Asian Cup holders Japan beat Oman 3-0 on Sunday in the first match of the final Asian qualifying round for the 2014 World Cup.

Goals early in both halves gave the hosts a comfortable win at the Saitama stadium, with CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda (pictured) first on the scoresheet in the 12th minute, shooting into the right corner from a Yuto Nagatomo cross.

Two-time J-League top scorer Ryoichi Maeda scored via the left upright in the 51st minute, and he had another shot blocked three minutes later only for Stuttgart forward Shinji Okazaki to collect the rebound and make it 3-0.

"We were a bit tense at the beginning, but I wanted to win. I'm glad that we won," said Honda.

"I scored the goal as I planned to do. I think we relaxed with that goal."

Maeda, who plays for Jubilo Iwata, added: "We will have the next game very soon. I'm going to refresh and prepare for the game. As for my goal, I'm happy, because I missed a header shortly before. I want to score goals again."

Japan dominated throughout the 90 minutes, with Oman limited to a single shot on target through midfielder Fawzi Doorbeen at the end of the first half, and never able to create another clear scoring chance.

A total of 10 Asian countries are split into two groups of five for the continent's fourth qualifying round, with the group winners and runners-up earning places in Brazil, and the third-placed teams going into play-offs.

"It was our first game, so it was important to get off to a good start," said Japan's Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni.

"I think we can play well in the next two games. We were able to concentrate because of the support of so many people at the stadium."

Japan will play Jordan on Friday, with Australia and Iraq their other opponents in Group B.

*Image courtesy of AP.

Midfielder James Rodriguez currently with Porto scored the only goal as Colombia beat Peru 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Lima on Sunday to give José Pekerman a winning start as their coach.

Forward Dorlan Pabón flicked a through ball with the outside of his right foot past a defender to Rodríguez, who sidestepped goalkeeper Diego Penny in the box and shot left-footed into the net.

The custodian of club side Juan Aurich played a solid performance and denied constant threats by goalscorer Rodríguez, prolific forward partner Radamel Falcao and Dorlan Pabón.

The victory at the Estadio Nacional lifted Colombia into fifth place in the nine-nation South American group with seven points from four matches. They are three points behind leaders Argentina, who have played one more match.

Colombia, who have not reached the finals since 1998, appointed Argentine Pekerman after sacking Leonel Álvarez in November following a home defeat by Argentina.

For the home side, it was not to be Paolo Guerrero's day as he squandered a number of chances despite showing himself to be the most feared player on the park. His leadership was on show and led Peru to fight the challenge at stake.

World Cup qualifying action so far has been disappointing for Sergio Markarián's team following a successful Copa América run in Argentina last year finishing third.

Peru, whose coach Sergio Markarián was deprived of half a dozen players through injury, are one from bottom with three points from four matches.

The Peruvians had the better of the first half but were denied by some good goalkeeping from OS Nice's David Ospina. Forwards Claudio Pizarro was left out due to injury and Jefferson Farfán was a late substitute and made little impact.

"We lost to rivals of such class that they knew how to play for time and the referee (Argentine Nestor Pitana) gave them all the time they wanted," Uruguayan-born Markarián complained.

"The team did what they could and if they couldn't do more it was because we had too many limitations," he told reporters.

Peru have not beaten Colombia at home since the preliminaries for the 1982 World Cup, which was the last the Peruvians qualified for.

They face Uruguay in Montevideo next weekend when Colombia are away to Ecuador in Quito.

Giovani Dos Santos and Javier ''Chicharito'' Hernández each scored a first-half goal as Mexico beat Brazil 2-0 on Sunday in a final tune-up for the Mexicans before World Cup qualifying play.

It was the second straight game in which Mexico's top two forwards each scored a goal, indicating the Mexican attack is in top form at the right time. Mexico plays Guyana on Friday to open the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region.

''This game served us well in our plans for qualifying,'' Mexico coach José Manuel de la Torre said through a translator. ''We killed two birds with one stone in beating a strong opponent and preparing ourselves for qualifying.''

Dos Santos opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on an unlikely conversion from a difficult angle near the sideline. The Tottenham forward chipped the ball from the left side of the box into the upper corner of the right side, beating goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, who was making his second start for Brazil.

Brazil coach Mano Menezes dismissed the shot as a ''fortunate'' strike.

''Giovani was crossing it into the box and scored,'' Menezes said.

Ten minutes later, Dos Santos again was in the middle of the action. Brazilian defender Juan Jesús took him down inside the box, a clumsy foul because Dos Santos' back was to the goal. On the penalty kick, Cabral guessed correctly, but Hernández's strike found the net.

Brazil fielded a young squad of mostly under-23 players in preparation for the upcoming Olympics in London. This particular roster was in just its third game together and found itself trailing for the first time.

''In the first half, we needed more calm,'' Menezes said. ''When it was 0-0, we needed to slow down and show more patience. But this is normal with young players.''

Alejandro Sabella appears to have finally figured out his Argentina selection dilemmas. Argentina is synonymous to pressure but shaved it off with a clinical display steamrolling Ecuador 4-0 at home in Buenos Aires, on Saturday night local time.

Lionel Messi finally found space and had teammates making the right runs off the ball in the romp, and he was the clear man of the match.

Sergio Agüero scored the opening goal 20 minutes to get things started. A through ball by Ángel Di María, and from there Ecuador fell apart. Messi set up Gonzálo Higuaín for his team's second goal in the 30th minute, then combined with Higuain on a goal of his own less than two minutes later to make it 3-0 on the night heading into halftime.

Argentina slowed down a bit in the second half and sat on their 3-0 lead, but Ecuador lifted its game in the second half with changes particularly with Jefferson Montero adding more danger and depth to a shaky Argentina defence.

Di María found himself another goal with an absolute beauty. A cleanly timed volley from the edge of the box past Alexander Domínguez, after a Lionel Messi dribble that couldn't find its way past the defenders helping Argentina to equal their previous high goal tally in World Cup qualifying.

Messi and Di María played similar creative roles between the holding midfielders and strikers and both had absolutely excellent games. Ecuador's midfield offered very little and it was disappointing to see coach Reinaldo Rueda speculating.

Jefferson Montero should have surely been selected from the start for Ecuador to have shown its true potential at the Monumental stadium.

Critics are still left wondering why introducing a true defensive midfielder in place of one of their forwards at home. Messi and Di María were often unopposed and free when they came into the middle, allowing them to set up countless scoring chances.

The colourful local fans showed delight with the Albiceleste now top of the qualifying table on points, though they have played one more game than Uruguay. They're sitting out the next round of qualifying matches coming up mid-week.