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Yanagisawa--back in business

By Jeremy Walker
 TOKYO (June 19)--A year ago, Atsushi Yanagisawa was in disgrace. The popular Kashima Antlers striker was leading Japan's charge to the Sydney Olympics when a rare moment of indiscipline put his international career in jeopardy.
 Following an Olympic qualifying game at Tokyo's National Stadium, Yanagisawa broke the team's curfew by leaving the hotel and meeting his girlfriend for dinner in what he thought was a quiet restaurant.
 Unfortunately for the player, a gossip magazine heard news of his romantic rendezvous with the model/TV actress Rinka and arrived to take photographs of the canoodling couple.
 Knowing that a scandal was inevitable, Yanagisawa returned to the hotel and owned up to his indiscretion. He was sent home immediately by the Japanese Football Association.
 His return to the fold has been slow and not without further incident, including a red card in an Olympic friendly away to South Korea and a dressing down from angry national coach Philippe Troussier for his lack of concentration and application before a crucial qualifier in Kazakhstan.  But now, Yanagisawa is public hero No. 1 again following his two goals in Japan's 2-0 win over Bolivia in the Kirin Cup at Yokohama on Sunday.
 They were his second and third goals for the full national team in his 11th appearance, and he is now back on course for Sydney and the 2002 World Cup.
 "I was very nervous before the match because it had been quite a while since I'd started a game for the national team," said the 23-year-old forward.
 "But the first goal settled my nerves, and I felt very relaxed when the ch ance came to score the second.
 "Hopefully these goals will help me win a place in the squad for Sydney, and also keep me in the national team. Of course my main goal is the 2002 World Cup. It's the dream of every Japanese player."
 Yanagisawa opened the scoring in the seventh minute, prodding home a left-foot shot from near the penalty spot when a left-wing free kick from Atsuhiro Miura arrived at his feet.
 His second was a gem, and followed a neat passing movement in the last third of the field. When Akinori Nishizawa played a short pass through to Yanagisawa on the edge of the box, he held his nerve, waited for the keeper to commit himself and clipped the ball into the opposite corner with his right foot.
 The sight of him hugging Troussier on the touchline as 65,000 fans celebrated told its own story.
 Yanagisawa, the son of a ramen shop manager in Toyama city, is one of the most popular players in Japan, the heart-throb of Antlers' army of female fans.
 Usually quiet and dedicated, the sports world was shocked when he broke the curfew and was banned from the Olympic team.
 While Troussier left him to stew on the sidelines and learn his lesson, the national coach was always prepared to give him a second chance.
 And now Troussier's loyalty has been repaid in the best way possible...with goals.