Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup – Group E – Japan v Spain – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar – December 1, 2022 Maya Yoshida and Daizen Maeda of Japan celebrate with teammates team after the match as Japan qualified for the knockout round REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji
DOHA—Japan staged a spectacular comeback for the second time at the World Cup, beating 2010 champions Spain 2-1 on Thursday to advance to the round of 16 alongside rivals. The player was defeated and eliminated Germany in one of Samurai Blue’s best nights.
Faced with the prospect of an early exit from the World Cup after the first half, Japan is determined to face Croatia in the round of 16 – the team that was defeated in the final in 2018 – while Spain have to rely on goal difference. win the championship. pass Germany. Now they face Morocco.
Japan’s change built on the reshuffle of coach Hajime Moriyasu at halftime when they lost 1-0.
Ritsu Doan took over and within three minutes he shot from the edge of the box that Spain’s Unai Simon – whose poor save created the danger from the start – was unstoppable.
With Japan’s noisy traveling fans barely breathing, Ao Tanaka scored from empty range in the 51st minute, sending the ball into the net after first-half Kaoru Mitoma’s sub-player cut the ball back. from the horizontal line.
The VAR system took a few minutes to confirm that the ball was not out before Mitoma’s touch. The replays suggest that a piece of ball did not cross the line and the verdict sparked similar frenzy of celebrations as those that followed. Japan’s 2-1 comeback win over Germany last week.
“We played against Spain, one of the best teams in the world, and we knew before the game that it was going to be tough and tough, and it really was,” said Moriyasu, who lost to Costa Rica in the second match in the tournament, said. Cata.
He told reporters: “The players conceded a goal, but they persevered and in very difficult circumstances they did very well.
CONTROL ALL
Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup – Group E – Japan v Spain – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar – December 1, 2022 Ao Tanaka of Japan scores the second goal REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini
Spain were in full control in the first half but suddenly they were the ones chasing the chance to stay in the World Cup as Costa Rica and Germany played each other in the other game of Group E.
Germany won 4-2, a victory not large enough to help them continue to participate in the tournament.
Alvaro Morata gave the Spaniard the lead as he scored his third goal in three matches in Qatar, surging above Japan’s defense to head over goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda 11 minutes into the road. Passed by former Chelsea team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta.
In the dying minutes, winger Dani Olmo got close to the scorer but his cross was easily caught by Gonda.
The suffocating victory put Japan at the top of Group E, followed by Spain in second, with Germany in third on goal difference alone.
The Japanese fans were in tears as the match ended, giving them the chance to go further than ever at a World Cup. Japan has previously reached the round of 16 three times and lost each time.
“There are a lot of fans from Japan, as well as those who stay in Japan,” said coach Moriyasu. “We are giving this victory to the people of Japan and we are very happy about it.”
Spain coach Luis Enrique, who made five changes to the starting XI to rest his first-choice players, was not very pleased.
“We didn’t have any danger in the first half, then in the second half I told them at half-time to be careful, because they will attack in the second half, they have nothing to lose. ,” I said. “I have nothing to celebrate.”
Japan defender Kou Itakura received his second yellow card of the tournament and will be suspended for the match against Croatia.
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