Sota Hirayama struck the winner as Japan's Under-21s beat Syria 1-0 on Sunday to make it two wins out of two in Group F in the soccer tournament at the Asian Games.
Hirayama's header crept over the line 13 minutes from time at Qatar Sports Club Stadium to give Japan all three points and a psychological boost ahead of its meeting with the Syrians in the qualifying competition for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.