Japan ease past Bahrain to advance to the Asian Cup quarter-finals

Japan, four-time Asian Cup champions, advanced to the quarterfinals with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bahrain on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium, thanks to goals from Ritsu Doan, Takefusa Kubo, and Ayase Ueda.

Bahrain coach Juan Anotnio Pizzi had been hoping to mend old wounds after his Saudi Arabia team lost to Japan at the same stage in 2019, but Hajime Moriyasu's side put in a commanding performance and rarely looked threatened by the Gulf nation.

Japan will face the winner of the final last-16 match between Iran and Syria later Wednesday.

"All Asian teams here at the Asian Cup are getting better, the level of football has grown. But even though other teams are growing, we've managed to improve as well which is down to our players' efforts," Moriyasu told reporters.

"But I don't think today's performances were 100% and we can still improve."

Japan took the lead in the 31st minute when Seiya Maikuma unleashed a venomous strike that hit the post, but midfielder Doan pounced on the rebound to score from close range.

Japan went 2-0 up just after halftime thanks to a stroke of good fortune when an unmarked Kubo received the ball inside the box, turned, and fired home, with the goal awarded after a VAR check for an offside call.

Bahrain halved the deficit after Japan keeper Zion Suzuki saved Sayed Baqer's header from a corner, but as he attempted to catch the ball when it looped up in the air, Ueda attempted to head it clear, and they collided as it crossed the line.

While Moriyasu was unconcerned about the own goal, Japan have failed to keep a clean sheet in each game of the tournament thus far.

"It's true we conceded a goal, every opponent we come up against will analyse us and expose our weak points," Japan skipper Wataru Endo said.

"I know we have to make this right, we have to concentrate for 90 minutes."

Ueda, on the other hand, made amends for his own goal by making it 3-1 after quickly evading three Bahrain defenders and, as they attempted to stop him from racing away by pulling his shirt, the striker pulled the trigger from a tight angle to beat the keeper.

The game also saw Kaoru Mitoma return from injury, and the Brighton & Hove Albion winger created a buzz around the arena with his agility and speed on the ball, skipping past defenders with ease.

However, Japan failed to capitalise on his forays into the box, and Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla also stood firm in denying the east Asian side a fourth goal.

"It was a difficult match, they were stronger, they were better than us technically and physically. They have players with great individual skills," Pizzi said.

"Japan have had the same coach for many years. Even their substitutes had the same quality when they came off the bench."

SportsLigue