Japan began their third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers in style, delivering a crushing 7-0 victory over China.
The match, held in front of a packed stadium in Saitama, saw goals from Premier League stars Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo, alongside standout performances from several other players.
Brighton winger Mitoma, making a long-awaited return after his last appearance in January’s Asian Cup, marked his comeback with a first-half header.
Liverpool midfielder Endo set the tone for Japan’s dominance, scoring the opener early in the match.
After halftime, Takumi Minamino struck twice, pushing Japan further ahead against a Chinese side eager to return to the World Cup after their last appearance in 2002.
Junya Ito, returning to international play, netted another goal, with late contributions from Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo completing the commanding win.
With this impressive result, Japan’s national team, led by coach Hajime Moriyasu, sends a strong message to the rest of the group, which includes tough competitors like Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia.
Only the top two teams in this challenging group are guaranteed a spot in the World Cup, while the third and fourth positions lead to further rounds of qualifying.
Despite the one-sided scoreline, team captain Wataru Endo emphasized that the win “wasn’t easy,” stating, “We got the first goal from a set piece, and then we played our own football and the goals kept coming. We got the three points and it was a great game.”
For China, the match was a difficult test, with their Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic acknowledging Japan’s superiority. “They are the top team in Asia and a world-class team. We will work together and see what we can learn from this game,” Ivankovic remarked.
Japan’s next challenge will be an away match against Bahrain, while China will host Saudi Arabia as they look to recover from this heavy defeat.
Kaoru Mitoma, who had been sidelined due to injury, was instrumental in Japan’s victory. His goal right before halftime, assisted by Ritsu Doan’s cross, gave Japan a comfortable lead heading into the break.
This marked Mitoma’s first international goal in over a year, and he expressed relief at getting back on the scoresheet, crediting the home crowd for their overwhelming support.
Takumi Minamino continued Japan’s momentum in the second half, scoring twice in quick succession, while Junya Ito, who returned to the squad after facing off-field issues, added a fifth.
Ito had been absent from international duty following allegations of sexual assault, but after Japanese prosecutors dropped the charges, he rejoined the team and contributed to Japan’s emphatic win.
Japan’s commanding performance puts them in a strong position as they progress through the World Cup qualifiers, with their next match against Bahrain promising another thrilling contest.
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