Japan upset a full-strength Argentina side 1-0 Friday in a historic friendly win that crowned the coaching debut of former AC Milan boss Alberto Zaccheroni. Shimizu S-Pulse striker Shinji Okazaki scored the winner in the 19th minute while the Blue Samurai stopped several scoring attempts by Barcelona star Lionel Messi. Messi's 25-metre free kick in stoppage time banged off a Japanese wall and a sold-out crowd of more than 60,000 At the Saitama Stadium roared in joy at the final whistle.
It was the first win for the Blue Samurai in seven international matches against Argentina. The result ended Argentina caretaker coach Sergio Batista's 100 percent record since he took over from Diego Maradona after the South Americans crumbled to Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals. Batista's squad beat Ireland 1-0 away on August 12 and crushed world champions Spain 4-1 at home on September 7, but came unstuck against a committed Japanese side.
"I feel very happy. My debut match turned out to be such an important event," said the 57-year-old Italian Zaccheroni, who has managed six Serie-A teams. "I told my players in the bench before the match that if you work hard it will produce a result." Japan, who reached the last-16 in South Africa for their best World Cup finish on foreign soil, fielded seven European-based players.