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 Antonio Pizzi was looking to heal old wounds after his Saudi Arabian side lost to Japan in the same stage in 2019, but Hajime Moriyasu’s side put in a dominant performance and took on the Gulf nation. There was almost no sign of suffering.
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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.
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.
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.
Japan will play the winner of Iran-Syria in the last 16 later on Wednesday. (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Doha; Editing by Christian Radnedge)