Japan got off to a dream start in the Asian Cup on Saturday with a 4-1 demolition of defending champion Saudi Arabia that took Philippe Troussier's team to the top of Group C.
Kashima forward Atsushi Yanagisawa made a mockery of the tournament's official program, which refers to Japan's "dearth of striking talent," by scoring his side's opening goal and setting up the third for Man of the Match Hiroshi Nanami after the break.
In the evening's second Group C clash at Saida Municipal stadium, Qatar and Uzbekistan played out a pedestrian 1-1 draw, leaving both teams two points behind the Japanese.
Japan, chasing a second Asian Cup after winning on home soil in 1992, dominated the midfield and gave Saudi Arabia's World Cup defenders Mohammed al-Khilaiwi and Abdullah Suleiman a torrid time with their quick passing and movement up front.