By Pearse McLaughlin
A goal in each half from Ayase Ueda, an own goal from Justin Hubner and a late consolation from Sandy Walsh sealed a 3-1 victory for Japan over Indonesia as they progressed into the last 16 as runners up in Group D. We will find out tomorrow whether it will be Jordan or the glamour tie everyone wants in South Korea vs Japan. If this is the case then be set for a blockbuster tie that will be for ferocious to say the least and lots of quality on display too.
Hajime Moriyasu was clearly not happy last time out when Japan lost 2-1 to Iraq last Friday the 19th of January. In terms of his tactical shape it is exactly the same as he has went with his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. In terms of personnel changes Moriyasu has made wholesale changes to his side as well as changing his entire back four, there is eight changes in all as in come Seiya Maikuma, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Koki Machida, Yuta Nakayama, Reo Hatate, Ritsu Doan, Keito Nakamura, and Ayase Ueda to replace Yukinari Sugawara, Ko Itakura, Shogo Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito, Hidemasa Morita, Junya Ito, Takumi Minamino, and Takuya Asano.
Shin Tae-Yong will have been delighted after their 1-0 win over Vietnam last time out. The Indonesia boss has changed from his 5-4-1 formation slightly and he has gone more attacking whilst maintaining a solid backline in the 3-4-3 formation. In terms of personnel changes there has only been one change as in comes Rizky Ramadhani to replace match winner last time out, Asnawi Bahar.
After only two minutes Japan have a penalty shout as Jordi Amat gets too tight to Ayase Ueda as he seemed to haul him down to the ground. After being recommended to the VAR monitor by the VAR officials Khamis Mohamed Al Mari overturns his original decision and Japan are awarded a penalty. Ayase Ueda assumes responsibility for the penalty and rifles the ball into the top right hand corner. Emphatic finish. Even with the goalkeeper guessing correctly that was enough power and accuracy on the shot to beat Ernando Ari Sutaryadi. 1-0 Japan. Off to the perfect start.
On the 35th minute Japan were a whisker away from doubling their lead after Keito Nakamura’s side footed effort curled off the inside of the left hand post and bounced clear. It was great build play initially by Seiya Maikuma who cut in from the right hand side and played a pass into Takefusa Kubo who dinked a ball over the Indonesia back line to Maikuma who continued his run and knocked the ball across the box to the unmarked Keito Nakamura whose effort crashed off the inside of the post and bounced clear. So unlucky from Nakamura as he was a whisker away from doubling Japan’s advantage over Indonesia. It was liquid football. It remains 1-0.
It’s Japan who have a slender one nil lead over Indonesia going into the break. It’s a half that Japan have dominated from start to finish without creating too many clear cut chances but will be happy as they are half way to the last 16. Indonesia have offered nothing going forward and will need to get their act together if they are to have any chance of progressing instead of Japan into the last 16 and only if they win by a two goal margin. It’s not impossible but highly unlikely at this stage considering how little they have ventured forward. Regardless it’s set for a grand slam finish in the second half as we will find out who progresses into the last 16 of the Asian Cup.
Japan double their lead on the 52nd minute and it’s that man again Ayase Ueda who also doubles his tally with a close range finish at the back post. It was great play down the left by Keito Nakamura who waited for the overlap of Ritsu Doan who fizzed a tremendous low across the six-yard-box and picked out Ayase Ueda at the back post who taps the ball home into an empty net. Japan at their scintillating best. 2-0 Japan.
On the 54th minute Doan plays a one two down the right with Reo Hatate who returns the ball back to Doan with a delicate back heel before finding himself one-on-one with Ernando Ari Sutaryadi but fires the ball just wide of the left hand post. Fantastic play again by Japan as they nearly add a quick third goal. It remains 2-0 to Japan.
Ritsu Doan again comes closest to adding a third goal for Japan on the 62nd minute as he brilliantly controls a long ball over the top and sees Ernando Ari Sutaryadi off his line and tries his luck with a chip but it bounces just wide of the right hand post. So close.
A minute later, Indonesia have their first shot at goal as Pratama Arhan plays a ball down the left hand channel to Egi Maulana Vikri who chops back and lays the ball off to Marselino Ferdinan whose effort was high, wide and not very handsome. Great move by Indonesia as they carved Japan open but didn’t have the required finish to cause Zion Suzuki any problems in goal.
Japan go up the other end and reply with a chance of their own. It’s that combination again down the left as Keito Nakamura waits for the overlapping run and this time it’s Yuta Nakayama who collects the ball and floats an inviting cross to the back post where Ritsu Doan ghosts in and plants a header towards goal which Justin Hubner clears off the line. Another sweeping move by Japan and I still can’t believe it’s only 2-0. Japan starting to ramp up the pressure.
Two minutes from time and Japan adds a third through a Justin Hubner own goal. Ayase Ueda thought he had the match ball and sealed his hat trick but Justin Hubner diverted the ball over his own goalkeeper, crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net. Japan now have their third goal they have been craving.
Indonesia have their consolation goal a minute into added time at the end of the game through Sandy Walsh. A long through into the box from the left caused the Japan defence all sorts of problems and the ball dropped to Sandy Walsh at the back post but his side footed effort squirmed its way past Zion Suzuki somehow. That’s got to go down as a goalkeeping error. 3-1 Japan.
It’s all over here at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar as Japan run out comfortable 3-1 winners over Indonesia. It’s was a convincing performance from start to finish as Japan created chances at will and probably scored more than the three that they did. Sandy Walsh grabbed nothing more than a consolation for Indonesia in stoppage time but again that’s another soft goal that Zion Suzuki has let in. How much longer until he costs Japan big time in the knockouts? We will see if Hajime Moriyasu persists with Suzuki or not in the last 16 where they could play either Jordan or South Korea.
Japan: Zion Suzuki, Seiya Maikuma, Takehiro Tomiyasu (Tsuyoshi Watanabe 82'), Koki Machida, Yuta Nakayama, Wataru Endo, Reo Hatate (Takumi Minamino 69'), Ritsu Doan (Junya Ito 86'), Takefusa Kubo (Kaishu Sano 82'), Keito Nakamura (Daizen Maeda 69'), Ayase Ueda. Subs not used: Daiya Maekawa, Hidemasa Morita, Hiroki Ito, Mao Hosoya, Shogo Taniguchi, Takuma Asano, Yukinari Sugawara.
Indonesia: Ernando Ari Sutaryadi, Rizky Ramadhani, Jordi Amat, Sandy Walsh, Yakob Sayuri (Witan Sulaeman 54'), Ivar Jenner, Justin Hubner, Pratama Arhan, Egi Maulana Vikri (Elkan Baggott 73'), Rafael Struick (Ricky Kambuaya 89'), Marselino Ferdinan. Subs not used: Muhammad Riyandi, Asnawi Bahar, Hokky Bintang, Adam Setyano, Wahyu Prasetyo, Shayne Pattynama, Dendi Sulistyawan, Marc Klok, Nadeo Argawinata.
Referee: Khamis Mohamed Al Marri
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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