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Japan off to first ever World Cup finals
JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia (AP) -- Japan qualified for its first ever World Cup finals by beating Iran 3-2 in the Asian Zone playoff Sunday.Japan's victory, enabling it to join the 32-team finals in France next June, was made possible by substitute Masayuki Okano when he scored the winning goal in the 118th minute during sudden-death extra-time.
The 2002 World Cup co-host with South Korea, Japan became the third Asian nation to qualify.
Masayuki, who came in for Tsuyoshi Kitazawa in the 66th minute, scored the winner after Hidetoshi Nakata's shot was parried off by Iranian goalkeeper Ahmad Abedzadeh in the 28th minute of extra time.
Iran still has one more chance to qualify for France with a home-and-away match against Oceania champions Australia on Nov. 22 and Nov. 29.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan