Japan and Takumi Minamino are in the Asian Cup quarterfinals
They were the overwhelming favorites before kick-off, and against Bahrain, a modest 86th in the FIFA rankings, in the round of 16 of the Asian Cup, Japan was able to honor its place to overcome a team by showing great seriousness, winning by a score of three goals to one.
🔹試合終了🔹️
🏆AFC アジアカップ カタール 2023
⚔️ラウンド16
🇯🇵SAMURAI BLUE 3-1 バーレーン🇧🇭⌚️20:30(🇯🇵)
🔗https://t.co/Tlg2677is8#頂点そしてその先へ#夢への勇気を #SAMURAIBLUE#jfa #daihyo #サッカー日本代表#AsianCup2023 #アジアカップ2023 pic.twitter.com/bCBwdFHSt3— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) January 31, 2024
A controlled match
A substitute at kick-off, it was from the bench that Takumi Minamino witnessed his team’s first two goals, scored by Ritso Doan, shortly after the half-hour mark (31′), and by Takefusa Kubo just after the break (49′), as well as the opponent’s reduction of the lead on an own goal from the Japanese goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki (64′).
That was the moment decided by coach Hajime Moriyasu to bring on the attacking midfielder from AS Monaco (68′). Largely dominant, the Samurai Blue managed to seal the result a few moments later through the former Cercle Bruges striker, Ayase Ueda (72′), with a powerful strike which passed between the legs of the Bahrain goalkeeper.
https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/1752678631711949225
In quarters against Syria or Iran
The Japanese then created several dangerous chances on the counter without managing to make the difference. No matter, the unfortunate finalists of the last edition in 2019 will therefore see a place in the quarterfinals, which will take place this Saturday from 12:30 p.m., against Iran. Daghe Taki! 🇯🇵
