Nakata and Razaei on target in Italy

AFC - Japan skipper Hidetoshi Nakata [pictured] and Iranian international defender Rahman Razaei were both on target for their clubs on Sunday, steering Parma and Perugia respectively to comfortable home wins after Sunday’s round of Serie A fixtures.

Nakata and Razaei both scored on opening day in the Italian league and the two Asians were once again lethal in front of goal on Sunday, with Nakata scoring early in Parma's 2-1 victory over Atalanta while Razaei scored the important second goal in a 2-0 win over visiting Modena.

After last week’s 2-1 away loss at Modena, Nakata got Parma off to a splendid start with a 13th minute goal against Atalanta. Mutu extended Parma’s lead in the 70th minute, Comandini scoring Atalanta's consolation goal six minutes from time.

Ze Maria fired Perugia into an early lead when he converted a penalty as early as the seventh minute to put the hosts in the driving seat.

Razaei volleyed a superb effort into the top of the net in the 28th minute, a goal that capped a fine weekend for Asians in Europe after Sun Jihai became the first Chinese to score in the Premiership, and Song having gotten off the mark with his debut goal for Feyenoord in Holland.