Igor Semshov tackles Tomokazu Myojin (Allsport)

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Yokohama

The player who is barely known to Arsenal supporters brought Japan to a virtual standstill as the World Cup finally caught fire in this part of the Far East.

Junichi Inamoto became more than just a hero to an adoring public as he turned a dream into reality for the millions of Japanese who have waited years for such a dramatic moment.

Co-hosts Japan now remarkably stand on the verge of a place in the knock-out stages courtesy of their debut World Cup victory handed to them by Inamoto's superb 51st-minute strike.

In a country renowned for its earthquakes, Inamoto's second goal of the tournament will have sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the game as Group H favourites Russia became the latest big-name scalp to be defeated by one of world football's 'minnows'.

Inamoto faces an uncertain future at Highbury after being left in the Gunners reserves throughout last season following his high-profile move from Gamba Osaka last summer.

A four-year contract is apparently his to sign and, after watching his displays in this competition to date, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be keen to get the 22-year-old to put pen to paper upon his return to north London.

Although PSV Eindhoven have already been linked with Inamoto, it is certain a whole host of top European clubs will now be eager for his services after following up his goal in the opening 2-2 draw against Belgium with a historic strike against Russia.

What's more, Inamoto showcased his talents on the biggest of Japan's World Cup stages, the 72,000-capacity International Stadium Yokohama, venue for the final on June 30.

The passion and enthusiasm generated inside the ground, lacking at so many other matches in this tournament, was intense and deafening, none more so than when Inamoto found the net and again at the whistle as the supporters celebrated as if they had won the World Cup itself.

A tepid first-half had produced few incidents of note, yet the frenzied supporters cheered every tackle and savoured every attack, with the best resulting in Hidetoshi Nakata's 15-yard drive just clearing the bar.

Five minutes from the break, Russia should have had the chance to take the lead as Kazuyuki Toda quite blatantly hauled down Igor Semshov in the area as he tried to latch onto a bye-line ball from Andrei Solomatin. But German referee Markus Merk failed to the spot the incident.

But the opening half was soon forgotten just six minutes into the second period when Koji Nakata's ball into the heart of the Russian penalty area from wide on the left was touched on by Atsushi Yanagisawa for a just-onside Inamoto.

Despite just two Champions League and Worthington Cup appearances to his credit last season, Inamoto showed Wenger just what he is capable of by despatching a first-time right-foot shot beyond goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatullin.

Even Japan's Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, was on hand to cheer the goal which ultimately proved the winner as Vladimir Bestchastnykh missed a sitter for Russia who now face a battle to qualify for the next round.

Only Tunisia stand between Japan and their place in the last 16, with Inamoto certain to be given a rapturous reception as he returns to Osaka for the first time as a player since his departure almost a year ago.

Teams

Japan: Narazaki, Miyamoto, Matsuda, Koji Nakata, Myojin, Inamoto (Fukunishi 85), Toda, Ono (Hattori 75), Hidetoshi Nakata, Yanagisawa, Suzuki (Nakayama 72).

Subs Not Used: Alex, Ichikawa, Kawaguchi, Miura, Morioka, Morishima, Nishizawa, Ogasawara, Sogahata.

Booked: Miyamoto, Koji Nakata, Nakayama.

Goals: Inamoto 51.

Russia: Nigmatullin, Kovtun, Nikiforov, Onopko, Solomatin, Karpin, Smertin (Beschastnykh 57), Izmailov (Khokhlov 52), Semshov, Titov, Pimenov (Sychev 46).

Subs Not Used: Alenichev, Cherchesov, Chugainov, Daev, Filimonov, Kerzhakov, Mostovoi, Semak, Sennikov.

Booked: Pimenov, Solomatin, Nikiforov.

Att: 66,108

Ref: M Merk (Germany).