post.

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