TOKYO, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Alberto Zaccheroni's Samurai Blue overcame a gritty Cyprus team 1-0 in their final game here Tuesday evening a head of their World Cup opener against the Ivory Coast on June 14.
Defender Atsuto Uchida, who plays for Schalke in Germany's Bundesliga, made the difference for Japan just before halftime, bundling in his second attempt on goal from six yards as the Cypriot defense failed to clear their lines in the scramble.
Cyprus is ranked 130th in FIFA's world rankings, compared to the 47th placed Japan. While it lacked penetration going forward, the team defended resolutely to foil a number of Japan's attacks.