UPDATE 1-Soccer-Japan beat Iraq 1-0 after Kagawa scare

* Asian champions survive early storm

* Japan lose Manchester United's Kagawa to injury before

kick-off

(Adds quotes and details)

SAITAMA, Japan, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Japan survived severe

early pressure from Zico's Iraq to beat them 1-0 at home on

Tuesday, taking a significant step towards qualifying for the

2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil.

Ryoichi Maeda steered in a point-blank header in the 25th

minute for the Asian champions, who lost playmaker Shinji Kagawa

to a back strain an hour before kick-off.

"It's three points, we'll take it," Japan coach Alberto

Zaccheroni told reporters. "It was an important result. We want

to qualify for Brazil as quickly as possible."

Iraq, shock Asian Cup winners in 2007 and now under the

stewardship of former Japan coach Zico, could have scored twice

before Maeda struck.

The Brazilian's young side came agonisingly close to

silencing the crowd of 60,000 in Saitama, both times having

close-range efforts blocked.

Those misses proved costly as a quickly-taken throw-in

released Shinji Okazaki, whose first-time cross was turned in by

Maeda.

"We practised that move," said Maeda. "Oka's pass was

perfect and I just had to get on the end of it. It was down to

him. We knew we had to win but we still have to improve."

A diving header from Keisuke Honda, brilliantly tipped

against the post by goalkeeper Noor Sabri, almost doubled

Japan's lead in the second half.

Japan opened up an eight-point lead in World Cup qualifying

Group B from Iraq, Australia and Oman, before Jordan hosted the

Socceroos later on Tuesday.

"We have the quality to cover the holes if we lose one or

two players," Japan captain Makoto Hasebe said of Kagawa's late

pullout, which will be of concern to Manchester United.

"The teamwork was excellent and we got the three points we

wanted but we can play better. We know there are some difficult

games away waiting for us."

Japan, who have played at every World Cup since first

appearing in 1998, have 10 points after four matches in the

final round of Asian qualifying.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/1-soccer-japan-beat-iraq-1-0-kagawa-132331764--sow.html

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