Japan cruise into quarters

Doha, Qatar: Record four-time champions Japan shrugged off sharp criticism, outclassing Bahrain 3-1 in the last 16 to advance at the AFC Asian Cup at Al Thumama Stadium yesterday.

Amid the flak back home following a below-par performance in the group stage, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said his players “will give 100 percent of their potential in the match” and the Samurai Blue responded with a much-improved show to cruise into the quarter-finals.

They will meet Iran in the quarter-finals at Education City Stadium on Saturday.

Japan’s Ayase Ueda shoots to score his team’s third goal. AFP

Ritsu Doan put Japan ahead in the 31st minute before Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda struck in the second half in front of around 32,000 spectators as Japan were hardly troubled by Bahrain.

The favourites also got the boost as Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma made his return in the game after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him out of action since December 21.

Juan Antonio Pizzi’s Bahrain were expected to give a tough challenge to much-fancied Japan after topping their group ahead of South Korea but they lacked creativity and left much spaces at the back before being knocked out of the tournament.

Takefusa Kubo shoots to score Japan’s second goal against Bahrain. AFP

Bahrain’s only moment to celebrate in the match was a bizarre own goal by Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who turned the ball into his own net in the 64th minute to cut his team’s two-goal cushion, before Ueda sealed the victory for Japan with his fourth goal of the tournament. “We gave up a good performance and we are clearly improving after every match,” Moriyasu said after the win.

“It wasn’t all perfect and next we will play either Iran or Syria. They have a lot of talent up front and we will have to play better than today. We have to reflect on the goal we conceded,” said the coach, who blamed lack of communication for the own goal.

Pizzi admitted Japan were much better as compared to his side.

Bahrain players look dejected after the defeat. Pictures: Rajan Vadakkemuriyil/The Peninsula

“Japan have had the same coach for five years and every substitute they brought on had the same level of quality,” the Bahrain coach said.

The Samurai Blue almost had complete dominance in the first half in which they enjoyed 69-31 split in the ball possession, taking several attempts as Bahrain struggled to enter their box.

Ebrahim Lutfalla was forced into early action as the Bahrain goalkeeper tipped away Ueda’s header from Kubo to avoid a goal in the ninth minute.

Japan continued to push for goals with Wataru Endo, Reo Hatate and Seiya Maikuma coming close to score as Ali Madan had his strike from outside the box blocked in a rare Bahrain attempt before the half-hour mark.

Right-back Seiya Maikuma initiated the attempt that resulted in Japan’s opening goal, unleashing a shot from a long range that hit the left post, and Doan found space in the centre of the box to hit the rebound to put his side into lead.

The only setback for Japan in the opening half was an injury to Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate, who was replaced by Hidemasa Morita in the 36th minute.

Moriyasu’s men doubled their lead four minutes after the half-time when Real Sociedad’s Kubo slotted in the bottom right corner with referee allowing the goal after a VAR review as the forward appeared to be in an offside position after ball broke loose to him.

As Japan looked to be cruising, Suzuki’s bad defending gifted Bahrain a goal and an opportunity to make a comeback but Ueda restored their two-goal lead in 72nd minute when he fired the ball from an angle after a sweeping move forward from the right.

Mitoma, who came off the bench in the second half, had some good spells with the ball but he could not score yesterday.