Doha : Japan finish as
winners of World Cup Group E, while Spain squeak through to the round
of 16 on goal difference.
Japan scored twice early in
the second half to come up from behind and spain 2-1 and then advance to the
round of 16 of the World Cup.
Alvaro Morata
scored first for Spain in
the 11th minute at the Al Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday, but Japan rallied
after halftime. The Spanish striker rose highest to head a cross home, scoring
his third goal in the tournament.
Ritsu Doan equalised in the 48th minute with a left-footed shot
from outside the box just minutes after coming on as a substitute at halftime,
and Ao Tanaka added the second one from close range a few minutes later.
It took about
two minutes for video review officials to confirm the ball had not gone out of
bounds before the goal.
Japan finished top of Group
E, with Spain finishing
second on goal difference – consigning Germany
to elimination, despite a 4-2 win over Costa Rica on Thursday.
It was a
dramatic finale to the group with qualification within sight for all four teams
in the final stretch of both games.
In the second
half, Costa Rica took the
lead against germany a
result that would have meant elimination for Spain,
who were losing to Japan.
But the Germans were quick to equalise and retake the lead.
With the
clock ticking down, Japan
seemed safe until Germany
made it 4-2 against Costa
Rica. A late Spanish goal could have sent
the Japanese from first to third place in the group. But the Samurai Blue
managed to hold on and weather waves of Spanish attacks.
By the end of the game, Spain
had 82 percent possession, completing 1,058 passes compared to Japan’s 228.
But the Japanese were simply more clinical, and Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu’s
substitutions in the second half, including bringing on Doan, proved decisive.
Japan had also shocked Germany 2-1 in
its Group E opener at the same venue.
Next week, Japan
– who have never progressed beyond the first knockout round – will meet Croatia in the round of 16, and Spain will take on Morocco. Even before the game, it
was pointed out that Spain
may be better off as second in the group to avoid a potential quarter-final
against Brazil.
The World
cup continues on Friday with the final day of the group stage to settle Groups
H and G. With qualification on the line, Ghana
will take on Uruguay
in a highly anticipated rematch of their dramatic meeting in the 2010 World Cup
quarter-finals.
Japan staged their second stunning turnaround of the World Cup to beat 2010
champions Spain 2-1 on Thursday to surge into the last 16 along with their
beaten opponents and dump Germany out in one of the greatest nights for the
Samurai Blue.
Staring at the prospect of an early World Cup exit at half-time,
Japan set up a round of 16
clash with Croatia - the
beaten finalists in 2018 - while Spain
had to rely on goal difference to edge out Germany. They now face Morocco.
Japan's turnaround was
built on coach Hajime Moriyasu's revamp of his side at the break when they were
losing 1-0.
On came Ritsu Doan and
within three minutes he hammered in a shot from the edge of the box which Spain
goalkeeper Unai Simon - whose poor clearance had created the danger in the
first place - could not keep out.
With Japan's
noisy travelling fans barely catching their breath, Ao Tanaka scored from
point-blank range in the 51st minute, bundling the ball in after the other
halftime sub Kaoru Mitoma cut the ball back from the byline.
The VAR system took
several minutes to confirm the ball had not gone out before Mitoma's touch.
Replays suggested that a sliver of the ball had not crossed the line and the
verdict sparked wild celebrations similar to the scenes that followed Japan's 2-1 comeback win over Germany last
week.
"We played against Spain,
one of the best teams in the world and we knew before the game that this was
going to be very tough and difficult, and indeed it was," said Moriyasu
whose side lost to Costa Rica
in their second match in Qatar.
"The players conceded one
goal, but they persisted and in very difficult circumstances, they did very
well," he told reporters.
Spain had looked in total
control in the first half but suddenly they were the ones clinging to their
chance of staying in the World Cup as Costa Rica
and Germany
battled out their own drama in the other Group E match.
Germany won 4-2, a margin of
victory that was not big enough to keep them in the tournament.
Alvaro Morata had put the Spaniards ahead when he scored his
third goal in three games in Qatar, rising above Japan's defence to power a
header past goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda in the 11th minute after a cross by his
former Chelsea team mate Cesar Azpilicueta.
In the dying minutes, winger Dani Olmo came closest to a
leveller but his angled shot was easily gathered by Gonda.
The breathtaking win for Japan
meant they topped Group E, followed by Spain
in second who finished ahead of third-placed Germany only on goal difference.
Japan fans were in tears at
the end of the match which gives them a chance to go further than they ever
have before at a World Cup. Japan
have previously reached the last 16 on three occasions and lost each time.
"There were many fans who came all the way from Japan, as well as those that stayed behind in Japan,"
coach Moriyasu said. "We are gifting this win to the people of Japan and we
are very happy about it."
Spain coach Luis Enrique,
who made five changes to his starting side to give first-choice players a rest,
was far from happy.
"We didn't have any danger in the first half, then in the
second half, I told them during halftime to be cautious, because they would
attack in the second half, they don't have anything to lose," he said.
"I have nothing to celebrate."
Japan defender Kou Itakura
was shown his second yellow card of the tournament and will be suspended for
the Croatia
match.
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