Narazaki dashes off his line to deny Pimenov. (Allsport)

By Dave Tindall

Final score: Japan 1 Russia 0

Man of the Match: Junichi Inamoto. The Arsenal man not only grabbed the winning goal but also made a number of vital defensive blocks and interceptions.

90 min: It's full time and Japan have registered their first ever win in the World Cup.

90 min: Nakayama is yellow-carded as the sign goes up for two minutes of stoppage time.

89 min: Another long-range Russian shot misses the target - this time it's Khokhlov who wastes the opportunity.

88 min: Japan win a free-kick to ease the pressure. Yanagisawa accelerates into the Russian box but loses the ball.

86 min: The one-way traffic continues as the game enters the final few minutes.

85 min: Inamoto is replaced by Takashi Fukunishi.

84 min: Sychev turns sharply on the edge of the box but luckily for Japan his shot is straight at the goalkeeper. Russia try again from distance but Titov wastes yet another chance.

83 min: Japan are now within touching distance of their first ever win in the World Cup finals.

82 min: Nikiforov skews a shot high and wide after Japan clear a free-kick.

80 min: Japan spring the offside trap but Toda's ball in is too near the goalkeeper. Russia break down the other end and again Inamoto does superbly well to clear.

79 min: Semshov's shot is blocked as Russia press again.

78 min: Japan are on the back foot now as Russia press for an equaliser and Miyamoto does well to charge down a shot. Russia win a corner and after the initial danger is cleared Titov shoots well over.

77 min: Khokhlov works space for a shot and fires a powerful effort towards goal but Narazaki is right behind it.

76 min: Japan again show their spirit by robbing Titov as he tries to launch an attack.

75 min: Japan make another switch, bringing on Toshihiro Hattori for Ono.

73 min: The excellent Inamoto does superbly to block a cross into the area.

72 min: Japan make a substitution as Masashi Nakayama comes on for Suzuki. The hosts win a corner but can't make anything of it.

71 min: Japan carve their way through the Russian midfield and Hidetoshi Nakata's right-foot piledriver cannons off the Russian crossbar. He's so unlucky.

69 min: Ono plays a clever ball through to Suzuki but he can't quite take it and Russia clear.

68 min: Sychev fires towards goal from 30 yards out but again the goalkeeper saves. It looks as if one of these long-range shots will have to go in if Russia are to pull level.

66 min: Yanagisawa runs powerfully at the Russian defence but last man Onopko just manages to stick a leg out as he tries to cut inside. Japan win it back and Suzuki fires over although he's flagged for offside.

65 min: Russia almost release Semshov down the left but there's too much pace on the ball and it goes for a Japanese throw.

64 min: Inamoto releases Yanagisawa down the left but Russia clear the danger. Japan continue to look lively.

62 min: Russian substitute Sychev shoots from distance but it's wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

61 min: Yanagisawa takes Hidetoshi Nakata's cross on his chest, cuts inside and fires over from a great position.

60 min: Hidetoshi Nakata takes the free-kick but his shot curls high and wide.

59 min: Inamoto is brought down on the edge of the area by Nikiforov who is yellow carded.

58 min: Beschastnykh has a golden chance to make a dramatic impact but after rounding the goalkeeper he doesn't get his foot round the ball enough and can only fire into the side netting. The Russian bench can't believe it.

57 min: Russia make another substitution as they bring on Vladimir Beschastnykh, their top scorer in qualifying. Midfielder Smertin is the man to make way. Russia have used all three substitutes now.

56 min: Titov tries his luck again from distance but scuffs his shot well wide.

55 min: Ono pushes forward but takes too many touches on the edge of the Russian area and is blocked before he can get a shot off.

54 min: Titov launches a left-foot shot from range but it's easy for the goalkeeper.

53 min: Matsuda's buccaneering run forward is halted illegally and Japan win a free-kick but they can't profit from it.

52 min: Russia make an immediate substitution with Izmailov being replaced by Dmitri Khokhlov.

51 min: GOAL - INAMOTO. Japan take the lead! Toda pays the ball in, Yanagisawa plays a lovely cushioned ball to Inamoto and the Arsenal man shoots high into the net to register his second goal of the tournament.

50 min: This time Russia break but Izmailov plays a poor pass when in a good position.

48 min: Japan break and Hidetoshi Nakata bursts down the right before swinging in a left-foot cross but the goalkeeper is there to meet the ball.

47 min: Danger for Japan as Karpin cuts the ball back and Izmailov can't quite turn it into the net. Russia win a corner but Narazaki makes a clean catch.

46 min: Japan launch the ball forward from the kick-off but it's behind for a goal-kick.

46 min: Russia start the second half with Dmitry Sychev on for Pimenov.

45 min: The half-time whistle goes. It's been a busy, energetic first 45 minutes but with few clear chances.

45 min: There will be two minutes of added time.

45 min: Hesistation in the Japan defence as Smertin rolls the ball into the box but the goalkeeper comes off his line to sort things out.

44 min: Hidetoshi Nakata tries an ambitious through ball but the Russian defence make the interception.

43 min: Valeri Karpin, quiet so far, launches a forward ball but the goalkeeper intercepts.

41 min: Koji Nakata is booked for a tackle from behind.

39 min: Solomatin gets behind the Japan defence after a neat one-two and his cut-back is scrambled behind for a corner. Kazuyuki Toda is pulling back Semshov but there's no penalty given. The corner is cleared but Solomatin volleys over.

38 min: Andrei Solomatin is the third player booked after a late challenge on Yanagisawa. Again the Japanese can't profit from the free-kick after they're penalised for pushing in the area.

37 min: Suzuki wins another free-kick after being held back by Yuri Kovtun. Hidetoshi Nakata swings it in but the goalkeeper punches clear. The ball is lofted in again and this time Inamoto heads wide.

36 min: Ono goals for goal but arcs the ball well over the crossbar.

35 min: Suzuki wins a free-kick just outside the area after being eased off the ball.

34 min: Takayuki Suzuki wins a free-kick for Japan in the Russian half. After more quick passing, Hidetoshi Nakata's cross is eventually hacked clear.

32 min: Titov's reverse ball almost plays in Pimenov but Seigo Narazaki is quick off his line to deny the Russian forward. The Japan goalkeeper gets a kick for his troubles but is okay to carry on.

31 min: Russia try to break but Japan win the ball back. It's the hosts who continue to enjoy the bulk of possession.

29 min: More good interplay between the Japanese midfielders but the experienced Onopko cuts out the danger.

28 min: A great chance for Japan. Nigmatullin can only parry the left-wing cross back into the middle of the penalty area but Hidetoshi Nakata fires over.

27 min: Inamoto runs at the Russian defence but is crowded out on the edge of the area.

26 min: Shemshov is flagged for offside as he tries to latch onto a long diagonal ball.

24 min: Japan continue to spread the play well but just can't find the right final ball at the moment.

23 min: Japan pass the ball well through midfield and after a cross is headed down on the edge of the box Hidetoshi Nakata blazes over.

21 min: Viktor Onopko does well to deny Atsushi Yanagisawa as he tries to break into the box.

19 min: Igor Semshov makes ground down the left but slips as he prepares to cross and Japan win back possession.

17 min: From the resulting free-kick Yuri Nikiforov blasts his shot well over.

16 min: Another yellow card as Miyamoto is penalised for holding.

16 min: Izmailov turns sharply and curls a fantastic shot back across goal which is just inches wide of the Japanese post.

15 min: Neat passing from Russia but Inamoto gets back to snub out the danger.

13 min: The first booking of the game as Pimenov is yellow carded for scything down Matsuda.

12 min: The game continues to flow with Japan looking threatening.

11 min: Alexei Smertin works room for a left-foot shot but he slices the ball well wide.

10 min: Inamoto swings a great ball out to the right wing where Tomokazu Myojin cuts inside but is tackled.

9 min: Japan launch a long ball into the box which has the crowd screaming but it's comfortably headed clear.

8 min: Egor Titov plays the ball into the box but Japan win a free-kick as the masked Tsuneyasu Miyamoto is fouled by Ruslan Pimenov.

7 min: Shinji Ono swings in the free-kick and Inamoto just fails to get his head to the ball.

6 min: Hidetoshi Nakata is brought down just to the right of the Russian area to give Japan a free-kick in a promising position.

5 min: It's been an open start to the game.

4 min: Junichi Inamoto, the star for Japan in their opening game, surges forward from midfield and launches a fierce right-foot shot which flies wide.

3 min: Naoki Matsuda has his clearance charged down by Marat Izmailov but the ball runs out and the danger is averted.

2 min: Japan win an early free-kick and launch the ball long but it's headed back to the Russian goalkeeper Rouslan Nigmatullin.

1 min: Russia get the game under way in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Yokohama. Immediately the Japanese snap in as Russia try to play the ball forward from the kick-off.

Pre-match: Sunday's action moves to Group H where co-hosts Japan take on Russia. Japan drew 2-2 with Belgium in their opening game while Russia already have three points in the bag after beating Tunisia.