SAITAMA, Japan, Nov 20: Argentina, playing for the first time since their World Cup debacle, struck twice in three minutes early in the second half to beat Japan 2-0 in a friendly international Wednesday.

The Argentines took the lead two minutes into the second half with a goal by midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin and followed up in the 49th minute when striker Hernan Crespo headed in from close range.

The victory in Argentina’s first match since their shock elimination in the first round of the World Cup finals in Japan in June was a successful start to coach Marcelo Bielsa’s second stint in charge.

But the healing process for Bielsa’s team, who had started the World Cup finals among the favourites, will take a long time.

Their fans will expect them to win all such friendlies, the Copa America in Peru in 2004 and the qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany to make up for arguably their worst ever World Cup performance.

Japan, missing their best European-based players due to club commitments, had the best of a keenly fought first half and striker Naohiro Takahara went close to scoring several times.

The hosts were caught dozing, however, when right winger Ariel Ortega held off a defender in the penalty area and passed to Sorin, who turned sharply and fired past Seigo Narazaki in the Japanese goal.

Juan Sebastian Veron, who initiated that attack, found space in midfield again two minutes later, starting a move that ended with Crespo’s powerful header at the far post.

Crespo, in fine form for his Italian club Inter Milan, will take some satisfaction from his goal after seeing little action in the World Cup finals as Gabriel Batistuta’s understudy even though he scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Sweden in Miyagi that sealed Argentina’s World Cup fate..

In Japan’s best chance of the match in the first half, a mishit shot by Akira Narahashi found its way to a surprised Takahara, but the striker dragged his shot wide with only goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero to beat.—Reuters

Japan 0 Argentina 2