Japan threatened to run up a cricket score against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, but settled for a crushing 8-1 win to become the first team to make the Asian Cup quarterfinals.

Jubilo Iwata's Naohiro Takahara and striking partner Akinori Nishizawa both netted hat tricks as the Japanese dominated in every department and left the field at Saida Municipal Stadium with a perfect six points from two matches in Group C.

In the evening's second game, Saudi Arabia and Qatar fought out a dull 0-0 draw -- a result which left Japan guaranteed to finish top of its group, regardless of what happens in Friday's match against Qatar at Beirut Sports City Stadium.

Japan, coming off a comprehensive 4-1 win over defending champion Saudi Arabia in last Saturday's group opener, took the game by the scruff of the neck in the first quarter of an hour with goals from Hiroaki Morishima and Nishizawa, teammates at Cerezo Osaka.