Japan virtually guaranteed its place in the final round of 2018 World Cup qualifiers with a 5-0 win over Afghanistan on Thursday.
Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki celebrated his 99th international appearance by opening the scoring in the 43rd minute at Saitama Stadium, before second-half goals from Hiroshi Kiyotake, a Sharif Mohammad own goal, Maya Yoshida and Mu Kanazaki put Japan home and dry.
Japan next faces second-place Syria — trailing Japan by only a point at the start of the day — in its final Group E game in Saitama on Tuesday, but may not have to wait until then to confirm its place in the final qualifying round.