TOKYO, Feb 22: Holders Japan thrashed India 6-0 in their opening 2007 Asian Cup qualifier on Wednesday. Fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea and Saudi Arabia also got off to a winning start. Korea won 2-1 in Syria while the Saudis cruised to a 4-0 victory away against Yemen.

In Yokohama, playmaker Shinji Ono opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, pouncing on a defensive error to score Japan’s 100th goal since Brazilian Zico took charge in 2002.

Striker Tatsuhiko Kubo fired a late double while Seiichiro Maki, Takashi Fukunishi and substitute Hisato Sato were also on target in the second half for a below-strength Japan.

South Korea survived a potentially tricky Group B opener in Syria with goals from Kim Do-heon and Lee Chun-soo either side of the break giving the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists a narrow win.

Iran, who also claimed one of the four automatic Asian spots for 2006 World Cup, thrashed Taiwan 4-0 to go above South Korea on goal difference.

The top two from each of the six groups qualify for the 2007 Asian Cup, to be jointly hosted by Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Results:

Group A

Japan 6 India 0

Yemen 0 Saudi Arabia 4

Group B

Iran 4 Taiwan 0

Syria 1 South Korea 2

GROUP E

Singapore 2 Iraq 0

China 2 Palestinian territories 0

GROUP F

Uzbekistan 5 Bangladesh 0

Hong Kong 0 Qatar 3

—Reuters