BANGKOK, Thailand — Japan beat Thailand 3-0 in a 2010 World Cup qualifier Saturday to almost certainly secure a place in the next round of Asian qualifying.

Goals from Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Yuji Nakazawa and Kengo Nakamura put Japan equal with Bahrain atop Group Two with 10 points.

The result meant Japan could only be denied a place in the final 10-team qualifying stage if Oman was to win away at Bahrain later Saturday and also its final match against Thailand. Even in those circumstances, Oman would need to boost its goal difference significantly while relying on Japan losing at home to Bahrain in its last fixture.

The defeat ended Thailand's already slim chance of reaching the next round.

Japan was boosted for the away match by over 20,000 fans — double the number of Thai supporters.

Throughout the first half Thailand, without key striker Teeratep Winothai who was red carded against Oman, was kept on its heels by Japan's relentless attacks.

The visitors broke through in the 23rd minute, as a corner was worked short and Yasuhito Endo crossed to the back post where center back Tanaka rose above his marker to head home.

The second came from the same source in the 39th minute, with Endo's corner finding the other center back Yuji Nakazawa, who was unmarked in the area and headed home powerfully.

Although Thailand improved their ball possession in the second half, they could not create clear scoring opportunities, and Japan added its third in the 88th minute as substitute Kengo Nakamura beat the offside trap to get on the end of a chip into the area and shot confidently past the Thai goalkeeper.