UPDATE 1-Soccer-Japan held 1-1 by Venezuela in Sapporo

* Venezuela hit back after early blow

* Kagawa fluffs his lines after big move

(Adds quotes)

TOKYO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Asian soccer champions Japan were

held 1-1 by Venezuela on Wednesday in the first of two warm-up

matches before the resumption of the final round of regional

World Cup qualifiers.

Yasuhito Endo put the Blue Samurai in front in the 14th

minute at a sellout Sapporo Dome, sweeping home after a dazzling

run down the right from Yuichi Komano.

Spain-based striker Miku pegged Japan back, twisting while

on the ground to deftly poke the loose ball past goalkeeper Eiji

Kawashima with the outside of his right boot.

"First half, (we) got early goal but should have capitalised

on that, taken more chances," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni

told reporters.

"In the second half we created a few chances but I thought

our pace dropped off a bit."

Keisuke Honda, sporting a new-look blond mohican haircut,

could have put Japan 2-0 up well before the halftime whistle,

only for his left-foot drive to thump off the post.

Manchester United's pre-season signing Shinji Kagawa flashed

a header just past the post on the hour mark. It proved costly

as Miku struck moments later.

Kagawa also contrived to miss an open goal in the 75th

minute, his shot looping up against the crossbar with the goal

at his mercy.

"We were at home and had lots of chances to score so I feel

deeply sorry we didn't manage to win," said Kagawa. "It's really

disappointing. We'll put it right for the World Cup qualifiers."

Honda praised Venezuela, who finished fourth at last year's

Copa America.

"They're a tough side," said a bare-chested Honda. "They put

us under a lot of pressure and didn't let us play our game. We

will have to increase our work rate."

Japan meet the United Arab Emirates early next month in

their final tune-up for a World Cup qualifier against Iraq on

Sept. 11.

They overpowered Oman 3-0 and Jordan 6-0 at home before

being held 1-1 in Australia in June in their first three games

in the final round of Asian 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer; Editing by Clare Fallon)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/1-soccer-japan-held-1-1-venezuela-sapporo-130620780--sow.html

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