HANOI - Japan striker Naohiro Takahara was a happy man after helping his side beat the United Arab Emirates 3-1 in the AFC Asian Cup.

Takahara scored twice while Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura converted a penalty as the defending champions overcame the hot and humid conditions at My Dinh National Stadium to send the Gulf Cup champions crashing out of the tournament.

"I’m pleased with the win,” said Takahara. “I was hoping to grab a win so that we would find our rhythm.

"Getting this good result can help encourage us to play better in the coming game. In a tournament like this, the more you win the stronger you get.”

The Eintracht Frankfurt striker found the net in the 22nd minute and the 27th minute and he admitted he just aims to be in the right place at the right time.

"I always try to be in the position where I can score when we get a chance. That’s important to me,” said Takahara. “The United Arab Emirates didn’t play too defensively against us and I was looking for a space to move in [for scoring].”

Japan had to win the game in order to keep their hopes of going for their fourth overall Asian Cup title well alive after being held to a 1-1 draw by Qatar in their opening Group B match on Monday.

Japan and Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo said he and his teammates were determined to do well before going into Friday’s game.

“Everyone was up for the game from the very start,” said Endo. “The win has given us more confidence.”

But Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi didn’t forget to point out what has to be fixed ahead of their next game against Vietnam.

With a win there, Japan can win the group and with it a place in the quarter-finals.

“We should review the fact that we gave up one goal when we had more players than the opponents,” the three-time World Cup player Kawaguchi said.

Takahara, who motioned to the bench for substitution and was consequently taken off in the 67th minute, admitted that he was feeling sick during the game after he had got little sleep the night before.

“I thought that it would be better for our team to play with a fresh player,” said Takahara. “But I will be ready for the next game. I have no intention to sit out.”