On Wednesday, Japan 's Yoshito Okubo scored early in the 54th minute to put Japan on the path to a 4-1 win over Thailand in its opening 2010 World Cup qualifier amid snowy conditions at Saitama Stadium. Thailand's sole goal came from Teerathep Winothai, who beat Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi on a long-range blast that went over the goalkeeper's grasp. Japan and Thailand in Group B along with Bahrain and Oman, with the winner and runner-up of each group to move on to the fourth round of Asian qualifying. Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra paid for the national team to train in England to acclimatize to wintry conditions, but even that camp could not prepare them for the frigid weather.
AP