Asian Cup: India routed 0-6 by Japan

Singapore: Defending Asian champions Japan fired a warning shot to their rivals on Wednesday with an impressive 6-0 rout of India, but 2004 runner-up China had to battle against the Palestinian territories.

In their opening Group-A qualifying game for the 2007 Asian Cup finals, Japan proved why they are going to the World Cup finals and China are not.

Zico's charges were in irresistible form against the Indians, who put up a game fight in the first half, but collapsed under sustained pressure in the second.

The opening goal came from former Feyenoord midfielder Shinji Ono in the 32nd minute, handing Zico the 100th goal since he took charge following Japan's successful 2002 World Cup campaign. Ono also scored the first goal of the Zico era.

Japan made it 2-0 when Makoto Hasebe's shot was helped over the line by Seiichiro Maki in the 58th minute and Takashi Fukunishi put the game beyond any doubt when he converted from an Alessandro Santos corner in the 68th minute.

The lopsided affair saw Tatsuhiko Kubo make it 4-0 11 minutes later with substitute Hisato Sato and another from Kubo sealing the rout.

"We were a bit stiff in the first half but were able to build momentum after the break and everyone battled really well today," said Zico.

"It was our first match and I'm glad that we got off to a winning start and gained three points."

In contrast China, who reached the final in Beijing in 2004 only to lose to Japan 3-1 in a bad tempered match, made a meal out of the Palestinians in their Group E encounter.

Du Wei scored in the 23rd minute and Li Weifeng made it 2-0 in the second half, but it was a far from convincing display against a side ranked 63 places below them.

The recent form of the Palestinians should have rung warning bells - last week they beat 2004 semi-finalists Bahrain 2-0 and followed it up with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Pakistan.

In Tashkent, Uzbekistan thrashed Bangladesh 5-0 in a Group F clash, giving new coach Valeri Nepomniatchi, who took over last month, a winning start to his reign.