© Reuters Limited 2001

OITA, Japan, July 4 (Reuters) - Japan won the three-nation Kirin Cup on Wednesday after Junichi Inamoto struck midway through the first half to lead the hosts to a 1-0 win over Yugoslavia.

Inamoto, a Gamba Osaka midfielder currently being linked with a move to English club Arsenal, scored in the 21st minute at Oita Big Eye Stadium, exchanging passes with Atsushi Yanagisawa before rifling a right-foot shot into the top corner from 20 metres.

Yanagisawa, who scored both goals in Japan's 2-0 win over Paraguay last Sunday, created a golden opportunity for Takayuki Suzuki in the 67th minute but his Kashima Antlers team mate clipped his shot against the post.

Yugoslavia, 2-0 losers to Paraguay in last Thursday's opening match in Tokyo, threatened only sporadically, with Japan-based veteran Dragan Stojkovic lively in his 85th and final international appearance.

Igor Bogdanovic came closest to scoring for Yugoslavia, firing in a left-foot shot on the turn in the 33rd minute which forced Japan goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi into a superb save low to his right.