Japan moved to the top of Group E in the Asian World Cup qualifying section, unseating Syria with a confident 3-0 victory in Muscat.
Vahid Halilhodzic's were frustrated during a goalless first-half but Keisuke Honda broke the deadlock with a 55th minute penalty.
Substitute Takashi Usami completed the scoring two minutes from time as Japan moved on to 10 point – one better off than their game opponents.
Syria began with a confidence befitting of group leaders and Japan's Inter defender Yuto Nagatomo was forced into a pair of important clearances.
Japan began to establish control of possession by midway through the first half and Nagatomo made sure his presence was felt in the other half of the field – breaking down the left and crossing for Okazaki to send a deflected header wide.
Okazaki enjoyed Japan's best opening of the first half in the 26th minute but dragged a miss-hit shot wide of the far post before Syria's Mahmoud Al Mawas launched an audacious 40-yard attempt.
An acrobatic header from Syria defender Ahmad Alsalih prevented Okazaki from opening the scoring but Japan's pressure eventually told 10 minutes into the second half.
Syria visibly tired in the closing stages and there was a picture-book third for Japan – Honda's audacious backheel setting up Usami to fire home and seal the points.
