Yoshida rides the storm for Japan

Japan's Shinji Okazaki (left) challenges North Korea's Chong Tese (Reuters)

Japan squeezed past North Korea 1-0 yesterday with a dramatic injury-time winner in a politically charged World Cup qualifier spared the full fury of a powerful approaching typhoon.

Defender Maya Yoshida rose to head home four minutes into stoppage time in rain-lashed Saitama in their opening match in the third round of regional 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

"North Korea made us work hard but it was a terrific victory," the Japan coach, Alberto Zaccheroni, said after the home win. "The players battled until the end against a great wall North Korea put in front of us. They deserve credit for the way they kept hammering away. Our patience paid off."

North Korea were unfortunate to have their striker Pak Kwang-ryong sent off seven minutes from time for a studs-up tackle on Yasuhito Endo and the dismissal triggered a late Japanese onslaught.

"It wasn't the prettiest of wins," said the Japan captain, Makoto Hasebe. "I hope we'll give the fans a bit more fun in the next games but there are no easy World Cup qualifiers."

Japan's matches with North Korea have frequently been played against a backdrop of political tension relating to the Second World War, North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the kidnapping of Japanese citizens.

The Blue Samurai, unbeaten in 12 games since Italian Zaccheroni took charge last October, have also been drawn alongside Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in Group C.