Deckchairs out as Japan pummel Palestine 4-0

 Holders Japan cruised to a 4-0 win over Palestine in their Asian Cup opener on Monday, setting up the deckchairs in the second half with the job already done.
The Blue Samurai, who won the tournament for a record fourth time in 2011, needed only eight minutes to take the lead against a nervy Palestine team making their first appearance in Asia's showcase competition.
Yasuhito Endo, making his 149th appearance for Japan, rifled a shot into the bottom corner, goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh going down in installments to gift the J-League player of the year his 15th international goal.
Shinji Okazaki, who has been in a rich vein of form for German club Mainz, scored with a poacher's strike in the 25th minute, reacting with razor-sharp reflexes to head in a volley from Shinji Kagawa which looked to be fizzing wide.
Keisuke Honda, Japan's bleach-blond cult hero, then stroked home a penalty just before half-time before defender Maya Yoshida nodded in a fourth as the floodgates threatened to burst open in blustery Newcastle.
"People assume Japan are vastly superior to Palestine but in modern football it's not easy to win by four goals," Japan coach Javier Aguirre told reporters.
"Palestine fought hard, they're battlers. We didn't play a perfect game but I've got to be happy with four goals. Their keeper also made some good saves."
Aguirre, currently embroiled in a match-fixing scandal linked to his time as manager of Zaragoza in 2011, opted to save legs for his side's next two Group D games against Iraq and Jordan as the champions eased off the gas in the latter stages.
Source: AFP