Sports: Japan beat N.Korea in East Asian Games

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HONG KONG, Dec 2, 2009 (AFP) - Japan squeezed past North Korea on Wednesday in group A of the football at the 2009 East Asian Games in Hong Kong, beginning their campaign for a gold medal with a 2-1 victory.

Daisuke Suzuki and striker Shohei Otsuka scored one in each half for the Japanese, who are strongly fancied to do well at the Games in the football competition.

Choe Chol-Man netted for North Korea in what was the first football match played at the East Asian Games, which officially begin on Saturday and run to December 13.

The other team in group A is Macau, whom North Korea play on Friday. Japan take on Macau on Monday, with the top two in the group going through to the semi-finals.