IRN 2-4 JPN: Makiuchi sees room for improvement

AFC - A relieved Tatsuya Makiuchi stressed Japan have plenty to improve on if they are to deliver a first AFC U-19 Championship title in Saudi Arabia.

The six-time runners-up survived a scare to defeat Iran 4-2 with Kensuke Nagai hitting a hat-trick as Japan joined Saudi Arabia in recording a second successive victory and progressing to the quarter-finals from Group A.

Japan went two-up inside seven minutes but allowed Iran back into the game as Ehsan Haji Safi and Seyediman Moosavi netted.

However, Nagai scored before the interval and 12 minutes from time to secure victory at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.

Iran missed a first-half penalty and hit the inside of the post late on as Japan, who beat Yemen 5-0 in their first match, prevailed.

"I'm very happy to win," said coach Makiuchi. "We scored very early in the first-half and after that our players relaxed.

"In the second-half Iran had good pressure and we did not play well.

"We wanted to use the wings but we could not do it. We wanted to be more positive but we could not because Iran pressured us very well."

Iran exposed Japan's defensive frailties and Makiuchi is aware the 2006 runners-up must improve.

"We wanted to make a point defensively and control the game - it was not right defensively tonight," he added.

Japan have now scored nine goals in two matches but Makiuchi hopes his forward line can become more cohesive in the next match against the hosts.

"I'm happy with the three goals for Nagai and four goals for the team," he said.

"For an individual it is good to score but he must play in a more synchronised way with his team-mates. Then I will be more happy."

Coach Nenad Nikolic believes Iran's Group A conquerors can go all the way to the final on November 14.

Iran lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, who scored an 86th-minute winner, in their opening fixture before falling to Japan.

"Before the competition I said this group is a very strong group," said Nikolic.

"Japan and Saudi Arabia, they can go to the final. The other groups are not as strong."

The Croatian boss cursed his luck after two narrow defeats.

"In the first seven minutes my team lost two goals from two stupid mistakes," added Nikolic.

"We conceded a third goal to another stupid mistake and we missed a penalty.

"We played well in the second half but we were without luck."