Japan too strong for plucky Socceroos Japan 2 Australia 1 Japan beat spirited Socceroos Japan dominates the second half, beating a promising Socceroos squad 2-1 in Osaka. Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou is determined that his team should reflect what might be deemed the traditional Australian virtues of toughness, commitment, hard work, energy and pride in the shirt, allied to as much flair and technical quality as they can muster. It worked for an hour against a slick, quick, skilful Japanese side as the Australians stayed in the game and, on occasion, in the first half threatened to cause an upset in a match that Postecoglou had billed as a real test for his refashioned squad after a series of post World Cup performances that had left something to be desired. But one moment of dreadful defending and a second of individual brilliance allowed Japan to score twice in a seven minute period just after the hour mark, and with it assume control of the match. Yasuyuki Konno (left) heads Japan's opening goal. Tim Cahill came off the bench in the second half and, in trademark fashion, powered home a stoppage time header to close the gap, but in reality it was little more than a consolation for the visitors. Still, while the end result was a disappointment there was something for Postecoglou to take out of a composed first half performance although, Cahill's goal aside, there was not much to celebrate. In the opening 45 minutes Australia gave as good as they got in a furious and thoroughly entertaining encounter as two of the heavyweights of Asian football went at each other in a fashion that belied the notion that this was a friendly match. The loud and passionate capacity crowd at the Nagai Stadium, home of Cerezo Osaka, reinforced the fact that while nothing might have been at stake, this was a game Japanese fans certainly wanted to win. Tim Cahill celebrates after scoring a consolation goal late in the game. With the Asian Cup, which Australia hosts and Japan defends, barely six weeks away, how might it have been otherwise. Both teams are in something of a rebuilding phase, although new Japan coach Javier Aguirre relied more on his tried and tested talents in this game than Postecoglou. For the Blue Samurai ex Manchester United man Shinji Kagawa was partnered in midfield alongside AC Milan's Keisuke Honda, while the Australian coach opted to leave on the bench his two star players, Mark Bresciano and Cahill. Both sides were anxious to make a statement in this game: Japan to show that it would be worthy of the favourites tag when it kicks off its defence of the continental crown in January, while Australia's collection of newcomers and those growing in international confidence were keen to show that they would not be daunted by taking on such quality opposition on its own turf. Postecoglou had said beforehand that he purposely chose such a tough fixture as a last warm up because he wanted to evaluate the strength of his emerging brigade and convince any youngsters in his playing group that international football asks severe, sometimes more demanding questions than does its club equivalent. The Socceroos showed their intent right from the start when James Troisi, who these days plays his club football in Belgium, fired a shot wide from the left after Aziz Behich had played him through. Like a boxer stung by an early blow, Japan retaliated quickly, Shinji Okazaki being thwarted by an Alex Wilkinson intercept shortly afterwards. Mathew Leckie, one of a front three (Troisi and Robbie Kruse were the other two) which rotated constantly throughout the opening period, then had a shot deflected for a corner and followed up with a header over the bar. Undaunted, Japan launched a swift counter down the right but Behich did well to block Gotoku Sakai's driven cross. Japanese fans began a swelling roar which eventually died in their throats in the 16th minute when, after another speedy break Okazaki beat Mat Ryan with a header that crashed off the bar. It would not have counted as the flag was raised for offside, but it was the closest the first half probably came to a goal. A minute later the small contingent of Socceroos supporters were on their feet when Leckie powered a header toward goal, producing an acrobatic diving save by Eiji Kawashima. Japan nearly made the breakthrough after a wonderful reverse pass from Honda found Kagawa in space in the Australian penalty area. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder drove for the byline and cut back a pass which the Socceroos rearguard scrambled away to safety. Massimo Luongo, a busy presence in midfield, had burst into the Japanese area for a shot Kawashima dealt with earlier in the half, and he tried again with a long range effort shortly before the break which did not trouble the keeper. Aguirre made on change at the break, taking off veteran midfielder Yasuhito Endo and introducing locally based Yasuyuki Konno, who plays his club football for Gamba Osaka, Cerezo's city rivals. Konno almost made an immediate impact with a shot that Ryan did well to parry away as Japan began the second half at a rapid tempo as they sought to establish their superiority. Again Ryan was called into action shortly after when he made a fine save to deny another Okazaki effort from close range as the ball swung in and around the Socceroos penalty area. Takashi Inui, another second-half substitute, spurned a good opportunity when he headed over just before the hour mark as Japan, who were now on top, looked to make good their territorial advantage. And they did so in the 61st minute through Konno in a fashion the Australian coaching staff will be furious with. Honda's corner eluded a packed penalty area and the substitute was left completely alone at the far post to head past Ryan, who could do little in the circumstances. Postecoglou made an immediate change, bringing on Mitch Nichols for Luongo and Bresciano for Troisi as the Australian coach looked to inject fresh legs and ideas in the search for a leveller. The hosts then produced another opportunity for Inui, but the German-based forward could only shoot wide as Japan looked to put the game beyond the visitors reach. They did shortly afterwards when Australia failed to deal with full back Morishige Masato's driving run into the penalty area and Okazaki, with a sweet back heel, completely wrong footed his markers and Ryan to hook the ball home in the 68th minute from the defender's cross. It could have been three as the clock ticked into stoppage time but for Ryan's good diving save to deny another substitute in Yohei Toyoda. Australia's sub - who else but Cahill - did not miss his chance when it came.