By Pearse McLaughlin
Japan sweep aside Bahrain by three goals to one here at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Goals in each half from Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo had Japan cruising but a calamitous own goal by Ayase Ueda had given Bahrain hope of a fightback but that was quickly diminished by Ayase Ueda as he atoned for his earlier error and ensured it was the Samurai Blue that progessed into the Quarter Finals of the AFC Asian Cup where they will face either Iran or Syria.
Juan Antonio Pizzi has changed his formation from the 4-2-3-1 formation that saw his Bahrain side win against Jordan 1-0 last time outing to face Japan he has changed his formation slightly to the 4-3-2-1 formation. In terms of personnel changes there is only the one change as in comes Hazaa Ali to replace Abdulla El Khalassy.
Hakime Moriyasu has also changed his formation slightly from the 4-2-3-1 formation that saw his Japan side emerge victorious over Indonesia 3-1 last time out and has gone more attacking and matched up Bahrain’s formation and also gone with the 4-3-2-1 formation. In terms of personnel changes there is also just the one change as Ko Itakura comes into replace Koki Machida in what is a pretty strong starting XI for the Samurai Blue which also sees a place on the bench for the returning Kaoru Mitoma.
On the 10th minute Japan have the first meaningful chance of the game so far as Ayase Ueda forces a terrific reflex save from Ebrahim Lutfalla. It was a terrific outswinging delivery into the box from the left hand side from the left boot of Takefusa Kubo who picked out the unmarked Ayase Ueda as he bulleted a header towards goal on the penalty spot but it was straight at Ebrahim Lutfalla as he tips the ball over the bar. Either side of Lutfalla and that’s the opening goal. Poor marking by Bahrain to allow a man with the quality of Ayase Ueda that time and space.
Bahrain’s first effort on goal comes on the 28th minute as Ali Madan cuts in from the right just outside of the box and forces a full length save from Zion Suzuki. That’s better from Bahrain as they have forced a great stop from Suzuki who hasn’t had the best tournament to date so far.
Japan have the breakthrough as Ritsu Doan knocks the ball home from close range on the 31st minute to give Japan the lead. It was a venomous strike from outside the box from Reo Hatate as his powerful shot crashed off the left hand post and fell kindly to Ritsu Doan who reacted quickest and had the simple task to pass the ball beyond Ebrahim Lutfalla and into the back of the net. 1-0 Japan.
Japan’s Reo Hatate has been replaced by Hidemasa Morita just five minutes after Japan’s opener as he went down in the middle of the park clutching his right calf muscle. Another setback for the Celtic midfielder in what has been an injury plagued season so far and hopefully he’s not out for too long and we may see him again in this Asian Cup campaign.
Japan lead Bahrain at the break by a solitary goal by Ritsu Doan. It has been a somewhat even affair so far with no many clear cut chances created by either side. Japan have controlled possession and have more shots on goal but only lead by one. Japan will need to up their game and kill this tie off as quickly as possible. Bahrain will be buoyed by the fact that they have nullified Japan to shots from distance and only trail by the one goal but will have to venture forward more if they want to get back in to this game and stand a chance of progressing into the Quarter Finals. Regardless it is set for a blockbuster second half as we’ll find out if there’s a winner or if extra time and penalties are required to separate the two teams.
Just four minutes into the second half Takefusa Kubo collects the ball from Hazaa Ali in an offside position and expertly dispatches it through the legs of Ebrahim Lutfalla. After a quick VAR check Ahmad Al Ali has overturned his original decision of offside and awards the goal to Japan. 2-0 Japan. Tidy finish from Kubo. Japan well and truly in control now and would be a disaster if they don’t progress now. Bahrain have just shy of 40 minutes plus stoppage time to rescue this.
Japan thought they had a third goal on the hour mark through Keito Nakamura as he slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner but was quickly ruled out for offside as Ayase Ueda went too early. The quickest of VAR checks confirms the decision. An impressive counter attack and sweeping move by Japan.
Just four minutes later, Bahrain have a goal back through an Ayase Ueda own goal. Kamil Al-Aswad outswinging corner from the left hand side picked out Sayed Mahdy Baqer at the far post and his floated header went straight at Zion Suzuki who palmed the ball straight up in the air for some reason and Ayase Ueda both went up for the second ball and bundled the ball into their own net. A calamitous own goal by Japan. Zion Suzuki making yet another error and how long before he is dropped by Hajime Moriyasu. Bahrain don’t care how the ball went in as they’re right back in it. Bahrain 1 Japan 2. Game on.
Japan restore their two goal cushion on the 72nd minute and it’s Ayase Ueda who has now scored at the right end and atoned for his earlier mistake. That goal was all Ayase Ueda as he showed terrific skill to turn, get away, and race through on goal before firing the ball low and hard through Ebrahim Lutfalla’s legs. Japan now in the driving seat with a two goal cushion heading into a quarter of an hour left. Japan lead 3-1.
Into the fourth minute of added time at the end of the game substitute Takuma Asano raced through on goal and with the goal at his mercy he couldn’t convert as Ebrahim Lutfalla made a terrific save low down to his left hand side. Terrific save by Lutfalla. Asano should have found the back of the net and shows why he’s not a starting striker for Moriyasu. It remains 3-1.
It’s all over here at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar as Japan ran out comfortable 3-1 winners. Japan opened the scoring fortuitously with Ritsu Doan tapping home a rebound from inside the six-yard-box which had Japan one nil up at the break. In the second half it was more of the same as Takefusa Kubo doubled Japan’s lead at the start of the second half after latching onto Hazaa Ali’s back pass and it only looked like one winner from there on out. But, Bahrain did manage to pull a goal back through an Ayase Ueda own goal after a mixup with Zion Suzuki in goal which put Bahrain in with a fighting chance but that hope was wiped away shortly after as Ayase Ueda atoned for his error and killed the game. A dominant display from the Samurai Blue as they now progress to the quarter finals of the Asian Cup.
Bahrain: Ebrahim Lutfalla, Mohammed Adel, Sayed Mahdy Baqer, Waleed Al Hayam, Hazaa Ali (Abdulla El Khalassy 90+2’), Kamil Al-Aswad (Abdullah Al Hashash 77’), Mohammed Al-Hardan (Moses Jona 77’), Jassim Al Shaikh (Jasem Khelaif 90+2’), Ali Madan, Mohamed Marhoon (Mahdi Al Humaidan 64’), Abdulla Yusuf Helal. Subs not used: Sayed Jaafar, Mohammed Qayoom, Hussain Al Eker, Mohamed Abdulwahab, Salem Husain, Ibrahim Al-Wali, Ali Hasan.
Japan: Zion Suzuki, Seiya Maikuma, Ko Itakura, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Yuta Nakayama, Takefusa Kubo (Takumi Minamino 68’), Wataru Endo, Reo Hatate (Hidemasa Morita 36’), Ritsu Doan (Koki Machida 80’), Keito Nakamura (Kaoru Mitoma 68’), Ayase Ueda (Takuma Asano 80’). Subs not used: Daiya Maekawa, Yukinari Sugawara, Shogo Taniguchi, Hiroki Ito, Kaishu Sano, Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda.
Referee: Ahmad Al Ali
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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