Japan coach gives Keisuke Honda the thumbs up as AC Milan playmaker powers Japan to dream win against Honduras

• e-mail

Japan coach Javier Aguirre picked out Keisuke Honda for special praise after the playmaker underlined his worth to the team with a goal and two assists in the Asian champions' 6-0 thrashing of Honduras in a friendly.

Maya Yoshida, Yasuhito Endo and substitutes Takashi Inui, who scored a brace, and Yohei Toyoda were the other scorers on Friday night as Japan got a boost of confidence ahead of January's Asian Cup in Australia.

'He's very motivated,' the Mexican coach was quoted as saying by Japan's Kyodo news agency. 'I think he's started to realise that (out) of all our players who play abroad, he is the most important.'

Javier Aguirre noted that out of all Japan players who play abroad, Keisuke Honda is the 'most important'

The Blue Samurai playmaker was on brilliant form against the Hondurans, scoring once and assisting two 

'(Shinji) Kagawa is also very important, but Honda is the bar of our team. I've been working with him for three months now, and I know what he's thinking just by making eye contact.'

The win was welcome relief for the home crowd after Japan lost 4-0 in a friendly against Brazil in Singapore last month.

Honda scored Japan's second goal after latching on to a clearance from midfield and placing the ball deftly past the goalkeeper. He then set up Endo and Inui for the third and fourth goals with defence-splitting passes.

'We started the game really well,' Honda said. 'The important thing is to keep this going (for the Asian Cup).

'The national team needs to be made up of aspiring players and we always need to be on our toes. We can't let up.'

Honda (left) celebrates with his Japan team-mates following one of Takashi Inui's goals against Honduras

Honduras will next face China, who also warmed up for the Asian Cup with a 1-1 draw against New Zealand.

Captain Zheng Zhi gave China the lead before half time with a dipping volley from outside the box but the All Whites forced a draw through a header from Chris Wood in the 87th minute.

'We played with a very young and physical side ... and I think to play with this kind of style is a good thing for our team,' China coach Alain Perrin was quoted as saying by the Xinhua news agency.

'We may meet teams with similar style in the Asian Cup, so it's helpful for the team. In the first half we created a lot of chances, but we need to improve our efficiency.'

In Amman, midfielder Han Kyo-wan headed in Cha Du-ri's cross just after the half hour mark to give Asian Cup title contenders South Korea a 1-0 win over hosts Jordan.