Worldcup 1998 : Friendly Games - Japan 3 / Australia 0 , February 15, 1998.

JAPAN 3 / AUSTRALIA 0, February 15, 1998.

Japan rolls on, tops Aussies 3-0
Loss could mark Venables' last game Down Under

ADELAIDE, Australia, February 15, 98 (AP)
Hirano scored twice as the team continued its World Cup buildup with a 3-0 win over Terry Venables' 10-man Australian team Sunday.

Hirano, who plays for Nagoya Grampus Eight in the J-League, grabbed his double within 10 minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute, in a match that could signal the end of Venables' Australian stint.

His goals added to a fifth-minute penalty from Hidetoshi Nakata that came after Australian defender Fausto De Amicis was sent off for a deliberate hand ball on the goal line.

Australia had squandered the first chance in an eventful start to the match. Japan's goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki, playing his first international, did well to save from John Markovski when the Australian striker went through to set up a one-on-one in the first minute.

Four minutes later Australian goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac failed to reach a corner and Japanese forward Shoji Jo sent a powerful header towards the net before De Amicis palmed it away.

Japan's captain Masami Ihara said the dismissal made his team's job a lot easier.

"At the beginning, with Australia losing one player, it gave us extra room and so it wasn't as hard as we expected," Ihara said.

Despite its one-man advantage Japan struggled to take control.

Australian forward Abbas Saad came closest to an equalizer on 28 minutes when he rose above Narazaki in the penalty area, but he headed a Brett Emerton cross just wide.

Jo, shouldering the responsibility up front with experienced strikers Kazuyoshi Miura, Masashi Nakayama and Wagnar Lopes left out, almost put Japan two up just before half time with another well-judged header.

He made strong contact with a cross from Nakata but Kalac was able to tip it over the bar.

Jo was replaced on 62 minutes by Lopes and Hirano came on at the same time. Within four minutes the pair combined for Japan's second goal.

Brazilian-born Lopes, playing his seventh match for Japan, tested Kalac with a curling shot that the Australian parried to Hirano who scored from close range. Hirano added the third in the 71st minute.

Japanese midfielder Motohiro Yamaguchi was sent off in the 80th minute for a second yellow card offense, but Japan had made the most of its numerical superiority before the red card restored parity.

Japanese coach Takeshi Okada brought a squad of 29 to Australia and gave debuts to Narazaki, midfielder Tadatoshi Masuda and forward Atsushi Yanagisawa. It was Japan's third win in 12 matches against Australia.

"Today's game was the first after our World Cup qualifying and I was happy with the way we prepared but not with the [way we played]," Okada said. "We still have other players in the squad to try out."

Venables, the former England manager, failed to get Australia to the World Cup and he has been linked to several high-profile European clubs.

Venables was due to discuss his future with Soccer Australia chief David Hill following Sunday's game and his contract runs out mid-year.

Hill has said he wants to retain Venables but would release him if requested.

Venables, who refused to say whether Sunday's match was his last as Australian coach, said the game was effectively over after the send off.

"The game was over after five minutes from that point of view," Venables said. "It was really disappointing because we were really fired up and sharp and really wanted to win."