Doha – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu is satisfied with his team’s performance but sees room for improvement as they overcame a turbulent second half to set up a 3-1 win against either Iran or Syria in the Asian Cup quarter-finals. He pointed out that there are many. Win against Bahrain on January 31st.
While victory is all that matters at the moment, there was another positive with star winger Kaoru Mitoma finally playing the first few minutes of the tournament after recovering from injury.
The four-time champions appeared to be on track in their Round of 16 match in Doha with Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo scoring on either side of half-time.
However, an own goal from error-prone goalkeeper Zion Suzuki put Bahrain back in the game in the 64th minute, but Ayyo Ueda put Japan back on their feet 10 minutes later.
This was Ueda’s fourth and decisive goal of the tournament.
However, Coach Moriyasu did not feel that the match was as easy as he expected.
“From the beginning I didn’t think they (Bahrain) would be an easy opponent to beat, but the players defeated them with their aggressiveness and perseverance,” he said.
“So I would like to praise the players who scored the three goals.
“Overall our defense was good. We improved.”
Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, he added: “I have big goals. I want to do my best and prepare as best I can for the match.”
Japan were boosted by the return of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Mitoma, who came on as a substitute midway through the second half, playing in his first game since sustaining an ankle injury on 21 December.
However, doubts remain about Coach Moriyasu’s team. Coach Moriyasu was the favorite to win the tournament before the tournament, but he has yet to keep a clean sheet in the four games played in Qatar.
Japan almost took the lead in the 10th minute when Ueda headed into the goal from a corner kick, but Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah parried the shot away.
Bahrain also had chances to take the lead, but it was Japan who took the lead in the 31st minute.
Right back Seiya Makuma fired a long-range shot that hit the post, and Doan was the quickest to react and push the rebound into the goal.