Doha: Four-time champions Japan advanced to the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Bahrain at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday with goals from Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo and Ayyo Ueda.
Bahrain coach Juan Anotnio Pizzi was hoping to heal old wounds after his Saudi Arabian team lost to Japan in the same stage in 2019, but Hajime Moriyasu’s team put in a dominant performance and won the Gulf Cup. He hardly seemed to suffer when dealing with other countries.
Japan will face the winner of the last 16 match between Iran and Syria.
“All the Asian teams here in the Asian Cup are growing and the level of their football is improving. But even though other teams are growing, we are also not able to grow. It was all thanks to the efforts of our players,” Coach Moriyasu told reporters. “But I don’t think today’s performance was 100% and we can still improve.”
In the 31st minute, Japan’s Maikuma Seiya fired a powerful shot that hit the post, but midfielder Doan was alert to the rebound and pounced on it, scoring a goal from close range.
Immediately after halftime, Japan took a 2-0 lead as an unmarked Kubo received the ball in the penalty area, turned and fired a shot, and the goal was ruled offside by a VAR check, leading to a 2-0 lead. did.
The Real Sociedad forward appeared to be in an offside position when the ball was spilled, but the final ball hit a Bahrain defender.
Bahrain cut the deficit in half from a corner kick when Japan’s keeper Zion Suzuki saved a header from Saeed Baker, but when the ball looped up in the air, Ueda tried to catch it, but Ueda headed it in. In an attempt to clear, the two collided as the ball crossed the line.
Coach Moriyasu wasn’t too worried about own goals, but Japan has yet to keep a clean sheet in every match in the tournament.
“It’s true that we conceded a goal. Every opponent we play will analyze us and expose our weaknesses,” said Japan national team captain Wataru Endo. “I know I have to get this right. I have to stay focused for 90 minutes.”
However, Ueda made up for it with an own goal, quickly evading three Bahraini defenders to make it 3-1. As they tried to pull his shirt to stop his fling, the striker pulled the trigger from an angle and beat the keeper.
Kaoru Mitoma also returned from injury in this game, and the Brighton & Hove Albion winger used his agility and ball speed to create several chances, and his brilliant bursts over defenders thrilled the arena.
However, Japan were unable to capitalize on their penetration into the box and Bahrain keeper Ebrahim Lutfallah was also decisive in conceding a fourth goal to the East Asian team as they won Group E ahead of South Korea and were eliminated from the tournament. was prevented as such.
“It was a difficult match. They were stronger and technically and physically better than us. They have players with great individual skills,” he said, winning the 2016 Copa America with Chile. Pizzi said. “Japan has had the same manager for many years. Even the substitute players had the same quality when they came off the bench.”
Stand-in keeper Joe Starrs
Second-choice goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo became a hero for South Korea on Tuesday, defeating Saudi Arabia 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling last-16 draw ended 1-1 after extra time to defeat Australia. They decided to advance to the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup. at Education City Stadium.
When regular No. 1 Kim Seung-kyu was injured in training, Cho came on in the early stages of the tournament and was substituted after South Korea’s Cho Gu-sung scored the equalizer in the 99th minute to cancel out Abdullah Radif’s opening goal. has proven that he can do the job.
Coach Cho said that “belief” was the key to stopping Sami Al Najei and Abdulrahman Gharib’s spot kicks in the penalty shootout, adding that Hwang Hee-chan scored the decisive penalty kick for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team. I decided.
“Coach told me to believe in the team, and I think that really paid off,” Joe said. “I gave my all on the pitch and when it came to a shootout, I was confident I could make the save. I’m happy to be able to advance the team to the next round.”
South Korea succeeded in winning all their spot kicks, but had just two days to recover after playing 120 minutes and will face 2015 champions Australia in the quarter-finals on Friday.
“That’s why I wanted to win the group. Some people said they were glad they didn’t avoid Japan at the top of the group. We didn’t win the group and we paid the price for it,” Klinsmann said. .
“But this win gave this team even more spirit. I enjoy coaching this group and they really want to do good things for the country. We didn’t expect a penalty shootout because we wanted to win before the game. It’s a good atmosphere so we’ll recover. Tonight’s win gives us a lot of optimism, belief and energy, but it’s Australia This is what we need to win.”
Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini, who won the European Championship with his native Italy in 2021, disappeared into the tunnel before Huang took his final penalty.
“I’m sorry about this. I thought the shootout was over,” Mancini said, dismissing questions about his future as Saudi Arabia’s manager. “I don’t think you understand South Korea’s level, it’s too high. They have great players.
“I’m very sad that we conceded a goal in the last minute and lost in the penalty shootout. I don’t understand why they added 10 minutes of extra time. It’s clear that as a team we have to improve more at this level and we have to work hard. It won’t.”
Saudi Arabia’s best chances of the first half came when two headers from corner kicks hit the crossbar and a third that was destined for the top corner was deflected away by Joe.
However, immediately after the restart, Saudi Arabia took the lead with Radikh, who came on as a substitute at halftime, making a momentary impact 30 seconds after coming on. Salem Al Dausari directed a pass into Radif’s path and the substitute flicked the ball past Joe.
Klinsmann’s side gave their all to the Saudis and finished the 90 minutes with a bang, with substitute Cho hitting the bar with a header in stoppage time.
The striker was rewarded in the ninth minute of stoppage time, getting the nod to take the match into extra time.
Published at dawn on February 1, 2024