Japan lift Kirin Cup after bad-tempered draw

SAITAMA, Japan, June 5 (Reuters) Japan were held to a 0-0 draw by Colombia in a bad-tempered match today although the result was good enough to win the three-nation Kirin Cup.

It also gave Bosnian Ivica Osim his first trophy since taking over as Japan coach after their meek exit from the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Japan, who will be bidding for a third straight Asian Cup title next month, won the tournament on goal difference after a 2-0 victory over Montenegro in last Friday's opening game.

Colombia, who beat Montenegro 1-0 on Sunday, gave Japan several scares in the first half before running out of steam as the game wore on in Saitama.

''We played some reckless football in the first half,'' Osim told reporters. ''Colombia looked dangerous but in the second half we could have won if we'd shown a bit more composure.''.

NAKAMURA ERROR Playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura, returning from an ankle injury, almost gifted Colombia the lead in the 16th minute when he lost possession on the edge of the box but striker Edixon Perea fired wide.

Midfielder Vladimir Marin then shaved the bar with a ferocious left-foot drive from 25 metres three minutes later as the visitors continued to press.

Striker Naohiro Takahara, upset at several clattering challenges from behind, was involved in a furious row with two Colombia defenders at the halftime whistle.

The feud continued to simmer and five minutes into the second half defender Fabian Vargas was lucky to escape with a yellow card after flattening Takahara with an elbow to the jaw.

The home side should have gone in front on the hour but midfielder Kengo Nakamura was guilty of a glaring miss, blazing wastefully over after a sweeping Japan move.

Takahara missed with a point-blank header a minute from time as Japan failed to finish off their exhausted opponents.

''We don't get the chance to play this kind of opponent often,'' said Takahara, clutching an ice pack to his face. ''It was a good experience but I was annoyed at missing that header.'' Japan, who won the Asian Cup in 2000 and 2004, begin their challenge for another continental title in Hanoi next month.

REUTERS TB KN1924