Japan cruise past Indonesia to reach Asian Cup last 16
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Japan's Ayase Ueda celebrates scoring their second goal in the 3-1 Asian Cup win over Indonesia.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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DOHA – Japan cruised into the last 16 of the Asian Cup and are prepared to “fight” in a possible showdown with rivals South Korea after a 3-1 victory over Indonesia on Jan 24.
Ayase Ueda struck in each half to go with a late Indonesia own goal in Doha to send the pre-tournament favourites through as Group D runners-up behind Iraq, who beat Vietnam 3-2.
Sandy Walsh scored a consolation goal for Indonesia in stoppage time.
Japan will now face the winners of Group E – South Korea’s group. Jurgen Klinsmann’s Taegeuk Warriors are currently second on goal difference behind Jordan and face Malaysia in their final group match on Jan 25.
Indonesia finished third in Group D with three points and will have to wait until the first round concludes to see if they go through as one of the four best third-place teams.
“I think it was good that we went into the match against Indonesia by looking back on what the team has done so far and thought about how we need to prepare,” said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu.
“The players were prepared for a tough battle, and played the game aggressively and smartly. I think that led to the score. I think it was a game where we were able to have control.”
On the next round, he added: “I want to make sure that we are in good physical and mental condition so that we can perform to the best of our ability as a team.”
Following Japan’s shock 2-1 defeat by Iraq last week, Moriyasu made eight changes to his starting line-up.
He kept faith in goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who was at fault against Iraq and was racially abused online after the game.
Japan were awarded a penalty in the sixth minute after a video assistant referee check ruled that Indonesia defender Jordi Amat had dragged down Ueda in the box.
The striker dusted himself down and dispatched the spot kick past goalkeeper Ernando Ari.
Japan stayed in control but let the pace drop off significantly, and Indonesia began to create scoring chances.
Japan’s midfielder Takefusa Kubo (right) kicks the ball during the Qatar 2023 Asian Cup match between Japan and Indonesia in Doha on Jan 24, 2024.
PHOTO: AFP
But the Samurai Blue cranked the tempo back up and kept it going in the second half, before Ueda doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart, tapping home a low cross.
He went looking for his hat-trick and his shot pressured Indonesia defender Justin Hubner into an own goal in the 88th minute.
But Indonesia got an even later goal to give their fans something to cheer about, with Walsh volleying home from close range in the 91st minute.
Meanwhile, the Japan Football Association (JFA) has condemned the “shameful behaviour” of fans who racially abused Suzuki.
The United States-born 21-year-old, whose father is Ghanaian-American and mother is Japanese, said that he was racially abused on social media following the loss to Iraq.
“We have a zero-tolerance stance (towards racism) and our aim is to stamp it out,” JFA president Kozo Tashima said in a statement on Jan 24, a day after Moriyasu also slammed the incident.
Tashima added: “The players, manager, staff and JFA are all united. Posting cruel racist and other abuse online is an invasion of human rights and privacy. It goes against the values of a society that respects diversity and is shameful behaviour.”
In the other game on Jan 24, Vietnam took the lead just before the break when Bui Hoang Viet Anh scored from a set piece but Khuat Van Khang was sent off for a second yellow at the stroke of half-time.
Iraq equalised two minutes after the restart when Rebin Solaka headed home before Aymen Hussein scored with a header of his own in the 73rd minute.
Vietnam nearly stole a point in added time when Nguyen Quang Hai equalised in the 91st minute but Iraq earned a penalty which was calmly converted by Hussein in the 12th minute of added time. AFP, REUTERS
