By Pearse McLaughlin
Japan smash Peru 4-1 here at the Panasonic Stadium Suita. Kaoru Mitoma was the star of the show as Peru struggled to contain the Brighton man, goals from Hiroki Ito, Kaoru Mitoma, Junya Ito, and Daizen Maeda sealed an impressive win.
Hajime Moriyasu kept his tried and trusted formation in the 4-3-3 that romped El Salvador 6-0 last time out. In terms of personnel changes, he has altered his team with five changes as Wataru Endo, Daichi Kamada, Hiroki Ito, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Junya Ito come in to replace Ryoya Morishita, Ritsu Doan, Hidemasa Morita, Takefusa Kubo, and Ayase Ueda.
Peru manager, Juan Reynoso made wholesale changes to side that beat South Korea 1-0 last time out. There were no tweaks to his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. In terms of personnel changes, Juan Reynoso made seven changes as Marcos Lopez, Wilder Cartagena, Carlos Zambrano, Anderson Santamaria, Sergio Pena, Gianluca Lapadula, and Christian Cueva come into replace Alexander Callens, Miguel Araujo, Miguel Trauco, Pedro Aquino, Edison Flores, Christopher Gonzales, and Bryan Reyna.
First half chance of the game came for Japan on the 14th minute, Kyogo Furuhashi managed to evade his marker brilliantly as he got in front of his marker at the near post but saw his glanced header just bounce wide of the left-hand post. Brilliant early delivery in by Junya Ito as he spotted the brilliant movement of Celtic’s talisman.
Breakthrough for the Samurai Blue on the 22nd minute and it comes courtesy of Hiroki Ito of all people as he scores his first goal for Japan and what a strike it was. Although you must question Pedro Gallese as it was from about 25 yards out and he got a strong hand to it as he was beaten for sheer power. 1-0 Japan. Thoroughly deserved after their early dominance.
Devastating counterattack by Peru on the 32nd minute, Peru showed brilliant quality to beat the intense press that Japan is applying. Brilliant early pick out by Christian Cueva to find the run in behind for Gianluca Lapadula who played a clever one two with Jose Guerrero, but Gianluca somehow puts the ball wide of the left-hand post. Absolute sitter. Should have been the equaliser. Massive let off for Japan.
It’s the shining light of this Japan side Kaoru Mitoma who has doubled Japan’s advantage on the 37th minute with a deflected strike which wrong foots Pedro Gallese leaving him with no chance. It all started from the right back position where Yukinari Sugawara played a one two with Junya Ito who cleverly backheeled it, Sugawara then found Daichi Kamada in the number 10 position with loads of space, and he picked out Kaoru Mitoma who did the rest. Mitoma had too much space on the left wing as he drove at Carlos Lora and Carlos Zambrano with the ball deflecting off the latter. Devastating counterattack by Japan. Peru is punished for their lack of cutting edge. 2-0 Japan.
On the 41st minute Gianluca Lapadula showed terrific movement and skill as he thought he beat the offside trap before dinking the ball over the onrushing Kosuke Nakamura. But it was ruled out for offside as he was just leaning. VAR was used to double check the decision and it proved that Lapadula did in fact go too early. It remains 2-0.
Japan led Peru 2-0 at the break and have been more clinical and productive when they get the ball in the final third. Peru have dominated the possession stats but have done little with it. Although, Gianluca Lapadula should have scored when it was 1-0 before having a goal chopped off for offside. Peru will have to venture forward more if they want to get anything out of the game.
Another devastating counterattack just past the hour mark as it is the other Ito, Junya Ito who takes a touch around Pedro Gallese before rolling the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0. Great pick out by Kaoru Mitoma to find the unmarked Junya Ito but the composure from Ito was unreal. Liquid football by Japan.
On the 72nd minute, a shot from all of 35 yards from Yoshimar Yotun and it took a wonder save with cat like reflexes from Kosuke Nakamura to paw the ball away from the top right-hand corner. This proved to be Yoshimar Yotun’s last involvement as he is replaced by Bryan Reyna.
A mere three minutes later, and a horrible mistake by Marcos Lopez who tried to knock the ball back to Pedro Gallese, but Daizen Maeda was razor sharp and punished Peru. Daizen Maeda raced through one-on-one with Pedro Gallese before firing the ball into the back of the net. 4-0 to the Samurai Blue.
With 7 minutes of the 90 to play, Christopher Gonzales has pulled a goal back for Peru as he fired in a half volley from close range. Great strike by the substitute but Kosuke Nakamura will be disappointed that his clean sheet has now evaporated. Surely nothing more than a consolation. 4-1 Japan.
It’s all over here at the Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka as Japan ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. Terrific performance against a strong South American side as Japan score 10 goals in 2 games to show why they are ranked 20th in the world.
Next up for Japan is an international friendly away to Germany on Sunday the 10th of September with it being a 3:45am kick-off time. Japan couldn’t be coming into that game with better form as they look to continue their impressive run of two consecutive wins.
Next up for Peru is an away tie against Paraguay on Thursday the 7th of September when the World Cup Qualification for CONMEBOL begins. Mixed form going into the next round of matches as they will look for more consistency when the qualifiers roll around.
Japan: Kosuke Nakamura, Yukinari Sugawara (Yuki Soma 60’), Ko Itakura, Shogo Taniguchi, Wataru Endo (Ayumu Seko 80’), Daichi Kamada (Takefusa Kubo 70’), Hiroki Ito, Reo Hatate (Hidemasa Morita 46’), Junya Ito (Ritsu Doan 70’), Kyogo Furuhashi (Daizen Maeda 60’), Kaoru Mitoma. Subs not used: Keisuke Osako, Keito Nakamura, Atsuki Ito, Hayao Kawabe, Takuma Asano, Daniel Schmidt, Ryoya Morishita, Sota Kawasaki.
Peru: Pedro Gallese, Carlos Lora, Marcos Lopez, Wilder Cartagena (Jesus Castillo 88’), Carlos Zambrano, Yoshimar Yotun (Pedro Aquino 72’), Anderson Santamaria (Alexander Callens 50’), Sergio Pena (Christopher Gonzales 46’), Gianluca Lapadula, Christian Cueva (Edison Flores 46’), Jose Guerrero (Bryan Reyna 46’). Subs not used: Luis Abram, Miguel Trauco, Carlos Caceda, Miguel Araujo, Christopher Olivares, Jose Carvallo, Alex Valera.
Reporter: Pearse McLaughlin
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