Holders Japan beat Oceania club champions Auckland City 2-0 while three-times winners Iran edged old foes Iraq 1-0 as half of the Asian Cup finalists played final friendly matches yesterday before next week’s kick-off in Australia.

Japan coach Javier Aguirre fielded a strong side for the fixture in Newcastle.

Japan begin the defense of their title on January 12 against Palestine, with further Group D matches against Jordan and Iraq to come.

Iraq are short on victories and their confidence would not have been helped by a 1-0 loss to Iran yesterday.

The Lions of Mesopotamia fell 1-0 behind to an experimental Iranian side in the 55th minute.

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Iran will take on Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in an all West Asian Group C.

Elsewhere, South Korea recorded a 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia to boost their confidence ahead of Group A challenges against Kuwait, Oman and the hosts.

The Saudis were thumped 4-1 by Bahrain on Tuesday and look ill prepared ahead of Saturday’s Group B opener against China and follow up clashes with North Korea and Uzbekistan.

REUTERS