Confederations Cup - Japan 1 Australia 0

Any doubts that monsoon conditions could disrupt next year's World Cup finals were compounded as Japan beat Australia in dreadful conditions in Yokohama.

The 1-0 win courtesy of Hidetoshi Nakata's free kick goal in the 43rd minute put Japan into the Confederations Cup final on Sunday but the scenes of rainy season weather in Japan will be watched keenly by European and South American coaches.

Nakata won the match with a low right footed drive that was allowed through the defensive wall by the Australians and off defender Kevin Muscat who was stationed on the goal line.

Australia had dominated the first half and went on the attack throughout the second half and David Zdrlic was on the end of a neat passing move to send in a great cross in the 52nd minute which passed over the face of goal and eluded his team mates who did not read his intentions..

Japan retreated into defence but their outlet was removed in the 55th minute when Perugia transfer target Takayuki Suzuki was red carded for an elbow off-the-ball on defender Tony Popovic.

Earlier Suzuki had jumped onto the back of Popovic and seemed to punch him in a wild and high tackle which went unpunished but his loss did not damage Japan and they had the better chances to score as the game wore on.

Nakata got a 63rd minute shot on the run on target and then raced through in the 77th minute only to lift his chip over goalkeeper Mark Schwartzer and past the goal post. Hiraoki Morishima blasted over a great chance to score in the 82nd minute and the substitute also missed with a header with only Schwartzer to beat from close range.

Craig Moore was sent off for a sliding challenge on Junichi Inamoto which was mistimed in the 87th minute and he was punished by Mexican referee Benito Archundia Tellez after a booking three minutes earlier.

Australia had the best chances in the first half when driving rain made visibility difficult.

Passes went amiss and players found it hard to stand up in the rain but Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi saved well from a shot on the run by Steve Corica after he had weaved and stepped past three defenders

Corica then set up Stan Lazaridis with a cross but his header went just wide of the post with Kawaguchi beaten.