Doha (Kyodo) – Japan defeated Bahrain 3-1 in Qatar on Wednesday to advance to the Asian Cup quarterfinals.
After World Cup star Ritsu Doan and Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo scored for the Samurai Blue, a melee between goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and striker Ayase Ueda resulted in an own goal, giving Bahrain a momentary boost. I got it back.
However, Golden Boot candidate Ueda took revenge with his fourth goal of the tournament to complete a record-breaking four-time Asian champions’ dominant victory at Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium.
But for Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, the Round of 16 victory may have come at a price. Manager Hajime Moriyasu lost Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate to an apparent leg injury in the first half.
Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma missed all three group stage matches due to an ankle injury, and started on the bench in the second half, making his first appearance in the tournament.
Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah was forced to make an early save when Ko Itakura headed home from a corner kick.
Samurai Blue’s overwhelming possession led to their first goal in the 31st minute, when Doan scored after Maekuma Seiya hit the wooden frame with a long-range shot.
Doan said, “Maikuma’s great shot landed in my path. I was always ready, but I’m glad I was able to score.”
Itakura headed the ball again, and Kubo scored Japan’s second goal in the 49th minute, when a mistouch by the Bahrain defenders put him onside in front of the goal.
“It was a very tough game, but unlike the game against Iraq, we didn’t lose the battle for the ball,” Kubo said of the shocking 2-1 loss against Iraq, where Samurai Blue finished second in their group. Mentioned. D.
“I’m glad I was able to contribute even a little bit to the goal.”
They advanced to the next stage without much trouble, but Japan’s set-piece defense was unstable and they were once again unable to keep a clean sheet.
Suzuki, defending Bahrain’s rare corner kick, was unable to land a convincing punch and collided with Ueda on the goal line in the 64th minute, causing the ball to spill into the net.
The incident continues to disrupt the tournament for Suzuki, a 21-year-old goalkeeper of Japanese and Ghanaian American descent who received abusive messages on social media and the Japan Football Association condemns harassment. reached.
Feyenoord striker Ueda calmly scored from the right of the box eight minutes later with an assist from Maekuma, restoring Japan’s two-goal buffer.
“(Bahrain) were trying to keep it compact, but I felt there were gaps. I felt that if we started moving at the right time to pass the ball, we could get in behind,” Ueda said.
Japan will play the winner of the round of 16 match between Iran and Syria in the quarterfinals on Saturday at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.
“There are going to be some tough games, but it is important that everyone on the team has the mindset of being for the team,” Doan said. “I want to win the tournament at all costs, and I want to advance to the next tournament as well.”