Kaoru Mitoma returns as Japan beat Bahrain to reach Asian Cup quarter-finals

DOHA – Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was pleased with his team’s performance, but noted that there is much room for improvement as they survived a second-half wobble to set up an Asian Cup quarter-final clash with either Iran or Syria after a 3-1 win over Bahrain on Jan 31.

The victory was all that mattered for now, while there was also another positive as star winger Kaoru Mitoma finally played his first minutes of the tournament after his recovery from injury.

The four-time champions looked to be cruising in their round-of-16 game in Doha after goals either side of half-time from Ritsu Doan and Takefusa Kubo.

But an own goal from error-prone goalkeeper Zion Suzuki let Bahrain back in the game on 64 minutes until Ayase Ueda restored Japan’s cushion just under 10 minutes later.

It was Ueda’s fourth goal of the tournament and one that proved crucial.

Moriyasu did not feel that the game was as easy as it seemed, however.

“I didn’t think they (Bahrain) would be easy opponents to break down from the start, but my players broke them down with their aggressiveness and patience,” he said.

“So I want to give credit to the players who scored the three goals.

“Overall, our defence was good as well. We’ve improved.”

On looking ahead to the quarter-finals, he added: “I have a big goal. I will do my best for the match and prepare to the best of my ability.”

Japan were boosted by the return of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Mitoma, who came off the bench in the second half to play his first game since injuring his ankle on Dec 21.

But questions remain for Moriyasu’s side, who were the pre-tournament favourites but have yet to keep a clean sheet in four games in Qatar.

Japan came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when Ueda thumped a header towards goal from a corner, only for Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah to claw it away.

Bahrain also had chances to take the lead, but it was Japan who struck first in the 31st minute.

Right-back Seiya Maikuma unleashed a shot from distance that cannoned against the post and Doan reacted fastest to stick home the rebound.

“I’m glad I got the goal,” said Doan, who plays his club football for German Bundesliga side Freiburg.

“The whole team fought together, which led to the victory. What’s more important than a goal is a victory for the team.

“It’s going to be a tough game (in the next round), but we want to win the championship no matter what.”

The Samurai Blue were then forced into a change when Celtic midfielder Reo Hatate went off injured five minutes later, with Hidemasa Morita coming on.

Kubo doubled Japan’s lead in the 49th minute after a VAR (video assistant referee) check.

The Real Sociedad forward looked to be in an offside position when the ball broke to him in the box, but the final ball had come off a Bahrain defender, so the goal was awarded.

What looked like being a stroll for Japan turned into a bad dream when Suzuki – who has a Ghanaian-American father and a Japanese mother – turned the ball into his own net in the 64th minute.

The 21-year-old, who has made a string of mistakes at the Asian Cup and was subsequently abused with racist comments online, misjudged a punch and got tangled up with Ueda to fumble the ball over the line.

“I think it was due to (a lack of) communication, and both players didn’t actively clear the ball,” Moriyasu added. “We want to be able to perfect our defence with better communication.” 

That own goal was just a scare in the end as Ueda finally calmed Japan’s nerves in the 72nd minute when he drilled the ball home after a sweeping attacking move.

Mitoma was involved in several late chances after coming on in the 68th minute, but could not get on the score sheet. AFP