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Japan's player Yosuke Kashiwagi, right, vies for the ball with an unidentified Saudi Arabian player during their AFC Asian Cup group B soccer match in Doha, Qatar, Monday Jan. 17, 2011. Saurabh Das, Associated Press
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Japan's player Shinji Okazaki, centre, scores as Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Al Shalhoub, left, and Kamil Al Mousa watch during their AFC Asian Cup group B soccer match in Doha, Qatar, Monday Jan. 17, 2011. Saurabh Das, Associated Press
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Japanese players celebrate after scoring a goal against Saudi Arabia during their AFC Asian Cup group B soccer match in Doha, Qatar, Monday Jan. 17, 2011. Saurabh Das, Associated Press
By Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar — After beating Gulf heavyweight Saudi Arabia, Japan will be looking to keep its high-powered offense rolling when it takes on host Qatar in the Asian Cup quarterfinals.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni says it will be a tricky encounter because Qatar is the host and will have the crowd on its side Friday as it attempts to reach the semifinals for the first time.

Qatar also wants a good result to show that its team — ranked only 105th in the FIFA world rankings — is making progress ahead of the 2022 World Cup it will host.

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