The Japanese team won with minimal effort over Bahrain (Getty)
The Japanese national team joined the ranks of the finalists for the quarter-finals of the Asian Football Cup currently being held in Qatar, with an easy 3-1 victory over Bahrain, today, Wednesday, in the quarter-final match that was held at Al Thumama Stadium in the capital, Doha.
The Japanese team completely dominated the first half and threatened the Bahraini goal several times. The defense and goalkeeper Ibrahim Lutfullah succeeded in confronting it, until Ritsu Doan succeeded in penetrating the defensive solidity with the first goal in the 31st minute after a good follow-up of a strong shot from inside the penalty area that bounced off the right post of the Bahrain goal.
Japan national team opens the scoring through Ritsu Doan #Asia_Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Japan_Bahrain #AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/BfsbQY3AAp
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 31, 2024
Japan began the second half with continuous pressure until Takefusa Kubo increased the score just 4 minutes after the start of the second half with a goal that was canceled by the referee before it was counted.
The referee initially canceled the goal due to offside, but the video technology referee summoned him to see that the Bahraini defender was the one who passed the ball to Kubo, who scored the goal, and then came back and decided to award the goal to Japan.
Japan national team opens the scoring through Ritsu Doan #Asia_Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Japan_Bahrain #AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/BfsbQY3AAp
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 31, 2024
In the 61st minute, Kaito Nakamura scored the third goal for Japan, but the first assistant referee indicated that there was offside, and the arena referee confirmed the decision with a whistle to cancel the goal.
Bahrain reduced the gap in the 64th minute from an own goal scored by Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki by mistake when he tried to block Sayed Baqir's header in the wrong way.
Bahrain narrows the gap with friendly fire #Asia_Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Japan_Bahrain #AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/X1awyFgU1t
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 31, 2024
But striker Ayase Ueda restored the two-goal difference after 8 minutes after penetrating the Bahraini defense with great skill and speed.
Ayase Ueda scores the third goal for the Japanese team against the Bahraini team #Asia_Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Japan_Bahrain #AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/XH2ktNyduI
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 31, 2024
The Japanese national team is waiting to learn about its opponent in the quarter-finals between the winner of the confrontation between Syria and Iran, which will be held this evening, Wednesday.
Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters