Matthew Spiranovic admits Japans suffocating defensive style took the Socceroos by surprise in Tuesday nights 1-1 World Cup qualifier draw in Melbourne.Known for their attacking flair through the likes of midfield superstars Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, Japan were happy to keep numbers behind the ball to stave off a Socceroos comeback after taking an early lead.The tourists took the lead just five minutes into the game at Etihad Stadium and held it until the 53rd minute when a clumsy penalty gifted Australia an equaliser through captain Mile Jedinak.From there, the Blue Samurai rarely ventured forward with intent, focusing instead on preventing another goal.They scored the goal and were happy just to drop 10 players behind the ball, Spiranovic said.Knowing Japan in the past and the players that they have, I didnt expect it to be that extreme, to be honest.With the players theyve got - the Hondas and Kagawas and these guys in the midfield - I dont think they would like to be just basically retreating behind the ball and chasing it.But its normal away from home, they scored the goal and they were happy to do that.The Socceroos lacked aggression in a poor first half and Spiranovic said their slow start allowed Japan to gain the upper hand.I think in the last two games, weve sort of put ourselves on the back foot with the early goals weve conceded and weve had to fight our way back into the game twice, Spiranovic said.It would be nice to start off in a better way and even score the first goal and see what teams want to do then, because I think it would be hard for them to react against us if we do go that goal up.Japans defensive work earned praise from coach Vahid Halilhodzic, who said his side had deserved to win.We let the opponent have the ball because we knew that we would have the chance to score, Halilhodzic said..The opponent couldnt create chances. We were good, organised, with discipline. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Cheap NFL Jerseys Shop . - Connor McDavid scored 53 seconds into overtime as the Erie Otters came from behind to defeat the visiting Guelph Storm 4-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.nfljerseyschinastore.com/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. NFL Jerseys Free Shipping . LOUIS -- St. Jerseys NFL Wholesale China . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Ohio State receivers Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller departed for the NFL, they took with them 80 percent of the teams passing-game production from last season.Thats a bunch of pressure for the receivers vying for playing time this season. They are loaded with talent and potential, definitely, but have yet to make an impact in Columbus.The two likely starters at wide receiver, Noah Brown and Corey Smith, both went down with broken legs last year but are healed and running at full speed. The rest of the crop is raw. The H-backs, Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson, are more experienced, but Samuel may switch back and forth between receiver and tailback.Brown had figured in Ohio States plans at receiver last year before his injury in the preseason. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound New Jersey product played in 13 games as a freshman during the 2014 season but had only one reception.Noah Brown was going to be a starter when he had that tough injury a week before our first game (last year), and hell be a starter this year, coach Urban Meyer said.If the (defender) is on top of Noah, I can just put it anywhere around Noah and hes going to get it, quarterback J.T. Barrett said. I feel like Noahs got my back, when the balls in the air its his. The young guys, they still have to develop that.Smith, a graduate student in his fourth year of eligibility, saw considerable playing time in the 14 championship season and then broke his leg in the fifth game last year. He has 25 catches for 317 yards in the two seasons. Sophomores Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin are pushing Smith, and Johnnie Dixon, quarterback-turned-receiver Torrance Gibson and true freshman Austin Mack also are in the mix.Weve got the potential to probably be the best wide receivers thats ever come through Ohio State, Brown said. We have a lot of speed and a lot of guys who can do different things, but experience is a challenge for us.Junior Marcus Baugh inherits the tight end job after the departure of Nick Vannett.The Buckeyes offensive workhorse may turn out to be Samuel, who is the top returning receiver with 289 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. The versatile junior backed up Ezekiel Elliott at running back in 2014 and was moved to H-back -- a hybrid running back/receiver in Meyers system -- last season tto get him on the field more.ddddddddddddHes got 33 catches for 384 yards and two touchdowns in his career, to go along with 465 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 75 carries. With the departure of Elliott, hell be asked to augment the running game as well as catch passes.I think hes our No. 1 playmaker on offense right now, Meyer said Monday. I just love his skill set.Without Elliott to carry the offensive load this year, Meyer acknowledged a sense of urgency to improve the passing game, which ranked 100th in the country last year.That was a little bit of a crutch last year, Meyer said. You had the best tailback in the country and when in doubt, hand it to Zeke. We want to be much more balanced.---STARTING LINEUP TAKES SHAPEWith three-quarters of preseason practices done, Meyer said hes starting to name some starters, which involves calling the players parents to let them know. He said defensive end Sam Hubbard has been named a first-time starter, and tailback Mike Weber and linebackers Chris Worley and Dante Booker are close. Worley and Booker will play alongside Raekwon McMillan, the returning starter at middle linebacker.This is that week where we start making those phone calls and (say) `Hey mom and dad, get ready to make some trips because your son is starting at Ohio State, Meyer said.---EASING BOSA INFreshman defensive end Nick Bosa is on Meyers pitch count while recovering from the knee injury suffered in his senior year of high school. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound touted recruit, the younger brother of Buckeyes star defensive end Joey Bosa, should be healthy enough to play when the season starts.Well be very smart with how hard we throw him in the mix, but hell obviously be in that rotation, Meyer said.Bosa will wear the same 97 uniform number as his brother did at Ohio State.Ive definitely had the expectations for a while, having Joey come here and me follow him, and wear the same number with the same name on the back, the younger Bosa said. But Im not really focused on the hype. Im just confident in my abilities. Itll show.---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacyFor some of his other recent stories: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/mitch-stacy ' ' '